Snooki And The Jersey Shore Phenom

Am I just hopelessly out of it that I don't get the Jersey Shore phenom?

Last weekend, The New York Times put out a story about Snooki, at home with her Dad who is, of course, proud of his daughter and glad that she is raking in $25,000 a gig for showing up at Sweet Sixteen parties and being, well, Snooki.  Which means that she is mouthy, silly, scantily clad, totally unworthy--in my opinion--of attention.

So why all the attention?  Because Snooki is one of the "stars" of the Jersey Shore television series about a group of apparently aimless young adults who spend most of their time on the beach, in bars, doing as little as possible. 

And, jeez, yesterday Snooki and her gang rang the opening bell at the NYSE.  Now, c'mon!  It's because Viacom, an NYSE listed company which owns MTV was celebrating the opening of this year's season of Jersey Shore. OK, right.  And there was apparently lots of excitement outside the Exchange, on the trading floor and all over Wall Street.

Why do people love this stuff?  I'm thinking of the young adults we've been privileged to have serve as interns in my company, Wf360.  I've most recently written about our latest, Libby Ashton from the University of Michigan.  Smart, attractive, above all curious about the world around her and spending her time figuring out her place in it and the opportunities she may have to make it a better place.

It seems that America is a bifurcated nation when it comes to the young: half seem to represent the best of what we are as a Nation.  They are hardworking, grateful for the privileges they have, eager to share what they have with others, intent on making an impact in a way that matters.  And they are global in their perspective.  They have friends around the world, most of them through the Internet, and those friendships engender exchanges of information that have broadened their view of the world and the possibilities it offers to industrious people with the courage to venture forth. My own sons and the women in their lives are in this group.

The other half is vacuous, celebrity-focused, not curious, parochial, and unable to hold their own in a serious conversation. 

Tell me, from which group would you rather choose your seatmate on the next flight you take?  

In today's Times, there is an article about the importance of the very first teachers one has in kindergarten, first and second grade.  Research indicates that those teachers truly have an impact on the long term aspects for success, both personal and financial, of those kids over their lifetime. I am hoping against home we have enough young people from the first group identified above interested in being teachers so the next generation can enjoy the education they received.  I don't think Snooki and her pals are in that group.  And why should they care?  Somehow, there are lots of people willing to help make this group of Jersey-ites just famous enough--or infamous enough--to  ensure they are paid outrageously. 

I wonder what the conversations are like off-screen. Probably the same as those that take place on screen when they're filming the show.  So, would you rather sit next to Snooki on the plane?...or your child's first grade teacher?

Comments

[Jersey Shore Snooki]

I completely agree, i just don't understand it.