Survivor

A Cultural History

Joseph J Darowski author Kate Darowski author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:20th May '25

£30.00

Supplier delay - available to order, but may take longer than usual.

Survivor cover

Survivor forever changed the entertainment industry when it became a hit, bringing reality TV to mainstream audiences and launching one of the most enduring franchises on television. This book analyzes the production’s history, the castaway’s gameplay, the show as a social experiment, and more.

Survivor analyzes how the iconic CBS show revolutionized television and has grown across decades of production. It examines the series’ creation and surprising emergence as a ratings juggernaut, the evolution of gameplay, and explores the game as a social experiment by looking at themes of gender, race, age, sexuality, and socioeconomic class.

Despite the show's initial conceit of taking place on an uncharted island, Survivor is credited with putting reality TV on the map. While its place in the larger realm of culture is well-known, many may not realize what the culture within the show itself has been over the past 25 years. Joseph J. Darowski and Kate Darowski do sublime work at providing decades of tidbits about the show, from game-changing contestants and moments to various twists and turns to some of the biggest triumphs and controversies the series has received. As Survivor approaches its 25th anniversary, Survivor: A Cultural History is a firm and pleasant reminder that, much like every biannual season that starts anew, the culture and, yes, history of the show is constantly changing. -- Mike Bloom, Survivor journalist and podcaster

ISBN: 9781538196557

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 458g

224 pages