The Questionable Entertainment of Jersey Shore
By Jourdan Mohamad 11th grade
Unless you’ve been isolated from the outside world, you most likely know about MTV’s hit show Jersey Shore. If, by chance, you are lucky enough to have avoided it, I will explain it quickly for you. It’s a reality show based around stereotypes of Italian-Americans who party, tan, and surround themselves with mindless drama. There have been two seasons and the third one is upon us.
Every time I have subjected myself to one of the forty-two minute episodes, I have felt myself falling back down a few branches on the evolutionary tree. The vocabulary (“Yo Dawg”) and the conversations about tanning killed off more brain cells than a concussion. As Mike “The Situation” says, “The only thing we care about is gettin’ girls and going to the gym.” Seriously? What about conflict in the Middle East? How about national debt? Or even world hunger? Maybe that’s asking too much. But, come on. Maybe if they spent less money on hair gel and tanning and possibly donated some to charity, one underprivileged child in Newark could be helped. Seriously, there’s a lot more to life than going to the gym, tanning, and doing laundry. Snookie even went as far as to say on The Jay Leno Show that she hopes to one day have tanning beds in everyone’s home. I suppose dermatologists were happy to hear that business will be booming.
The cast members love to call themselves “guidos/guidettes.” If you didn’t know, those are derogatory terms for Italian-Americans that would normally result in a punch to the face. MTV even used this as a big part of advertising the show. An Italian-American service group Unico National has expressed their views of the Jersey Shore cast calling them an embarrassment to not only Italians, but to the human race.
I’m sure there are Italians who don’t really care, but where do you draw the line? There are now shows similar to Jersey Shore focused on other nationalities such as Koreans, Russians, Irish, Canadian, and Persian. Are they going to start degrading their nationality as well? I’m sure to some people it may just be light entertainment, but sadly, some impressionable people will emulate what they think is cool. The trashy behavior they display is something that should be discouraged. It should not be given a TV show. Can you imagine what viewers in other countries must think about America when they watch Jersey Shore? The creators of South Park took on that very question in a recent episode in which Osama Bin Laden received an episode and subsequently bombed people from the Jersey Shore out of sheer horror for what he had seen.
If you disagree with me, and I know many of you will, please leave your opinions in the comment section, or write a response to thebulletin@holycrosstigers.com. What value does Jersey Shore have?
Short URL: http://www.holycrosstigers.com/blog/bulletin/?p=852
Posted by Bulletin
on Jan 7 2011. Filed under Opinion/Editorial.
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“Can you imagine what viewers in other countries must think about America when they watch Jersey Shore?”
Yes, but European television stations already air the “White Trash Fat Lady” videos, which also depict a real American family (in Virginia) of undesirables.
Foreigners must think we’re all a bunch of idiots.
Jersey Shore is a bit of a train wreck at times. But like the cast always says (if you have ever actually listened) that they are not portraying Italians, or Americans. They are portraying themselves. People try to make the show out to be a show of stereotypes but that is simply not true. People do not watch because they like to see what Italians act like, they watch because the lifestyle of these particular people is funny.
“Guidos” was not a derogatory word to Italians. the original meaning of the word was used to describe new immigrants.It was originally used by Italians. The tradition of the word Guido has nothing to do with being derogatory to Italians.
Your quote about mike was grossly taken out of context. he never said that exact quote. ( he said that they are at the jersey shore to get there “GTL on”) The quote from snooki was also taken out of context because as you may know (if you actually did proper research) that the “Jay Leno Show” is a comedy show.
As an Italian at HC, i am less embarrassed by the way the cast of jersey shore (in you say) represents than i am by you Jourdan because you obviously did minimal research.
Happy Gilmore I think your wrong in every way. I’ve seen impressionable people try to look and act like the cast of Jersey Shore. That show is an embarresment to everyone in this country. They believe in three things; working out, tanning, and getting girls. The more they tan the worse they look. It looks like their skin is about to melt off. Another thing that really bothers me is how they call “ugly girls” grenades. I’ve heard so many people call girls grenades that every time I hear the word I cringe.
The only good message that the show tells the world is that it’s very important to do your laundry.
I dont know if you have seen the show shooter but if you have than you would realize that they aren’t trying to be an example to people. Jersey shore is just a show about Vinny, Pauly, Ronnie, Mike, Sammi, Nicole, Jenni, and Angelina… now Deena. People just take them as an example which is not good. Again, if anyone will ever listen to them ( which nobody ever does) than they would realize that they are not trying to set an example or represent any given community. They are simply going to the Jersey Shore to have fun and be themselves with the other cast members. These people are a close family, even when they fight.
If you have watched before than you would have seen that they do more than work out, tan, and “get girls”. Pauly is a very successful DJ who works at the clubs these people go to. Jenni is a successful model and author. Snooki has written a new book that had a successful launch. All of these people have a successful career.
I agree that the word grenades isn’t the right thing to call a women but thats just how they talk and how everyone around them talks. That is the example that was set for them.
That show is hilarious.