Minor Post #5 - Kiera

 The Strange Meta-Parasocial Parody of Jury Duty and the Semi-Return to Traditional TV

I'm not sure I can connect the subject to either of the topics of the last two weeks, but I binged all of Amazon FreeVee's Jury Duty over these last week's of the semester, and I have to talk about it.

It really has more of a place in the discussion of liveness, but perhaps there is something to be said for it as a new medium in post-TV. After all it is one of the products of a purely online streaming service (Amazon) and their new-old subsidiary FreeVee, an ironic name playing with the concept of changing "TeeVee", especially ironic because of it's backslid nature of TV with ads for revenue instead of streaming subscription.

I believe FreeVee has used the tactic of early Netflix up until recently, buying distribution licenses for older properties to fill its ranks, and now has begun dipping its toe into original content. It is likely that should the products prove popular, Amazon may make more off of its FreeVee content than its Amazon Prime Originals, due to the renewed ability to sell ad time. It is interesting to see way that streaming has been developing to create a new financial system to support both television production to meet demand and the carefully balanced financing economy that must support it.

Meanwhile, Jury Duty was a good initial foray into original content for FreeVee or any smaller (and especially ad-based) streaming app. The benefit of these channels is that they do not need to uphold a reputation and can gamble on experimental media and still get paid. Jury Duty, as a mix of Punk'd and some kind of reality role-playing show, reminiscent perhaps of Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal, or perhaps The Truman Show plays with and questions much of the concept of "live tv." Of it's constructed nature and the potential dangers of blurring reality. It cannot be said that we see much of a darkside in watching it. The central figure being hoodwinked is let in on it in the end and full transparency becomes the object of the final episode. Unexpectedly, Ronald, the victim juror, wins a cash prize for good behavior, an out of court settlement to act positive and not lose it over the two-week "mindfuck" he has just been through. The whole production is framed as genuinely heartwarming, as Ronald has charmed all of the cast and crew with his down-to-earth wholesome goodness.

It was strange. But much like Ronald the part of me that seeks a neat wrap-up to her media consumption, I found myself smiling and nodding along, as I too questioned the nature of reality.