I beg to differ. If we, as a culture, spend a large portion of our discretionary time with media, shouldn't we study it? Shouldn't we have symposia where we discuss why reality TV is so popular? What it might be doing to our culture?
I'm sort of shocked hearing that statement coming from you, Kevin, as you are one of our most prolific writers about all things pop cultural. These types of symposia have been going on for a long time...anyone remember the heyday of "Madonna Studies"? While "Jersey Shore" may not qualify as high art, there are TV shows that do, in my opinion, and I think discussing them as high art is totally appropriate. (Yes, that's the Ph.D. in communications talking. Yes, I get a little defensive when people question my entire field's raison d'etre. And yes, I too hate the very notion of Jersey Shore, but I don't think that means we shouldn't talk about it.) /soapbox rant off KR -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kevin M. Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 11:52 PM A college student in Chicago was able to get funding for a symposium and series of workshops about "Jersey Shore." Apparently we now discuss reality TV the same way we discuss classic art, literature, cinema, or music. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/arts/television/jersey-shore-has-its-day-a t-university-of-chicago.html?partner=rss&emc=rss We really don't need terrorism; we manage to erode our culture without any outside interference. -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
