On Luck and Hope: An Analysis of the Poor's Agency in Game Show Participation

Abstract

This paper seeks to explain how Philippine game shows promote dole-out mentality among the poor and also to give a critical view on the concept using the notion of ―strategic suffering‖, in the context of the poor‘s participation in game shows. Filipino sociologist Jonathan Ong devised the term to refer to the people‘s agency as exhibited when they join game shows (Valisno & Marcelo, 2011). Critics often blame game shows for their tendency to promote dole-out mentality among the masses, especially among the poor. However, the notion of dole-out mentality gives the poor a very negative image, and as said by Valisno and Marcelo (2011), critics often fail to consider the efforts exerted by these people in joining game shows. The paper examines this phenomenon with the help of key-informant interviews, focused group discussion and secondary data sources. The research used the ―dominant-ideology model of the mass media‖ (Heywood, 2007, p. 233) and the ―culture of poverty‖ theory (Oscar Lewis) for analysis.