(Don’t) Trust the Process: The Bachelor Season 29

Join us for The Most Dramatic Fanlink Ever, The Bachelor Season 29 featuring Grant Ellis, for all of the rants, (not-quite) celebrity gossip, and polyamorous queer media critique of your dreams. The longest-running reality dating show, The Bach’s viewership has inexplicably increased in recent seasons culminating in 6.31 million viewers of the latest season finale. As viewers, we hold multiple truths: we relish The Bachelor’s camp, sparkles, over-the-top storylines, and rare moments of emotional resonance, while rolling our eyes at its antiquated scripts about love, marriage, and desirability. In this Fanlink, we will explore productive modes of critique that name and work to undo the oppressive narratives reiterated in this show, while eschewing shame around viewing practices.

We’ll use this group date to ask the big questions: How does this predictable, formulaic show continue to attract so many viewers? How, in so many seasons, has there still been (basically) no onscreen queer content? How can we address the fatphobia, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism, and white supremacy that are central features of this franchise? Drawing on feminist media studies, fan culture, queer and trans theory, polyamory frameworks, and critical race theory, this Fanlink is part fan/anti-fan club, part casual media studies seminar.

Join us once a week in the Fantasy Suite (Zoom Room) the day after episodes stream to share contestant gossip, hot takes, and dig into The Bachelor’s cultural impact. Sessions will feature short lectures with essential Bachelor Theory, critical media studies content, and reality TV history. You’ll also have the opportunity to build community with other villains (participants) while exploring how fan culture can be a form of activism. “(Don’t) Trust the Process” examines how to ethically consume the trashy media our hearts crave, while providing concrete routes toward undoing oppression in our media landscapes. You never know, your future spouse could be in this very room… or at least your future watch party buddies.