Polish travelebrities’ journey “at home” – on crossing cultural boundaries and its educative implications through example of “Azja Express” reality show

Abstract

This article aims at presenting, through the anthropological and pedagogical lenses, the reality show: “Azja Express” (TVN 2016) as an example of media “invading” the cultural and physical space of an “other” by the western non-habitants. Article draws upon preliminary findings from content analyse of the episodes from the first polish version of the show, disclosing the ways in which the meeting with the “otherness”, in that case, the indigenous societies, is being conceptualized by the contestants and shaped by the producers agenda. Upon this examination authors claimed that the ways of presenting the otherness which have been broadcasted contribute to reproducing the patterns familiar to the western contestant, thus reinforcing the “orientalization” of the local context. Therefore, this TV format is rather the way for self-presentation of the “travelebrities” hitchhiking through the Global South countries with the indigenous culture as “film set”, than the opportunity for cross cultural dialogue and learning. Those conclusions raise the need for the building the intercultural and media competences among the viewers.