Revolution and reality shows: Nepal’s CPN and the media worlds of late capitalism

Abstract

As performance reality television shows have become popular in Nepal, singers, musicians and dancers from the various communist parties’ cultural groups have begun to take part in them and draw on them for artistic inspiration. Yet reality shows are also closely associated with neo-liberal capitalism, and these artists’ participation has thus been criticized by some on the political left. This article examines the resulting interaction of aesthetics and values when communist artists, reality show expectations and cultural criticism meet. I draw on twenty years’ engagement with Nepal’s music industry as a performer and ethnographer, and in-person and online fieldwork with communist cultural groups between 2012 and 2021. I focus on artists associated with the far-left party known officially as the Communist Party of Nepal and informally as Biplav’s CPN; a party that emerged from the former CPN (Maoist). Outlining points of articulation and conflict between the values of these Maoist artists and of commercial music and dance competition reality shows, I argue that as communists living in late capitalism, these artists strive to use reality shows as platforms and as sources of artistic inspiration to shape reality and inspire others towards their dreams of creating a more egalitarian society.