The following picture will probably make you sick in about 5 seconds…
…and yet this is how Italian-American people are lately represented. By this time, everyone knows what Jersey Shore is, so we can easily understand why it’s considered the most controversial MTV’s show ever.
Besides the fact that they embody the classic stereotypes linked to Italian-Americans, such as mummy’s boys, anti-intellectual, polished and so on, these guys constantly use the terms guidos and guidettes to define themselves…but let me show you two “notable” quotes belonging to some of the protagonists:
“I was born and raised a guido. It’s just a lifestyle, it’s being Italian, it’s representing, family, friends, tanning, gel, everything” – Pauly-D
“A guidette is somebody who knows how to club it up, takes really good care of themselves, has pretty hair, cakes on makeup, has tanned skin, wears the hottest heals, pretty much they know how to own it and rock it.” – Sammi
In fact, the most controversial element of the show is probably just the use of these two terms which are perceived as strongly pejorative by Italian immigrants.
Not to mention the countless bad examples they set, like getting constantly tanned (no matter the skin damages), being sexually dissolute, going to jail, using swearwords, ecc…
It’s quite obvious that most Italian-American people don’t identify themselves in these role models and feel very ashamed that they have been chosen to be their representatives.
Non sono proprio un’appassionata di Jersey Shore ma la sera quando sono alla tv ed è in onda lo guardo volentieri! Mi fa molto ridere, solo che, come hai detto tu, non danno un buon esempio a noi giovani e soprattutto non fanno buona pubblicità agli Italo-Americani e a noi Italiani in generale. Yeah buddyy!
Ahah, si è vero. Rimani quasi impallata su MTV quando lo vedi..non riesci a cambiare canale!
Ti fanno fare due risate, forse proprio perchè sono così ridicoli! In ogni caso, abbasso le “meatballs”! 