My Super Sweet Cup O' Crack
It's a show that has mercilessly burned its way into society. It's a show that you feel ashamed to admit that you love, but so many of us love to admit! It's on my sacred MySpace and Facebook profile lists of favorite shows, along with other intellectual stimuli such as Family Guy, 24, House, and South Park. My father loves it, and your father would too, if he doesn't already watch it. If it wasn't obvious from the picture, which it is, I'm talking about My Super Sweet Sixteen, airing every waking minute of the day on MTV, MTV2, and in teenage minds across the country. Just what the hell is it about this show that we love so much?There really are so many things, and I don't know which to list first. Well, I do. It's a show that makes you feel good about yourself. Sure, you don't have that $1500 Fendi bag, and it's not your $100,000 party. But watching these girls and occassional guy, you're cheered up by the thought that it's not you. A person's self-esteem goes up tenfold. You revel in the fact that you've never had a bitchfit in front of your friends, crying that your boyfriend is paying attention to somebody other than you. You've never burst into tears on Rodeo Drive, mortifying your mother and everybody within a 10-foot radius. I'm an only child, and I went through an especially vicious phase when I was in middle school. It disappeared, however, when I spent a month with my cousins. I don't wish their tantrums on even my worst enemies (not that I have any). Seeing my cousin dissolve into hysterical tears and screams upon discovering McDonald's had gotten her order wrong, I knew right at that second that that was the type of person I never wanted to be, and I don't think I am. Luckily my cousins have improved with age, except my older one who is a force to be reckoned with when she has a drink or two in her. But that is another post for another day.
One of the obvious highlights of this show is the selfish, childish meltdowns these teenagers have. But why air them, and more importantly, why the hell do these teenagers act like that in front of the camera. When initally thinking about it, it seems as if the show and MTV are glamorizing actions like these, but perhaps there's some subtle plea ingrained in the show. Perhaps the creators are begging the audience not to become these poor, most likely unsalvagable petty people. More likely, they do it because we love it. Which, as I said, is probably because it makes us feel damn good about ourself. Oh, and schadenfreude. We love seeing these priveledged people absolutely miserable.
Is it seeing the money being dropped in a way that most Americans could only dream about? The ability to spend money the way people do on this show is something most of us only dream about. Is this show a twisted type of wish fufillment? There are so many shows like this. All reality shows, and more or less all television shows period are like this, but especially those such as MTV CRIBS, and others. They show us a life that we dream about, where the beautiful people are rich and happy and live the perfect life. Then there are shows such as While You Were Out, Pimp My Ride, and Extreme Makeover where we actually become one of those lucky few, at least in a small way. We get the nice wardrobe, we get the awesome car, and we get the movie star look. While the shows aren't going to be nominated for Emmy's anytime soon (has it?) - and by the way, how the hell did House get nominated and Hugh Laurie didn't? - it certainly makes for juicy television.
Back to Sweet Sixteen. At the same time it's fun to watch, the show's like a horror movie. Is this what all teenage girls are like today? Of course not, but it's certainly looking like that more and more. I'm certain that despite how the rest of the world sees us, our country is not that fat and spoilt. But it's because of shows like this where I can understand why other countries are revolted at us. Though really, if people are judging our country based on this show, then they're not exactly brilliant in the first place, are they? I'd say that a country cannot be judged based on the television that airs, but that's probably not true. It's quite similar to the cinema that the country produces. Movies such as The Battleship Potemkin were created because of political crises in Russia, and it's reflective of the political and social atmosphere of the time. It brought attention to the changes needed for a better world - even though Communism is totally evil and bad. Right. (In Soviet Russia...) Perhaps the same thing could be said for television. People should pay attention to the media, because there is no better and easier way to see ourselves.
Did I just compare My Super Sweet Sixteen to one of the most important works in cinema history? YOU BET I JUST DID! I'M HARDCORE LIKE THAT.
There's still a frightening obsession with wealth and brands that while not new, is more prevalent than ever. It's got a lot to do with the circle caused by advertisers and coolhunters (which, despite being perhaps one of the coolest jobs ever, is sadly being eliminated). Items such as designer purses, high-end electronics, and luxury cars are only owned by the very rich and famous. Advertisers and magazines create publicity and desire for the objects, more of them are bought, and the cycle goes on. The cycle of advertising and consuming, and public relations, was first touched on by Sigmund Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays. It's actually really interesting to look at, because the same techniques he came up with for advertising, Hitler used in Nazi Germany. But I think it's a stretch to compare Nazi Germany to My Super Sweet Sixteen. I was going somewhere else with this, I know, but I can't remember. But connected to this is the Paris Hilton/Lindsay Lohan phenomenon, which I will talk about (and believe me, I will talk about it) another time, so maybe I'll remember by then.
I don't think I've talked about anything people didn't already know, but I hope I have come up with some ideas of my own. That's really the goal of this blog, after all. I can't reference an obscure sociologist from a 1994 paper written in Germany, but hopefully I sound somewhat educated. Hopefully I'll have another post tomorrow, if I ever get off my lazy bum to just do it. Hey, it's only my first post. They can't all be stunners.
The Devil in the Details
Taylor Lauren Amato
posted by Taylor Lauren @ 7/09/2006 08:13:00 PM
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