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Is This the Real Life, Is This Just (TV) Fantasy?

Hew Gill, Professor of Psychology and Associate Provost, Sunway University

30-Nov-20 14:00

Is This the Real Life, Is This Just (TV) Fantasy?

We’re nearly a year into the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the “new normal” is beginning to show up in our fictional realities as well - specifically, on our television shows. This is happening in several ways: some shows are choosing to ignore the pandemic altogether, while others are half-heartedly incorporating some aspects of it into their storylines. But for viewers, all these seem to be resulting in a disconnect from reality, with people talking about feeling anxious, uncomfortable, or confused while watching these TV shows. We look at what it feels like to be watching TV shows that supposedly depict reality, in a COVID-19 world.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sharmilla Ganesan

Presented by: Sharmilla Ganesan, Tee Shiao Eek


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Categories:  FilmPoliticsSocial Issues

Tags:  The Bigger PictureThe Daily DigestCOVID-19PandemicFictional RealitiesTelevision ShowsAudience ReactionsMask AnxietyConfusion





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