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The (inter)play of nationality, religiosity and gender: textual mechanisms for the rich representation of Israeli identity on a reality race gamedoc

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Real Talk: Reality Television and Discourse Analysis in Action

Abstract

Reality television is a significant cultural forum for the exploration of personal, social and national identities. While its characteristic representation of ethnic and sociocultural diversity may promote democratization and pluralism, previous research indicates that this positive potential is significantly limited by reliance on conservative schemes and stereotypes. The present study aims at examining the full potential of reality television to promote pluralism, as well as its immanent constraints and limitations. To this end, it focuses on an extreme case study — an Israeli show intentionally and explicitly dedicated to promoting tolerance and secular-religious dialogue within JewishIsraeli society. This case study also allows for documenting the unique resources and affordances of a reality television format that has so far received relatively limited scholarly attention — the race gamedoc (e.g., The Amazing Race).

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Authors
  1. Michal Hamo
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English Language and Linguistics, Swansea University, UK

    Nuria Lorenzo-Dus (Professor in English Language and Linguistics) (Professor in English Language and Linguistics)

  2. University of North Carolina, Charlotte, USA

    Pilar Garcés-Conejos Blitvich (Professor of English) (Professor of English)

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© 2013 Michal Hamo

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Hamo, M. (2013). The (inter)play of nationality, religiosity and gender: textual mechanisms for the rich representation of Israeli identity on a reality race gamedoc. In: Lorenzo-Dus, N., Blitvich, P.GC. (eds) Real Talk: Reality Television and Discourse Analysis in Action. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137313461_5

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