Flipping through the channels on your TV, you suddenly remember it’s Thursday – or, as some people call it, “Jersday”. Frantically, you flip to MTV at 8:59 to watch the beginning of the newest episode of Jersey Shore.
In the past five years, reality television has been at an all-time high, and MTV is one of the networks at the core of this movement. Some may argue that “Jersey Shore is stupid,” or “All those teen moms shouldn’t get TV shows for messing up their lives,” or even that we’re losing brain cells by watching such “stupid” television.
But what most people don’t realize is, despite the fact that these shows may be pointless, they do influence our culture tremendously. From sayings to fashion statements, reality television is truly becoming our literal reality.
Just think: before Jersey Shore was on television, had you ever heard the phrase GTL? Probably not. And now, GTL not only stands for “gym, tan, laundry,” but has spurred other phrases like “gym, tan, lax.” Jersey Shore has also given girls the infamous “Snooki-poof,” where girls’ bangs are pulled back and puffed up.
And other shows like Teen Mom are just as influential. Before Teen Mom was a show, sex was something that wasn’t meant to be talked about on TV. But now, it is something that is taken in stride and can be more openly talked about, on and off television.
Another benefit of Teen Mom is that it shows the repercussions of being a teen mom. Some may argue that the show is glamorizing teen pregnancy, but in reality it is doing the exact opposite. The show shows the struggles of being a teen mom, how difficult life is, and the problems it causes with family, friends, and even the baby’s parents.
Even though MTV may not be “music” television anymore, it continues to be right in the middle of the newest pop culture sensation: reality television. The network is one of the driving factors that keeps this type of show around, and without these reality shows we’ve come to love, we would lose some of our biggest pop-culture influences.