MTV’s “Jersey Shore” incites more apathy than controversy

It is no secret that television companies can make money quickly and easily through reality television.

By putting outrageous personalities in a house together with crazy circumstances to test their patience, the conflict and drama practically markets itself.

Recently, MTV made a spin-off of their show, "The Real World", by putting some young adults into a house in Seaside Heights, N.J., for its newest hit show, "Jersey Shore."

Amid the show's success, however, is a lot of controversy. Many people take issue with the self-proclaimed "guidos" and "guidettes," who they say represent New Jersey residents and Italian Americans in a bad light.

"I took it [the show] a little personal," said Joe Pragallo,'12, who comes from an Italian family.  "I know my mom hated it. She refuses to watch it."

Along with those who consider the show offensive are others who realize the levity of the show and recognize it is meant purely for entertainment.

"I am an Italian resident of New Jersey and have gone to the Jersey shore my whole life, but I don't feel the show portrays me personally in any way," said Angela Bennie, '12.
Since reality shows similar to "Jersey Shore" have been around for years, some find it curious why this one has created such a stir from the beginning.

"We talked about this a good amount in class and students liked the show because they could relate to it since they like the Jersey shore and the people on the show are young," said Keith Brown, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology who teaches the Media and Popular Culture course at St. Joe's.  "They look at the people as exotic because they do things like go tanning at the shore, but they also seem sincere since they break down and have real moments on camera."

Another issue that people seem to have with the show is its portrayal of women. In one highly publicized episode, a man at a bar. punches one of the female housemates, Snooki, in the face.

In several of the episodes, the male housemates seem to collect each hookup with a woman like notches on their belts.

"The men?  They disrespected the women on the show and the female gender and treated them like a tally in the win column, not actual people," said Whitney Menarcheck, '09.

But, according to Brown, students understand how much of this show is real and how much is scripted or encouraged by the producers.

"It's not something students are proud of watching, but they are not being fooled," said Brown.  "They are aware that it is a staged reality, which is good."

Regardless, some groups are still offended by the show.  A New Jersey-based Italian-American group, UNICO, has demanded that MTV cancel the show because of its negative portrayal of Italians.

Here at Saint Joseph's University, the executives of the Italian Club have discussed the show and have come to different conclusions than UNICO.

"I feel like as far as Italians go, these people are American and they represent themselves, so you can't generalize a whole population of people," said Elizabeth Lubrano, '10.

Though its members might not be upset, the foundation which sponsors the St. Joe's Italian Club is not pleased with the content of "Jersey Shore."

"They just didn't agree with it and they were trying to get people riled up about it," said Lubrano.  "I know they were having meetings like that."

The Borough of Seaside Heights has reacted to the new phenomenon occurring in its own backyard as well.  In statements to the media, Seaside Heights township officials officially removed the Borough from any attachments to the show and announced they did not condone any of the housemates' actions.

MTV took several hits when advertisers removed funding from the show because of the controversy, including national companies like Dell and Domino's.

In an environment where almost anything can make it to the television set, one must wonder why a show has stirred up so much contention.

"I think the show was so popular because it was so crazy and probably a lot of people's guilty pleasure to watch," said Bennie.

Whether people like to admit it or not, the show was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. As much as some people wanted to look away, the drama and outlandish behavior of the people on the show kept America hooked.  Ready or not, here comes season two.

"I can't wait for the next season. I think it's hilarious how people can act like that and not think anything of it," said Liz Czakowski, '13.  "There's more to life than ‘gym, tan, laundry.'"