In 2000, CBS premiered its latest reality television series, where the network sent 16 strangers to a remote island to survive with limited resources. Titled Survivor, the primary goal of the show was to vote out fellow players one-by-one until one player remains. The “sole survivor” won $1 million. With that much money on the line, where do people’s priorities lie? How does that fluctuate when age, gender and race is factored in? And ultimately, how does Survivor imitate the dynamics within the United States?
Survivor was initially proposed as a large-scale social experiment. The casting aimed to create a sort of microcosm of society that mimics the “outside” world. Over 26 years and 50 seasons, Survivor transcended its genre and developed into an accurate display of social dynamics and interpersonal relationships. The game became the ultimate test of strategy and character.
With zero structure or instruction, Survivor’s first season of players discovered it was more beneficial to form alliances and build relationships to benefit their personal games. From that point on, the strategy of Survivor continued to develop. Advantages were introduced, strategies evolved and Survivor became a world of its own. Just as initially intended, the mini-society of Survivor advanced to become a true social experiment.
Survivor seasons are typically split into two categories—old era and new era. The old era includes the 39 seasons from 2000-2019, and the new era consists of the remaining 11 seasons and counting post-COVID.
The most dramatic difference between the two eras is the players’ motivations. In the old era, players prioritized relationships, as contestants made it further in the game through trust. Honor and integrity was key to becoming the sole survivor, and deceit was taboo. As the game transformed, contestants began to act out of self-interest. It evolved into a true game of survival, omitting the prominence of true relationships, reflecting the culture shift in the United States that has been evolving in the last couple decades.
In the new era, relationships only took players so far, so they took to strategic and intentional relationships for competitive advantages. Interactions turned transactional, serving as a tool to make it further in the game. Social manipulation was key.
Today, young adults must prioritize decisions that result in personal gain, whether that’s financial, personal or spiritual. After experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, entering adulthood under an unpredictable economy and developing a general distrust in the nation’s systems, Gen-Z naturally focuses on self-reliance and their individualism. Older generations consider this a “selfish” mindset among young individuals in the U.S. But today, young adults view life in the United States as a game of survival, rather than a “journey.” The new Survivor gameplay poses the question—is this new era strategy selfish, or is it necessary?
Unlike any other reality television of its time, Survivor continues to stay relevant, as the program brings viewers something new each season. It is the longest-running competitive reality series in the United States. But why?
Survivor has a way of capturing the attention of viewers and getting them to follow for life. Everybody either watches *Survivor *or has a friend who “really likes the show.” Survivor allows viewers to be a fly on the wall, observing socialization and constructs that viewers experience in their everyday life.
Yes, viewers love the drama. But more importantly, they love to see what makes a winner.
In the first five seasons of Survivor, two women and one person of color took home the $1 million. Despite systemic gender and racial biases that inevitably exist in contestants’ decision making, these sole survivors, in a way, exemplify the true “American Dream.” Players begin on the same playing field: the same amount of food, resources, and relationships. Survivor represents America’s biggest appeal — starting out with nothing and finishing with money and success.
In Survivor, anything is possible. Contestants get ahead on their own accord, through a combination of genuine relationships and self-serving decisions. By any means necessary, the sole survivors work from square one to take home the money. It’s not until they leave the island and return to “real life,” when some may be met with a truer, harsher reality.
