Bring on the culture warriors.
MTV’s new hot and steamy teen series “Skins” has sparked, not surprisingly, uproar from several outlets dedicated to preserving the ethics of television — an act in futility if you ask me.
“Skins” draws its success from the fool-proof formula of teens engaging in sex and drug use while outsmarting their archaic parents and idiot teachers.
Nothing is new or groundbreaking with this one except for the fact that the majority of the sex-crazed cast is underage, a revelation that has provided ammunition for The Parents Television Council to demand the show be removed from MTV. In fact, PTC has recently called for a federal investigation into child exploitation and pornography charges. It remains to be seen if its efforts will prevail or not.
Aside from the obvious wonton disregard for what constitutes suitable viewing material on cable television, “Skins” creators have failed in a far more significant way.
What I find most irksome about the new series is simply how far removed from reality the premise and character depictions truly are.
Perhaps my formative years in suburban America, deprived of the mid-afternoon orgies and daily blunts in bathroom stalls, were abnormal or atypical.
True, drugs were an underlying part of some students’ high school experience, as were sexual encounters. Yet to suggest that those experiences comprise the majority of high school students’ lives is not just irresponsible: It isn’t true.
In a tragic yet almost comical twist, the “Skins” cast members, a group of minors in high school themselves, believe they are providing a public service to our country by exposing the “widespread” underground lifestyle of the average teenager, promoting a newfound understanding of their struggles.
I would like to think, perhaps misguidedly, that casual teen trysts are anything but common, that drugs have not replaced sports as after-school activities and that the next generation would care to spend more time probing for solutions to the problems of today than finding cures for the latest sexually transmitted disease they’ve contracted.
But my faith is dwindling. To say the average teen navigating day-to-day life remains unaware of the issues affecting the future and the world around them is a gross understatement.
MTV as an outlet for teenage entertainment has taken strides over the years toward becoming a more socially conscious network, with series such as “True Life,” “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom,” all of which provide a glimpse of the reality some American adolescents face.
Despite being unsavory at times, these programs illustrate the negative consequences of teenage sex that often affect youths for the rest of their lives.
Although some conservative news media have been critical of even these shows in the past, they provide genuine insight into some of the struggles of modern day adolescents. “Skins” simply does not.
Rather than capitalizing on America’s perverse fascination with watching juveniles engaging in sex and drug use, why not strive for authenticity in portraying teenage existence?
Truly influential work possesses a certain fundamental relevance and legitimacy that resonates with the viewer.
It inspires change and identifies with the lives of many.
The average American teenager has not been relegated to a life without ambition or purpose, as “Skins” might have us believe.
Have the American people not hit their limit for useless drivel on television?
After all, one “Jersey Shore” is enough.
A version of this article appeared in the Jan 28 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Gasp! MTV, the same network that brought us such hard hitting shows as: My Sweet 16, the Tom Green Show, Jersey Shore, 16 and pregnant, The Hills, Real World, Disaster Date, Cribs, Teen Cribs, Laguna Beach, Punk'd, The Real Orange County, Pimp my Ride, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Viva la Bam and The Ashley Simpson Show, would make a show that inaccuracy portraits America's youth. That's shocking given the high level of quality we expect from MTV.
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Jersey Shore is promoting sex and what not so what's the big deal about skins? It's just a tv show anyway no big deal. Leave it be.
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The show was indicative of my time as a youth, growing up in a working-class, ethnically diverse area of New Orleans. In fact my adolescence was very similar to the adolescence portrayed on the show. Simply because the show doesn't reflect how most high school kids experienced life doesn't mean its wholly devoid of fact. I indeed smoked blunts (in school), participated in random sex acts, and generally lived without regard for the future. Don't make the mistake of thinking that for a large portion of America, their lives are not similar to this.
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"Rather than capitalizing on America’s perverse fascination with watching juveniles engaging in sex and drug use, why not strive for authenticity in portraying teenage existence?"
Because it would be so boring.
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The BBC version was better, anyway.
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agreed! i just watched the first episode of season 5. way better than the US crap version
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While Skins' main appeal is that it's a "ride through teen life", the actual show itself only follows one group of kids - and it can't fairly be said that we're supposed to assume this group of kids is meant to represent all teens. And the "orgies" you mention aren't in the show - the only so-called "orgy" ever seen involving Skins was in the promo for the UK version's second season.
If the argument is to create an "accurate" portrayal of teen life, then nix "Glee", "Gossip Girl", and "90210" - each is a glamorized soap opera with actors sometimes ten years older than the characters they play. Useless drivel? Get rid of just about everything else.
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Quite frankly, I am a teenager and my life is similar to the lives of the characters in Skins. The same applies to a number of my friends. This article is a clear example of hasty generalization. Just because you didn't live in this manner doesn't make the same true for everybody else.
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sluts n hoes abound.
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Agreed. Much agreed.
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Thank God I don't own a television.
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Watch UK Skins. It's infinitely better.
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Watch UK Skins. It's infinitely better.
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Of course this show isn't representative of kids in this country...It's because it is a ripoff of a British show...
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "Isn't representative of kids in this country" that is ridiculous. Look up some statistics on teenagers, like how many are sexually active, how many have used drugs, in the US. With how blind you are, it should come as a shocker. Or watch the news. Don't be so ignorant. Chances are your child is out having sex while on ecstasy right now.
Cheerio, lad.
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"Wonton disregard", eh? WONTON? You sure?
Well...then I guess I agree! I personally think it's offensive that the creators of this show have ignored small dumplings or rolls with savory fillings, often of minced pork, usually eaten boiled in soup. Their wonton disregard certainly is WANTON! Off with their heads.
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"Wonton" ... yeah, that got me, too! Just further illustration of how our teenagers SHOULD be spending their time: STUDYING!
To normalize this type of behavior just further degrades our society. Yes, there may be some kids out there behaving in this manner and I feel so sorry for their squandering of the only time in their lives in which they have such little responsibility. Rather than enjoying their youth, these kids are wasting it in behaviors that could detrimentally affect the rest of their lives. Why should our kids accept that this is the way to spend their last days of "freedom" (from the responsibilities of adulthood: marriage, bills, work, children, etc.) rather than in the other much more productive and, ultimately, fulfilling ways. You know, like pursuing different types of studies that actually will improve the lives they might enjoy as adults. It doesn't "count" in youth to take a job that you end up not liking and then switch to something else in which you might find joy and fulfillment (or not). The teen years are much better spent in a search for what to do with your adulthood rather than in the search for the ultimate thrill. Flip burgers, now, or for the rest of your life.
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Forget the sex and drugs, the real complaint should be just how poorly the show is written and acted. I made it through half an episode. Just pure trash for such an "acclaimed show". The BBC version should sue for damages.
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Let's be honest,
If we wanted a more Kosher TV program, we'd be watching The Wonder Years. Although, Wennie was always looker.
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Let's be honest,
If we wanted a more Kosher TV program, we'd be watching The Wonder Years. Although, Wennie was always looker.
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It's got to be controversial, it's like free advertising. Who doesn't know about it? Besides, it's a good show. It's got a great story line.
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Hey MTV is bringing back Beavis and Butthead so lay off MTV. Alright so they made a few bad calls but now things are going to get back on track with the greatest show by Mike Judge.
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This is where you draw your moral standards for MTV? How is Teen Mom and 16 and pregnant being socially conscious? Its glorifying teen pregnancy!! Sure it shows some struggles that the girls face but at the same time they are getting paid to do the show and are now FAMOUS for having a child while still in high school If you want to show the real struggles of teen moms, show the girls who drop out and just live off welfare and WIC. Skins is just MTV's pathetic attempt at ripping off the British version. But lets not forget its a television show. Every television show dramatizes everyday life. The OC, One tree Hill, Gossip Girl... The list goes on and on. The only difference between Sex in the City and Skins is the age.
You shouldnt be surprised by this show appearing on MTV after everything else they produce. If our society LOVES Jersey shore, the epitome of white trash, why wouldnt everyone love a show about sex, drugs, and highschool? It's a more racey version of Degrassi.
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its a fictional tv show just like movies that promote sex and drugs, theres not really a difference. if you dont like it then dont put yourself in the situation to watch it when you should just avoid it.
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I find this article absolutely ridiculous. In fact, I laughed reading much of it. I am a teenage myself, and I am entering high school next year, and actually, this show is very accurate on accounts of what kids are doing.
I will admit not all high school/middle school students are doing this, but the majority are.
I see where you're coming from, but this is not the 60's anymore. If you want to right an article like this, go to a high school and see things for yourself. Maybe talk to a teenager.
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You guys are all a bunch of ignorant twats. You don't know anything about us teenagers.
Ever think that's why we do what we do? BECAUSE YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION!"
Open your eyes, maybe you'll see how accurate this show is.
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