Affect and Belonging in Late Capitalism: A Speculative Narrative on Reality TV

Abstract

This essay puts forward a theory of communication apart from the dominant practices of ideology analysis and political economic inquiry. To do so, it connects affect to the Marxist theory of value production and tracks its circulation throughout activities inspired by reality TV participation. It follows the transmissions of affect through its cultural, political, and economic expressions and studies the habituated practices engendered from this television form, exploring the contradictions within different moments, some of which produce cultural and political values and others of which produce economic value.