kayfabe

Kayfabe in professional wrestling is a term used to describe the portrayal of staged events within the industry as real. It includes the artificial storylines involving scripted, prearranged outcomes. Despite being fabricated, these narratives are presented as genuine to enhance entertainment value.

Here's a detailed exploration of how kayfabe applies beyond wrestling, based on insights from Shaan Puri and Sam Parr:

1. Definition and Origin:

   • Kayfabe refers to the portrayal in wrestling where the conflicts and rivalries are staged but presented as real conflicts. It's like a scripted duel between a hero and a villain for the benefit of the audience 1.

2. Application in Other Domains:

   • The concept of kayfabe is analogous to certain practices in media and politics, where conflicts or dramatics exchanges might be staged for mutual benefit of the participants or to drive a narrative 2.

3. Modern Examples:

   • This practice is not confined to wrestling. For instance, in politics, exchanges during press briefings might appear contentious but are part of a broader narrative that benefits both the politicians and the media involved 2.
   • On platforms like TikTok, users create and maintain artificial personas or stages incidents, which they present as genuine, mirroring the concept of kayfabe in wrestling 1.

Understanding kayfabe provides insight into how narratives can be crafted and perceived, reinforcing the blurred lines between reality and entertainment in various forms of media.