Metro Australia — January 2018

(avery) #1

54 •Metro Magazine 195 | © ATOM


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faces the challenge of quenching the thirst of fans of the
original series, such as myself, without alienating a wider
viewership who may be unfamiliar with the strategic complexi
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an international title for a local media ecology. To explore the
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textual elements of the original franchise and the demands
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resulted in TRSQ@KH@M 2TQUHUNQhaving to cater forANSGthe
fans of the American series and casual viewers newer to the
franchise. Ultimately, I argue that narrative complexity is lost
when a show has to alter its format for new fans.

TheSurvivor format


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6ZHGLVK VHULHV$WODCHSHNM 1NAHMRNM, it was created by Charlie
Parsons, an executive producer on the show alongside Mark
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are divided into two or more teams, referred to as ‘tribes’,
which compete for resources and immunity. The tribe that
loses immunity must vote off a member at a ‘tribal council’
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testants remain, the tribes are dissolved and contestants
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on, with the prize money declining the earlier the contestants
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international versions, with varying degrees of success. Yet
the mass popularity of the2TQUHUNQfranchise has slowly waned.
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Australia, however, the American2TQUHUNQhas been moved
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UDWLQJV RI pV2TQUHUNQ "@Q@LN@M. The 2016 season of
TRSQ@KH@M 2TQUHUNQwas itself a moderate success (albeit
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A wide array of paratextual forms of commentary have
developed cult followings among2TQUHUNQfans. Once the
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a resort dubbed ‘Ponderosa’. There are several dedicated fan
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post conspiracy theories and spoilers. Former2TQUHUNQ 3GD
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cusses not just the American2TQUHUNQbut also other reality
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