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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Ever since Jerry Springer, but I just saw another one of those 'dumb southerners/hicks' reality show which was hilarious and so cheesy/obviously staged, and it got me noticing there are an awful lot of these shows that make fun of Southerners/rednecks. From Swamp People to Honey Boo Boo Child, it's like Southerners are one group you can have a laugh at the expense of without feeling guilty. They perpetuate a lot of ignorant stereotypes about the South, even if they contain some truth.
What do you think about them? Let us know if you're a Southerner or not. And have they had a negative impact on perceptions of Southerners/stereotypes?
Ignorance most certainly extends north of the Mason Dixon line if people believe everything they see on the 'History' channel lmao.
I'm not a southerner, but what about the Jersey Shore type shows?
I would put them in the same category. Southerners are not alone in being made fun of. Then again, is it making fun of someone? It's not as if the shows are being made against the will of the people in them.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,068,476 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by CodyW
I'm not a southerner, but what about the Jersey Shore type shows?
I would put them in the same category. Southerners are not alone in being made fun of. Then again, is it making fun of someone? It's not as if the shows are being made against the will of the people in them.
They make fun of Southerners/Jersey Shore types, alright, not just those specific people. Just because they don't mind being made fun of/or can't see it, doesn't mean a whole group should bear the consequences.
Perhaps most of these "reality" shows focus on the South because that's where the most interesting people with the best stories are? Just as in American Literature? Think about it. People love to hate on Mississippi, yet the Magnolia State arguably produced some of the finest literary masterpieces this nation has to offer. Same for Georgia and Alabama. Same for music!
The North is pretty one-demensional.
PS -- I'm a Southerner so I can say this. I'm not defending "reality" TV (it's cheap and tawdry) just pointing out the obvious.
It's low brow and I don't watch it. It's not just Southerners (though that is the current culture du jour), but generally the dregs of American society, the lowest, least educated, trashiest, most vapid human beings who inhabit this country...something that for some strange reason is fascinating to a great number of people. But the subject matter is banal. It's just the natural progression from the Jerry Springer's/Maury Povich's, the Judge Judy's, Jersey Shore, Jackass, pretty much everything on MTV, etc.
I guess to sum it up, people have a fascination with low class idiots so they can feel better about themselves.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,068,476 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by nashvols
It's low brow and I don't watch it. It's not just Southerners (though that is the current culture du jour), but generally the dregs of American society, the lowest, least educated, trashiest, most vapid human beings who inhabit this country...something that for some strange reason is fascinating to a great number of people. But the subject matter is banal. It's just the natural progression from the Jerry Springer's/Maury Povich's, the Judge Judy's, Jersey Shore, Jackass, pretty much everything on MTV, etc.
I guess to sum it up, people have a fascination with low class idiots so they can feel better about themselves.
I guess shows about the 'lowest common denominator' also appeal to the LCD.
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