2008 Woodie Awards
"True Life" episode reveals the real MTV: a moral wasteland
By Ed Baker
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Daily Buzz
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No, MTV is fine without videos. It's probably better - or at least more entertaining.
My problem with MTV is that it's a moral wasteland. In its quest for ratings, the network has pushed the absolute dregs of society on the minds of tweens, teenagers and college students.
I've got no problems with sex, drugs and rock 'n roll - I do, or have, engaged plenty of times in all three. And for years I was an admitted MTV junkie.
But then shows like "My Super Sweet 16" and "The Hills" started to work their way onto the network's programming schedule.
I'm not going to jump to broad conclusions and say that the people on these shows are terrible people - but the way the editors characterize their behavior, and thus the way viewers see them, certainly makes them seem that way.
Here, MTV presents for us to idolize absolutely unappreciative, conniving, backstabbing brats who have little or no appreciation for the things they have, their lot in life or the reality of the world around them. They behave in a way that is disgraceful and still, largely, get anything they want.
What a message: act like a jerk and live the privileged life. How's that for a real world education?
But, honestly, I can live with those shows. I understand that most viewers are smart enough to watch those shows and largely see those people for who they are - somebody we wouldn't want to be.
Last night, though, I saw a show that put me over the edge: the "I Work in the Sex Industry" episode of "True Life."
In it, three people are featured: Rebekah, a young woman who works in the front office of a porn production company; Aaron, a straight guy who does gay porn because he gets paid $5,000 a shoot to do it; and Shawntelle, a radio host with a sex show who really likes to talk about, and apparently have, sex.
The episode takes us through, literally, a non-stop barrage of all the things that are great about these peoples lives: Aaron loves his job because "he gets lots of perks and makes more money than anyone he knows;" Rebekah - whose only problem in life, apparently, is the heartbreak of not of having a boyfriend - loves her job and "will be in the adult industry for a long time." And Shawntelle is incredibly awesome because she is, in her mind, the voice of all women who are afraid to talk about sex.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
Yoyoyo
posted 5/21/08 @ 7:51 PM MST
FIRST
Nelson Kingsley
posted 5/25/08 @ 2:02 PM MST
I fit perfectly into MTV's model demographic and feel that you couldn't be more right on. For years they have extolled the actions without consequences approach to life. (Continued…)
Matthew Tyrone
posted 6/17/08 @ 7:11 PM MST
If Aaron did a bondage shoot where his boyfriend broke into his bedroom and tied him up naked, I'd pay $100 for this DVD
MTV fanatic
Tom
posted 6/17/08 @ 7:25 PM MST
If Aaron James was to do a bondage shoot where his boyfriend was to break into his bedroom and tie him up naked, I'd pay $150 for his DVD
Blair
posted 6/19/08 @ 1:32 PM MST
Good job Ed you are so right. MTV sucks and its sad, because it has the potential to be a really cool and positive thing for its viewers.What bothers me the most are shows like My Super Sweet 16 and The Hills and ridiculous crap like that. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 7/09/08 @ 5:47 PM MST
Please don't criticize gay porn, it puts too much conservative type of sensorship on free expression, and that is a no no in college. besides Aaron James is sexy and hot and he deserves every opportunity to show off his hot naked bod to America, and if he doesn't get paid for it, that is slavery and against the 13th Amendment (or whatever) to the U. (Continued…)
Balls Deep
posted 11/15/08 @ 11:41 PM MST
Protect y'self ... (my nuts)!
Cherie
posted 12/14/08 @ 7:38 PM MST
the fun thing about all this is that MTV is not in existence to promote morals...morals are a PERSONAL thing and it's not up to the media to establish anyone's morals and values. (Continued…)
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