Can something be both completely fake and completely real at the same time? Through the remarkable case of Jury Duty, this thought-provoking session explores the blurred line between reality and performance, challenging how we think about authenticity, storytelling and ethics in an era of increasingly hybrid television.
Reality TV is increasingly blurring the boundaries between fact and fiction. This session explores how programmes such as Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee, 2023) combine scripted comedy with documentary techniques, inviting audiences to engage with both the story being told and the process of its creation.
Jury Duty follows Ronald Gladden, the only participant unaware that an entire jury trial, along with his fellow jurors, is completely staged. Rather than disguising its constructed nature, the series encourages viewers to reflect on the tension between scripted storytelling and documentary realism.
Through its blend of eccentric characters, comedic scenarios and genuine human reactions, Jury Duty raises important questions about authenticity, ethics and media representation. We'll explore how the programme's focus on empathy and kindness distinguishes it from traditional hoax television, while examining how the relationship between cast, crew and the unsuspecting Ronald shapes our understanding of reality TV today.
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