What is reality? I’ve participated in a number of conversations that began this way, most of them involving either marijuana or me being 14 and thinking I could write poetry. Wait, no, they all involved one of those things. While I recognize that this may be a useful question to ask, as I’m sure the philosophy department would agree, there is also something inherently silly about almost every answer. The only answer I can think of that isn’t at least mostly foolish is this: “this.” What is reality? Reality is this. Simple, right? Not quite.

“Reality” has become the basic unit of television programming. Every major network and most cable stations offer fistfuls of reality programming every night. From Road Rules to Celebrity Fit Club to My Super Sweet 16, reality television is nearly inescapable. Yet, this isn’t really “reality,” is it? Getting voted off an island or inexplicably throwing hams through my neighbor’s plate glass window isn’t “this.” It’s “that.” But both are called “reality.” So how can reality mean both “this” and “that?” Is this the reverse of the flammable/inflammable effect? Who is John Galt? I’m so confused.

There are certainly no answers to be found in the new semi-improvised multimedia theater experience, Real World: Oberlin. Now, we’ve all seen, cumulatively, at least 12 episodes of MTV’s Real World and the lack of “this” is obvious. Perhaps the most “this” moment, and my personal favorite, was Pedro flipping out over Puck’s peanut buttery fingers. Most of the show may as well be fiction, something separated far from our “this.” While I could imagine, in some strange situation, falling out a bathroom window like Ruthie, moments like Sean slapping crazy Irene or Robin breaking Charlie’s guitar because he slept in during his first week in the house are definitely “that.” Real World: Oberlin knows this and that is what makes it so good. Using fantastic editing and a keen self-awareness, this group has “that” in a firm yet tender embrace. Even after one episode, I was hooked. Love intrigue. Wild confrontations. A bit of nudity. Come next Thursday, I’m there.

But back to our original question, can Real World: Oberlin help to illuminate exactly what reality is? After all, if it is going to call itself “reality,” there should at least be some working definition at hand. The answer they give is surprisingly savvy, even if they aren’t aware they were asked the question. In accepting that anything billing itself as “reality” (the only exception may be Coca-cola touting itself as “the real thing,” thereby subtly suggesting Pepsi to be false; let DeCafe take note), Real World: Oberlin has gone full force towards “that” and ended up landing much closer to “this.” True, I highly doubt we will see footage of Will putting on deodorant or Jas sending e-mails but there is something in these performances more pure than daily routine. The fear that comes with doing improv in front of a live audience, the actors’ obvious bonds with one another as people – these are the things that link “that” Oberlin to “this” Oberlin. So, somehow, Real World: Oberlin is both “this” and “that” and, if not, it is at least closer to “this” than wearing a clock around my neck and apologizing to Brigitte Nielson’s family for being short. And that is reality.