Monday, July 26, 2010

Reality TV

Reality TV shows have become a strong source of entertainment for the American public. However, certain shows such as the MTV hit show, "Jersey Shore," have created a sense of uneasiness and inappropriateness. The show has gotten so out of hand that the New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, has claimed that the show is a "negative" view of his state and doesn't "depict the New Jersey he knows." I feel like reality TV has gone from somewhat reality to just fake entertainment. On the first season of the “Jersey Shore” a cast member named, Snooki, was soccer punched to the face at a bar on the beach. The hit was so graphic that it was not shown on TV but was leaked online. I believe that this kind of advertisement is wrong and should not be shown or become a laughing matter. These shows think that violence, profanity, and vulgarity are ways to engage the public. I think that it is poisoning the youth’s minds and creating a new image of what is right when it is just the opposite and is highly inappropriate. On the Fox News Strategy Room it became known that the show had drawn “outrage from Italian-American advocacy group UNICO.” The advocacy group has goals to “promote and enhance the image of Italian-Americans.” The shows cast members are constantly bragging about how they are “guido’s” and “guidette’s” when three of the cast members are not even Italian. They refer to the ethnicity as being a “lifestyle” and “not, like, Italians,” said J-WOWW of the show. I just don’t understand how someone can find fake Italians, who dress up like strippers, and party till they pass out entertaining. It’s disgusting and I hope the American public will soon realize the idiocracy of this show and have it, and others like it, cancelled.

1 comment:

  1. Alexandra- I agree with your statement about how it distorts television viewers perception of the real world. It really is amazing what the media will show on air these days. I would take it even a step further and elaborate on how reality television ruins American's perception on politics.

    I feel that reality television and all the pop culture involved, severely bombards America's perception. My favorite example I use, is all the effects of American Idol and how people use pop culture to influence their political knowledge and decision-making. All the flashy media interaction where you text in a vote, log online to get behind the scenes footage, and absorb all the catchy headlines on the cover of magazine about the latest interview, is how America believes it should delve into expanding one's understanding of government.

    Today, you see the Obama family in magazines and Entertainment Tonight shows, books, and advertising. It starts to make you wonder what's more important to this President, helping America with economic growth and prosperity, or extend his marketing scheme to up his image and popularity? Sure he is a charismatic speaker, but swaying American's emotions distorts true objective understanding of what the people should follow in government to make educated and informed voting decisions.

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