Hey guys/gals, sorry to do this ( I promised I had shut this pandora's
box) but I was thinking about the Real World and thinking about how they
choose who to be on the show. I mean, there's always a certain ethnic/sexual
orientation represented and it's usually pretty consistent. For example, in
the last couple seasons there's been "one gay guy", 2 or less
African-Americans (counting Melissa since she identifies with this ethnic
classification). Why don't we ever see like 4 African-Americans (out of a
cast of 6), or two gay guys, or two asians, or one Native American (you get
my drift). Out of the six people chosen, 4 are usually white/and or
heterosexual. This is also the case on Road Rules. While some may argue that
MTV is trying to find a "sample" which is representative of the population
on the whole, this explanation still doesn't hold up (I don't remember
seeing too many Hispanics portrayed in the last couple seasons). Has there
ever been a native-american cast member?
Another idea: Do you guys think that the "ethnic minority" cast members
are purpously chosen based upon conjecture that their personalities may add
"friction" or "tension" to the group? Please don't take this the wrong way,
but I feel that the people who do casting do tend to "seek out" individuals
who have issues because of the societal oppression/discrimination they've
faced. I suppose this can reaffirm stereotypes about certain "groups" (re:
the "angry young black man", or the adulterous "playa" ). From hot-headed
Sean in Seattle (I think that's what his name was) to the dude on the Road
Rules last year who would always storm off and be antisocial (he always wore
a Howard U. t-shirt), to David and his playa mentality ("Come on be my baby
tonight...I know how you've treated other thugs you've been with..."etc.) if
I were a young African American male I would feel very misrepresented by
this show. How about showing a young African American male who is amiable,
intelligent, and not all about ballin' and gettin' his groove on. I know
many cool black people who don't perpetuate these stereotypes.
I know personally, being part Irish, that if every season MTV had a cast
member of Irish-decent, wearing Notre Dame merchandise, with a shamrock
tatto, listening to House of Pain, drunk out of his mind on whisky all the
time, etc., etc., I would be angry as hell for such a consistently
stereotypical portrayal. I could then no longer doubt that MTV was
intentionally choosing people who fit a "certain negative stereotype"
(negative in my view, anywho) Since I assume most of the people on this
list are Caucasian, I'm curious if there are any people of other ethnicities
reading this, and if so, what's your opinion on this issue??
P.S. Anybody remember the lame cartoon from the 80s called "Kidd Video"? It
was sort of like trying to be a "cool" version of Alvin & The Chipmunks with
these teenagers where they got to play their own little music
videos...Atrocious stuff...
