The Making of Dreams Beyond the Screen: A Comparative Study of the Public Narratives & Stance on BBN 2018 and BBN 2020 Winners

Abstract

Reality shows have long been a controversial topic in almost every nation, constantly inviting diverse attitudes from the public, ranging from approval to neutrality, to downright censure. Big Brother Naija (BBN) is no exception to this, and the following analysis aims to gauge both positive and negative public perception of the conduct of the show, and its aftermath. This investigation is achieved by juxtaposing the specific examples of the 2018 and 2020 versions of the show to highlight general treatment of the winners of said editions. Framed within the context of popular culture, the history of Big Brother Naija was first traced, from inception to present, alongside an account of the show’s rules and operations. This was followed by the aforementioned comparison, where the public’s reception towards the winners was critically examined. Framed within the framework of Variation Theory of Comparative Literature, there was found to be a significant difference, for while the 2018 winner received their prizes and proceeded onwards with virtually no problems or public protest, the 2020 winner instead became the subject of much scrutiny, most notably by a prominent religious group and certain tax offices. This study therefore reveals that stances towards the same or similar subject matter can shift immensely over time. With the knowledge of this trend—changing attitudes towards a fairly static theme—researchers will be able to conduct case studies in diverse fields to further examine said phenomenon.