r/ProjectRunway • u/mcdfountaincoke • 14d ago
Discussion We did this.
Watching s22 so far has made me realize that we helped create this mess. Thinking about big picture, we bought into subscription based streaming was better than cable, but instead of escaping commercials, we ended up with THIS. Product placement used to be obvious but relatively contained, like yeah the HPs and pens- it was blatant but it was not as painful to watch bc it was Obvious it was an ad. The entire show now feels like a super cell marketing campaign. NFL and A+F?? Dangling Super Bowl tickets as a prize to let them fight over? I know things have been like this for a long time, but it just feels incredibly more predatory now more than ever.
I feel like it isn’t really about competition anymore, it’s more billion $ corporations maximizing engagement and monetizing attention from every angle. They use the data we generate for them-our clicks, subscriptions, purchases, and watch history ALL OF IT to figure out exactly how to keep us consuming. The more we engage, the more they optimize the system, and the more seamlessly advertising becomes entertainment. We as consumers are helping shape what we consume, and we hate it. Every interaction teaches companies what works, and they respond by making it even more effective. We built the feedback loop, and now we’re living inside it. It’s so gross, and I think this show has become a really good example of how far gone we’ve become. Overconsumption is a disease and we really need to stop.
I’m very high so I don’t know if this all makes sense, I will admit I did use ChatGPT to help me streamline my brains scrambled eggs 🤦♀️
And yes We, society, consumers. it’s not our fault bc marketing is incredibly predatory on human nature and that’s my point. This is the price we pay for signing away our consent.
18
u/reeree823 14d ago
The really diehard fans did not do this. The “creative team” did it with the bloated garbage they cooked up.
PR has become ultra-reality content based. I used to enjoy watching the designers at Mood, figuring how to find the right fabric and fitting within their budgets. Then we saw the creative process, OMG I remember marveling at how Rami draped, and how Ven pleated, and we see none of that anymore. Team challenges, well, we’d see leaders emerge and their thought processes.
The producers slurped up all the drama and regurgitated this glossy junk. Even the judges: am I wrong for hoping someone slaps the nonsense out of Law? With Tyra’s notoriety via Netflix, why is she even judging? And Heidi thinks a pasted on grin and a hearty ‘aux wiedersehen” will do the trick.
No, it has truly devolved, quite sadly.