Netflix and Chill is overrated—we're all about Reality TV and Discourse. Reality TV is a reflection of modern life in every way, and we feel comfortable putting our deepest, darkest secrets on display for primetime or consuming them with a mix of shock, disgust, schadenfreude, and pity. And if reality television is a mirror, we should listen to the Godmother of it all, Paris Hilton, when she says, "never pass a mirror without looking in it." What is reality and what is real life? In this class we'll explore concepts of post-modernism, particularly Jean Baudrillard's Simulation and Simulacra, analyze how reality TV tackles taboo, and reflect on our own engagement and consumption. Fair Warning: many of the shows we'll discuss are rated TV-MA and deal with challenging topics. We think Jean Baudrillard should also come with a TV-MA rating.