Response 27: "Theatre And The Autobiographical Pact"

Similar to autobiographies or biographies are “reality” shows on television, and they are great examples of “a ‘performance of a performance’” (738). Each person/character in the reality show interacts with the other cast members and this “performance of a performance” is easy to observe particularly because the characters on these shows have heightened reactions to events, in part because they are aware that their performance will be seen by thousands of people. For example, if another person on the show picks a fight with them, they may react overly defensive because they know there will be audience and they do not appear as weak.

“there are…interesting and complex explanations for our obsession with the personal. Auto/Biographies satisfy our desire for story at the same time as they promise to give us truths (if not Truth), to provide meaning, identity, and possibly even order” (739). In “reality” shows, each member also does a “confessional” section where they are the only on camera and they provide their reaction and personal thoughts to situations in the show. Perhaps people’s curiosity and need for truth is also one reason why “the other woman” involved in a political scandal can write a book and it is almost guaranteed to be a financial success.

It is important that “the autobiographical voice” is “available to minorities and to groups” as a form of self expression and truth of their experiences and struggles (740). Auto/biographies can also be tremendously inspiring to readers, such as in the case of public figures that are looked up to (such as Hillary Clinton and Nelson Mandela) and people “expect to be told the truth about someone’s life…that they live outside the text and go to the bank and grocery store as we do…despite our realization that we are engaged with art, not life” (741). Perhaps that (and the expectation of truth) led to many being outraged when it was found that many events in Three Cups of Tea were fictionalized events. An additional reason could be that because the author was a “lesser known…figure…and more conventional and flawed, or basically human” he was “more appealing and culturally resonant” with many readers (741).