New show is all too familiar

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A tribal war is brewing in the South China Sea. The Pangong Tribe and the Tagi Tribe of Palua Tiga are trying to oust the other off their island paradise. The conditions of these tribes are primitive. They have to march for miles through thick jungle for fresh water. They receive a meagre ration of rice. Some have taken to eating rats. Each tribe has only one ramshackle shelter for its members to sleep in. When they're not competing for resources against the other tribe, the individual members conspire against each other. Exile is a constant threat.

At the centre of this conflict? Money. A million dollars to be exact. And only one tribe member will get it. Sounds like a casino deal gone wrong, doesn't it? But I'm not talking about band councils at sea, but something more akin to Gilligan's First Nation. I'm talking about Survivor, the CBS series that purposely stranded 16 middle-class Americans on a tropical island. The purpose is to avoid being voted off the island by your fellow castaways and win various competitions that will eventually lead to one person becoming $1 million richer (and probably a few pounds lighter).

Every moment of the castaways lives is taped and edited for our visual enjoyment. I have to admit, it's compelling television. And I'm not being sarcastic, even though I want to be. But what I do find odd is the tribalism that the producers have put at the heart of the show, as if it's necessary to get these "civilized and pampered" Americans into the mood of the game.

The two teams are referred to as tribes, named after the respective beaches they landed on. Tribe members are voted off at the dreaded tribal council. The tribe that doesn't have to go to tribal council gets to keep the council totem, a hokey looking thing that combines the worst elements of Polynesian and African totem stereotypes - you know, wild hair, frowning eyes, big teeth, gruesome smile, straw hat. (I'm not making this up!)

All this "tribalism" makes me wonder just who's in charge of this show. Hmmmmm. Let me see. Poor housing conditions. Lack of proper sanitation. Dreaded tribal council. Members getting kicked out and losing their right to live in their home. Encouraging tribe members to fight amongst themselves and neighbors for precious resources. One person making off with all the cash.

Oh my God! It's Indian Affairs! They're behind all this! No wonder it looked so familiar.