Why I Like (And Really Dislike) Naked and Afraid

The reality show Naked and Afraid is one of my guilty pleasures. In each episode a man and woman called survivalists are dropped off in a remote region without a stitch of clothing. Each person is able to bring one item to survive the rugged terrane. A fire starter and a machete are common choices. The pair must survive 21 days so they must work together to secure water, food, shelter, and typically fire. Although a camera crew is nearby to tape their experiences, no one can intervene to help the pair unless there is a medical emergency. Persons can “tap out” or elect to leave the challenge prior to the 21-day conclusion. Each person is given a Primitive Survival Rating (PSR) at the start of the show that gauges their survival aptitude which is reevaluated at the end of their time there. One’s PSR can increase or decrease based on their performance, and it drops dramatically if they leave early. The title of the show reflects the fact that the pair enters the contest with no clothes (hence “naked”). In addition, they often become “afraid” given the dangerous, seemingly brutal national and sometimes international locales in which they are placed where animals such as snakes, jaguars, puma, monkeys, and bears roam, as well as a variety of insects that usually do more damage than the larger predators. The show has aired on the Discovery Channel since 2013. Its 11th season premieres January 5, 2020. Part of me enjoys Naked in Afraid for several reasons. I posit that this is one of those rare occurrences - when a show is so bad that it’s good! The premise is so outrageous that it almost compels you to watch with your hands in front of your eyes due to the sheer outlandishness of two naked (private parts except their derrieres are blurred) adults attempting to survive with no creature comforts. Rough terrane, unpredictable weather, unexpected occurrences, and sometimes conflicting personalities, all make for entertainment as you root for the two often hapless adventurers. In some instances, expert survivalists almost become “one” with nature in exciting ways. Moreover, team dynamics and the emotional, psychological, and physical travail that individuals attempt to overcome can be intriguing. Additionally, the power of the lens and strategic footage increase tensions for the two people who are often over their head as they confront Mother Nature.

Yet there are certain dynamics that are extremely disconcerting about this show. According to the World Bank, in 2015, 10% of the world’s population lived on less than $1.90 a day; over 50% of the extreme poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa (about 413 million people). Access to safe water, health care, and electricity are often elusive for such people. Moreover, according to a July 2017 news release by the World Health Organization, about 3 in 10 people worldwide (2.1 billion), lack access to safe, readily available water in their homes. And Habitat for Humanity estimates that, in 2015, 1.6 billion people worldwide have “inadequate” shelter. In 2015, about 554,000 people were homeless in the U.S. each night. These sobering figures illustrate that for swaths of people worldwide, being naked and afraid is a reality rather than a reality show. It is troubling that given the global effects of poverty persons would intentionally choose to place themselves in predicaments without food and water for sport. Secondly, this show and others like it illustrate the subtle effects of privilege. Only in a nation where food, clothing, housing, and other material possessions are taken for granted can we celebrate situations when people purposely place themselves in situations of want. People who participate on this reality show can do so because worst case, in only 21 days, they will transition back to their normal lifestyles - unlike people for whom such challenges are an everyday occurrence their entire lives. No matter our circumstances or struggles, in the U.S., most of us are fortunate to have food, water, shelter, and clothing. Most of us are blessed to have the basic necessities – and more. Reality shows like Naked and Afraid should be stark reminders that there are many people worldwide who do not. And each of us is charged to, in our own way, help change this reality.

1/5/2020