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In 2020, book critic Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell applied the term to [[Romance novel|romance fiction]], pointing out that many novels involving “dating in the digital age” involve competence, or “the all-too-rare spectacle of mutual respect between two grown-ass adults at the top of their personal and professional games.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chrisman-Campbell |first=Kimberly |date=2020-02-11 |title=The Rise of Competence Porn |url=https://bookandfilmglobe.com/fiction/the-rise-of-competence-porn/ |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Book and Film Globe |language=en-US}}</ref> |
In 2020, book critic Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell applied the term to [[Romance novel|romance fiction]], pointing out that many novels involving “dating in the digital age” involve competence, or “the all-too-rare spectacle of mutual respect between two grown-ass adults at the top of their personal and professional games.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chrisman-Campbell |first=Kimberly |date=2020-02-11 |title=The Rise of Competence Porn |url=https://bookandfilmglobe.com/fiction/the-rise-of-competence-porn/ |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Book and Film Globe |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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In January 13, 2026, Jada Yuan, writing for ”[[The Washington Post]]”, shifted the term to “competency porn” and applied it to shows like ”The Pitt” and [[Industry (TV series)|”Industry”]], arguing that it became a means of escapism in light of the incompetence seen in news events.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-13 |title=Column {{!}} TV’s most satisfying escape right now is watching ‘competency porn’ |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2026/01/13/competency-porn-tv-movies/ |access-date=2026-02-06 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On the same day, ”The Guardian” did a Pass Notes installment on the term, stating that “In 2026, when it feels as though the world is moments away from any number of disasters, there is nothing hotter than watching someone do their job really, really well.”<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-13 |title=Competency porn: is there any greater escapism than watching a capable person on TV? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jan/13/competency-porn-escapism-watching-capable-person-tv |access-date=2026-02-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
In January 13, 2026, Jada Yuan, writing for ”[[The Washington Post]]”, shifted the term to “competency porn” and applied it to shows like ”The Pitt” and [[Industry (TV series)|”Industry”]], arguing that it became a means of escapism in light of the incompetence seen in news events.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-13 |title=Column {{!}} TV’s most satisfying escape right now is watching ‘competency porn’ |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2026/01/13/competency-porn-tv-movies/ |access-date=2026-02-06 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On the same day, ”The Guardian” did a Pass Notes installment on the term, stating that “In 2026, when it feels as though the world is moments away from any number of disasters, there is nothing hotter than watching someone do their job really, really well.”<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-13 |title=Competency porn: is there any greater escapism than watching a capable person on TV? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jan/13/competency-porn-escapism-watching-capable-person-tv |access-date=2026-02-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
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== Examples == |
== Examples == |
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In 2024, ”[[Lifehacker]]” compiled a list of thirty movies and television shows that could be considered competence porn, including ”[[Ocean’s Eleven]]”, [[Moneyball (film)|”Moneyball”]], ”[[Star Trek]]”, and ”[[The Prestige]]”, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walbert |first=Meghan Moravcik |last2=Johnson |first2=Ross |last3=Cunningham |first3=Joel |date=2024-06-14 |title=30 Movies and TV Shows That Are Basically ‘Competence Porn’ |url=https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv-shows-that-are-basically-competence-porn |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Lifehacker |language=en}}</ref> |
In 2024, ”[[Lifehacker]]” compiled a list of thirty movies and television shows that could be considered competence porn, including ”[[Ocean’s Eleven]]”, [[Moneyball (film)|”Moneyball”]], ”[[Star Trek]]”, and ”[[The Prestige]]”, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walbert |first=Meghan Moravcik |last2=Johnson |first2=Ross |last3=Cunningham |first3=Joel |date=2024-06-14 |title=30 Movies and TV Shows That Are Basically ‘Competence Porn’ |url=https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv-shows-that-are-basically-competence-porn |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Lifehacker |language=en}}</ref> |
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In a 2025 interview with [[NPR]], [[ER (TV series)|”ER”]] and ”The Pitt” actor Noah Wyle used the term “competency porn” to describe ”The Pitt”<nowiki/>’s focus on accurately portraying technical medical scenes rather than drama or spectacle: |
In a 2025 interview with [[NPR]], [[ER (TV series)|”ER”]] and ”The Pitt” actor Noah Wyle used the term “competency porn” to describe ”The Pitt”<nowiki/>’s focus on accurately portraying technical medical scenes rather than drama or spectacle:<blockquote>”One of the decisions we made early on was to not employ any soundtrack in the show… We’re letting the sort of symphony of the sound of the procedures in the room be our cadence… And it’s really less important the audience understands and more important that the audience sees that the doctors know what they’re talking about. It’s competency porn.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Dave |date=2025-04-21 |title=After years of avoiding the ER, Noah Wyle feels ‘right at home’ in ‘The Pitt’ |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/04/21/nx-s1-5352332/noah-wyle-the-pitt-er |access-date=2026-02-06 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>In 2026, Yuan listed ”The Pitt”, ”The Diplomat”, ”Industry”, ”[[Abbott Elementary]]”, [[Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (TV series)|”Star Trek: Starfleet Academy”]], [[Hijack (TV series)|”Hijack”]], [[Pluribus (TV series)|”Pluribus”]], and [[Survivor (American TV series)|”Survivor”]] as examples of competency porn.<ref name=”:0″ /> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Latest revision as of 05:19, 6 February 2026
Form of escapism
Competency porn, or competence porn, is a term describing media that portrays competency, qualification, intelligence, and other rigorous, capable qualities. Coined in 2009 by screenwriter John Rogers, it has often been used in coverage regarding television shows like The Pitt and The Diplomat and movies like Apollo 13.[1][2][3]
History and definition
[edit]
The term “competence porn” was defined by John Rogers, the screenwriter of Leverage, in 2009 as “a shorthand way to talk about the very specific kind of satisfaction that we feel when watching folks competently handle complex situations using the kinds of specialized skills and expertise that we can all appreciate.”[4][5] While often used for television shows and movies, it has also been used to refer to YouTube videos and other online content.[6]
In 2020, book critic Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell applied the term to romance fiction, pointing out that many novels involving “dating in the digital age” involve competence, or “the all-too-rare spectacle of mutual respect between two grown-ass adults at the top of their personal and professional games.”[7]
In January 13, 2026, Jada Yuan, writing for The Washington Post, shifted the term to “competency porn” and applied it to shows like The Pitt and Industry, arguing that it became a means of escapism in light of the incompetence seen in news events.[8] On the same day, The Guardian did a Pass Notes installment on the term, stating that “In 2026, when it feels as though the world is moments away from any number of disasters, there is nothing hotter than watching someone do their job really, really well.”[9]
In 2024, Lifehacker compiled a list of thirty movies and television shows that could be considered competence porn, including Ocean’s Eleven, Moneyball, Star Trek, and The Prestige, among others.[10]
In a 2025 interview with NPR, ER and The Pitt actor Noah Wyle used the term “competency porn” to describe The Pitt‘s focus on accurately portraying technical medical scenes rather than drama or spectacle:
“One of the decisions we made early on was to not employ any soundtrack in the show… We’re letting the sort of symphony of the sound of the procedures in the room be our cadence… And it’s really less important the audience understands and more important that the audience sees that the doctors know what they’re talking about. It’s competency porn.”[11]
In 2026, Yuan listed The Pitt, The Diplomat, Industry, Abbott Elementary, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Hijack, Pluribus, and Survivor as examples of competency porn.[8]
- ^ “The Pitt slows back down for some competency porn”. AV Club. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Angell, Elizabeth (2025-10-21). “‘Competency porn’ is what makes this show click”. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Goldberg, Matt (2020-07-02). “Why Apollo 13 Is Competency Porn”. Collider. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Ayers, Rachel (2023-07-24). “Competence Porn Is Comforting — Where Can I Find More of It?”. Reactor. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Shetty, Sharan (2015-10-09). “The Martian Is Not “Competence Porn”“. Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ “The surprising appeal of competency porn”. SBS Voices. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Chrisman-Campbell, Kimberly (2020-02-11). “The Rise of Competence Porn”. Book and Film Globe. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ a b “Column | TV’s most satisfying escape right now is watching ‘competency porn’“. The Washington Post. 2026-01-13. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ “Competency porn: is there any greater escapism than watching a capable person on TV?”. The Guardian. 2026-01-13. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Walbert, Meghan Moravcik; Johnson, Ross; Cunningham, Joel (2024-06-14). “30 Movies and TV Shows That Are Basically ‘Competence Porn’“. Lifehacker. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ^ Davies, Dave (2025-04-21). “After years of avoiding the ER, Noah Wyle feels ‘right at home’ in ‘The Pitt’“. NPR. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
