Advertainment and the construction of decision-making power in MTV's Making the Band

This paper explores the popular MTV show Making the Band as both commentary about the entertainment industry, and a cultural commodity from the entertainment industry. Specifically, it analyzes the program's symbolic construction of the entertainment industry, especially the portrayal of personal agency and decision-making. The concepts of pseudo-realism and advertainment are used to critique how the program targets desirable demographics and maintains a brand-friendly environment, thus influencing its portrayal. The paper describes how representations and framing of cultural production in Making the Band undermine accurate understanding and structural critique of influential media institutions.