There is a Situation

The New Yorker has a feature on the allure of "Jersey Shore", which is in fact On the Radar because one of it's reality TV stars, Snooki was punched out at a bar while on camera. To think, this probably happens all the time, but it's not that really that interesting unless there's a camera there.

The feature/review makes the point the show does little to uncover American pop cultural myths through its typical reality TV stereotypes, i.e., "Guidos" or "Guidettes". Indeed, "Jersey Shore" at its heart (or lack thereof), portrays its stars as tanned and fixated on their hair, with thick accents. Are they all Italian? Probably not, but it's an easy stereotype to associate. And so goes the conundrum of reality TV: It's meant as a window into an unknown world for viewers, and often what ends up happening instead is equivalent to watching a train wreck.

There should be something else to dwell on from this show, shouldn't there, besides drunken escapades and steamy Jacuzzis? As long as viewers enjoy succumbing to their voyeuristic impulses, it's only reasonable there is some justification in indulging their curiosity over the world unknown. Not sure if this is really accomplished by following the cast as they own their will to live through self-tanner. But maybe I'm answering my own question.

Yet, there is a significant detachment from reality in watching ordinary people, (albeit the word ordinary is debatable), live their lives in the box o' wonder that is TV. Staid by the promise of short-lived celebrity and a microwaveable meaningful existence, Dante never had it so easy.