Ethics of Entertainment
The boundaries between fiction and reality are being broken with the upcoming release of “Squid Game: The Challenge,” a reality show that is scheduled to debut on Nov. 22 on Netflix. Following the craze of the immensely popular thriller and drama “Squid Game,” released in 2021, fans are in for a heated competition rather than the highly anticipated second season of the original show. The reality show, filmed in England, contains the largest cast and prize in reality show history. This cast consisted of 456 participants who take part in intense challenges, similar to the original show, except lives are not at stake in this version, but $4.56 million is (Collider). Despite a few differences, original aspects of the drama can still be seen, such as participants wearing the classic green and white jumpsuits and performing the famed colorful step-marching sequence, all with the cash-filled glass orb hanging above them (Los Angeles Times).
While the challenges of the 10-episode-long series are not life-threatening, the competition remains just as cutthroat as it was in the original television drama which had garnered a global appeal. Furthermore, interest in K-Dramas and Korean entertainment as a whole has peaked due to the success of “Squid Game” as the themes of economic disparities are relatable on a global level for all cultural backgrounds. The upcoming competition reality series has the ability to not only maintain this momentum, but also pave the way for reality television to become more than the generic dramas they typically are. Junior Josephine Cho, president of the Korean Entertainment Research Club, is hopeful about the spread of Korean culture that comes with this release.
“I am looking forward to seeing it,” Cho said. “It is good to see a Korean show that has the culture and representation in it getting into a more diverse area. Spreading the culture to the world instead of being just another show [that is only popular in Korea].”
Despite the initial enthusiasm, there are rising concerns about the ethics of this competition. In the original show, the themes of desperation and survival are purely for entertainment purposes to critique society, but ethical red flags are raised for several reasons. Not only due to the fact that the experiences of real people are being turned into entertainment, but also because it loses the depth of societal analysis commentary that made the original series impactful. Therefore, it fails to portray the most meaningful message of “Squid Game”, ironically encouraging the very element the show was meant to critique. Rather than shedding light on how money can cause people to be amoral and the self-serving mindset it can lead to in society, the show will glorify the government’s corruption, transforming it into a trivial game that lacks depth.
People are being put in extreme conditions with their pain and struggle to be used for entertainment. Although there are no fatalities and people can argue that it is what participants signed up for, it is hard to believe that they knew exactly what they were getting themselves into due to the extremely intense nature. Many challengers have stepped forward expressing their regret, claiming it was like a warzone and complaining about a challenge that left them freezing in an airplane hangar playing games where they had to hold statue-like poses for nearly 30 minutes (People). Other concerns were raised when it was revealed that participants had to endure prolonged periods without eating food and wake-up calls as early as 3:30 a.m, though it is unknown if they are allowed to tap out at any point. A crucial responsibility the entertainment industry must have is ensuring the wellbeing of their actors/participants, which is a huge morality issue in this production. Reality television is known for its engaging content highlighting dramatic moments; however, it is of utmost importance that moral lines are not crossed in an attempt to capture amusing moments for views. The ethical problems that are often associated with reality television are heavily displayed in ‘Squid Game: the Challenge”, especially the physically and emotionally straining aspects. Senior Angel Soung thinks there should be greater emphasis on moral considerations within reality television.
“The intense and life-threatening challenges in ‘Squid Game: the Challenge’ could have significant psychological effects on participants,” Soung said. “The extreme stress, fear and trauma experienced during the game could lead to long-lasting psychological consequences such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and even depression. It is important to prioritize mental well-being and consider the potential impact on participants before engaging in such extreme activities.”
As with any other production, there are many mixed emotions and reviews among fans just from the trailers. Many argue that the point of the show went over people’s heads, with some claiming that it made no sense to create a reality version of a show that aimed to critique capitalism, not celebrate it (Daily Mail). The conversion of the show into a real-life scenario reflects broader concerns regarding the dilution and misinterpretation of the social messages of “Squid Game.” Senior Jia Garcia questioned whether the release of the show is necessary. “[Making a reality show] seems odd,” Garcia said. “People will be disappointed because ‘Squid Game’’ was left on a cliffhanger, so this seems like it is only [being made] to attract more people on Netflix [rather than original fans]. ‘Squid Game’ airing as this reality show is Netflix ‘milking’ its popularity. It would have been better to get a different show in general because the more violent games at the end of ‘Squid Game’ sound worrisome to play out.”
