Super Stream Message A research on the media complexity of VPRO’s psychological experiment Super Stream Me Name: Josse van Meegeren Student number: 10627057 Supervisor: Dhr. Dr. J. W. Kooijman Second reader: Dhr. Dr. J. A. Teurlings University: University of Amsterdam Master: Television and Cross-Media Culture Date of completion: 24/06/2016 1 Abstract In this thesis, VPRO’s privacy experiment Super Stream Me (2015) is discussed in terms of its media complexity. Super Stream Me consisted of two parts: a livestream via which the participants and also filmmakers Tim den Besten and Nicolaas Veul were monitored for sixteen days and a four-part documentary series that was based on the footage of the livestream. The programme makers presented Super Stream Me as a psychological experiment, but in this thesis I argue that the programme was also a media experiment with a clear-cut message that was being conveyed, namely that social media are dangerous and threaten our privacy. The analysis has divided Super Stream Me into three different parts: the livestream, the documentary series and its relation with the viewers. The double role of Tim and Nicolaas as participants as well as makers, next to the double role of the viewer as active participant and as invader of privacy, both display how Super Stream Me can be interpreted as a media experiment. 2 Acknowledgements It is hard to believe how quickly this past year has gone by. When I started the professional track of Television and Cross-Media Culture, my goal was to deepen my knowledge regarding Media Studies and broaden my perspective on possible professionals paths to take. I can honestly say that I have reached this goal: writing this thesis allowed me to challenge my academic skills, which I very much enjoyed, and my internship at NTR has helped me to concretise what I inspire to do after I graduate. However, this would not have been possible without the following people. First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor Jaap Kooijman for his great insights and feedback throughout this thesis process. He kept pushing me to take my research to the next level and I found his way of supervising very pleasant. I also want to acknowledge Linda Duits, who agreed to meet with me to talk about Super Stream Me. Her enthusiasm and inside information really helped me writing the last chapter of my thesis. And lastly, I am very grateful to have such a great support system of family and friends. Thanks to Ingmar in particular, who has been my biggest support over the last couple of months and who managed to lift my spirits every time I felt discouraged (especially on Sundays). 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER ONE: FROM BIG BROTHER TO SUPER STREAM ME ............................................ 9 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Reality TV and the “Real” in Reality .................................................................................................................... 10 The Ordinary Celebrity Under Surveillance .................................................................................................... 13 Multiplatform Event Television ........................................................................................................................... 17 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER TWO: THE LIVESTREAM AS REALITY TELEVISION ........................................ 20 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 20 One Big Status Update .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Surveillance.............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Multiplatform Format .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Highlights of Super Stream Me .............................................................................................................................. 27 Highlight 1: Tim Poops for the First Time ..................................................................................................... 28 Highlight 2: Tim Does Something Very Stupid ............................................................................................. 29 Highlight 3: Tim Meets a Fan ............................................................................................................................. 31 Highlight 4: End of the Experiment ................................................................................................................. 32 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER THREE: THE CONSTRUCTED NARRATIVE OF THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES ................................................................................................................................................ 35 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Modes of Documentary ............................................................................................................................................ 36 Construction of a Narrative .................................................................................................................................... 38 The Voice-Over ....................................................................................................................................................... 39 Commentary by Experts ..................................................................................................................................... 41 4 Twitter Feeds .......................................................................................................................................................... 44 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER FOUR: THE INVESTED VIEWER ............................................................................. 48 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 48 Two New Best Friends ............................................................................................................................................. 49 The “Free Labour” of the Viewers ....................................................................................................................... 53 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 57 CONCLUSION: DOUBLE ROLES ................................................................................................... 59 Reference List ................................................................................................................................. 62 Media List ......................................................................................................................................... 64 CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................................................................... 64 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................................................... 64 CHAPTER FOUR...................................................................................................................................................... 65 Attachment One: Daily Reports ................................................................................................ 66 Attachment Two: Highlights ...................................................................................................... 69 5 INTRODUCTION Being observed every moment of the day and having an audience of strangers watch your every move: in the summer of 2015 this was the reality for Tim den Besten and Nicolaas Veul. Tim and Nicolaas were the participants as well as the filmmakers of VPRO’s psychological privacy experiment Super Stream Me, which consisted of two parts: a livestream that viewers could watch for a duration of sixteen days on the official Super Stream Me website and a four-part documentary series that was broadcasted on Dutch public television channel NPO 3 two months after the livestream. In today’s social media environment, in which people tend to share a great deal of their private lives in public, the main question the makers of Super Stream Me wanted to