FILMS
NEITHER/NOR 2021 PROGRAM: 90 DAY FIANCÉ AND AMERICA'S CURRENT REALITY
In a year of moving our lives onto screens, the Neither/Nor program virtually migrates in its eighth edition to explore the world of reality television. For as wide a swath of the nonfiction landscape as reality television occupies, it is woefully underexplored critically. We’ve known for years that it would be fertile ground for a Neither/Nor retrospective but also that it required a critic who could tackle the complexities of the genre with a healthy balance of rigor and playfulness. Ashley Ray-Harris, host of the weekly TV-specific podcast TV, I Say, is a prolific TV writer and culture critic, and her extensive coverage of reality TV has made her one of our favorite online personalities. For this year’s Neither/Nor, Ray-Harris will look at the myriad ways in which reality TV engages audiences—from cutthroat competition shows like America’s Next Top Model to real-life dramas like Teen Mom. Focusing on the iterations of 90 Day Fiancé, Ray-Harris reflects on the evolution of the reality TV landscape, pointing to how politics and culture shape the form—and vice versa. In lieu of traditional film screenings, selected episodes of 90 Day Fiancé will be available to stream online. Additionally, this year’s monograph will be interactive, including links to clips, interviews, and podcast episodes that expand upon Ray-Harris’ writing. All Neither/Nor screenings, along with this year’s monograph, will be made available at truefalse.org/neither-nor. The Neither/Nor program is made possible with a FilmWatch grant provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. To read about past Neither/Nor programs, visit truefalse.org/neither-nor.
PRESENTED BY
30
