Author: Juliet Suess
A recent study in “Media Psychology” found that watching shows like “Jersey Shore” could in fact make a person less intelligent, a conclusion that might not surprise critics of the MTV reality show. But to David Showalter, a senior at the University of Chicago, “Jersey Shore” is not simply mindmelting television. “[The ‘Jersey Shore’] should be of interest to scholars in the fields of media and cultural studies, sociology, arthropology, race, ethinicity and gender studies,” Showalter said. That is why on Oct. 28, the University of Chicago hosted a one-day academic conference on the show, bringing in scholars from various fields to provide critical insight into the pop culture phenomenon.
“‘Jersey Shore’ is exceptionally good to think with,” Showalter said in his opening remarks at the conference, a sentiment that the various lectures in the conference took and ran with. One collection of lectures discussed the gender roles displayed in “Jersey Shore,” including “‘You Dirty Little Hamster’: The Abject and the Monstrous Feminine in Jersey Shore.” The lecture explored whether the show conveys stereotypical gender roles, a discussion mostly centered on Snooki, who takes on typically male behavior by fighting and aggressively swearing on the show.
Other lectures focused around the Italian-American identity of the stars of the show, including an examination of “Guido-sexuality.” Referring to the terms used to describe the “Shore” subculture of Guidos and Guidettes, the panel discussed the dangers of letting the show become a perceived microcosm for the entire Italian-American culture. Many scholars at the conference agreed that the portrayal of the so-called Italian-Americans on the show is plainly a form of drag and a costume any individual could wear, almost so self-referential that it has separated entirely from anything close to an ethnic identity.
The changing role of celebrities was also a topic of discussion at the conference, with many asserting that the “Jersey Shore” stars are a different form of celebrity, even as reality stars. Ellie Marshall, a McGill undergraduate and former intern on the set of “Jersey Shore,” claimed that the stars are among the most self-referential and self-aware celebrities on television, dressing more as their pre-fame selves than as any other identity. These trends of narcissism, in turn, create a vicious cycle that allow the “Shore” characters’ fame to skyrocket.
Others, like Atle Mikkola Kjosen, a graduate student at the University of Western Ontario, claimed that their 24-hour work schedule is unlike most celebrities’ jobs, as they must be in costume every minute that a camera is on them, and therefore become one with any exaggeration of behavior they exhibit. They are also unlike any other “documentary” stars because they have fame and use their locale to show off their fame.
Additional lectures discussed the “sociolinguistics” of the “Jersey Shore” cast members, who have created a new lingo frequently heard around college campuses like “grenade” and “GTL,” as well as the social acceptability of domestic violence, referring directly to characters Ronnie and Sammi and their on-and-off relationship throughout the series.
Though ‘Jersey Shore’ is not typically revered as an educational resource, Showalter was able to bring it to the consciousness of more than a few academics. “Numerous television shows, from ‘The Wire’ to ‘Judge Judy,’ are already used as course material in departments across disciplines,” Showalter said, “and I anticipate ‘Jersey Shore’ will be used similarly in the future.” With the recent conference, Showalter seems to have fulfilled his own prophecy, adding “Jersey Shore” to the list of T.V. shows that invariably have become intertwined with academic discussion.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
