The Representation of Surrogacy: TV Series and Real Practice

This article explores a novel topic in the contemporary sociocultural sphere, concerning the shift of the “surrogacy” issue from the realm of reproductive medicine, a specialised field of research, to the broader public domain, encompassing social and cultural dimensions. Mass culture has long been fulfilling the mission of a translator of the basic requests and values of the average person. The TV series is a cultural phenomenon that captures the changes occurring in traditional societal structures, particularly family, motherhood, and childhood. The issue of surrogacy has evolved from a purely medical concern to a matter of public interest. It is evident that surrogacy has become a prevalent topic in various serial genres, ranging from comedy to detective and thriller series. Given the broad appeal of the TV series, its engagement with a novel topic is noteworthy. This engagement serves to underscore the importance of the issue and fosters greater interest among viewers in exploring the problem further. Therefore, the TV series identifies the subject of the conversation, its content (semantics), and demonstrates the technical and technological aspects of the new phenomenon, satisfying the viewer’s interest in answering the question “how it works” (pragmatics). The article identifies common misconceptions about the phenomenon under study. It employs a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from cultural and sociological studies to highlight the nuances of artistic mastery and the authentic perspectives of the subjects involved in the surrogacy process, including surrogate mothers, recipients, medical professionals, legal counsel, and specialists from recruitment agencies. The materials for the study include a corpus of TV series on the topic and 16 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with surrogate mothers.