The Assignment with Audie Cornish “Love is Blind” Is About More Than Dating
Nov 6, 2025
Anne Helen Petersen, culture writer and host of the Culture Study podcast, joins Audie to dive deep into the social ramifications of "Love Is Blind." They explore the show's rapid dating arc and why it captivates viewers. Discussion includes the ethics of casting conventions, the show's emotional grip, and how it reflects today's gender and economic issues. They also debate the potential for AI in reality TV and examine international adaptations. It's a rich conversation that reveals much about our cultural landscape.
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Dating Condensed Into A TV Timeline
- Love Is Blind compresses the full arc of modern dating into a TV production timeline, accelerating years of relationship development into weeks.
- That compression reveals cultural attitudes about love, commitment, and how people perform intimacy for audiences.
Season One Feels Like An Ideal
- Audie recommends starting with season one because it captured early genuineness before the show became formulaic.
- She describes season one as "the President Obama of Love Is Blind" for its hopeful tone.
Hot Casting Lowers Viewer Empathy
- The show favors conventionally attractive casts so viewers can emotionally distance and enjoy voyeurism without empathy.
- Casting hot people reduces perceived ethical stakes and encourages exploitation as entertainment.
