Fake is the New Real, but Compared to What?

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I'm sure most of you are familiar with the phrase "image is everything" if not, you probably have lived under a rock of some sort for the past 20 years. This phrase, although common and probably a bit nonsensical, still truly embodies a seemingly ubiquitous metaphor for reality television. Take for example the new reality show premiering on MTV tonight, Jersey Shore. The show follows the lives of self-identified "Guido's". What is a Guido? Someone of Italian decent, wears his hair high, [for guys this usually means spiked], is a gym rat, and uber tan. You've seen this guy in the gym, always looking at his abs; his muscles are juiced; and his attitude, well, cocky and arrogant are two adjectives that come to mind. And here it is folks, an image, one that is marketable , sellable. It's the commodification of a type, more specifically a style. Some critics condemn networks, like MTV for promoting and complicity perpetuating negative stereotypical images, in particular on Jersey Shore, the "Guido". And like most in its genre, the show has a particular audience that it will appeal to, young, tan, 2o somethings, that bask in overly indulgent narcissism. A network like MTV, isn't going to take the moral high ground here, remember "From G's to Gents", which was probably a euphemism for another word, beginning with "N" ending with "A". Shows like the latter are standard production for MTV. My point is that in a world of images, reality television will continue to glamorize any style that carries meaning for a particular culture. Any identity can be sold as real, even if it is really fake, as long as there are buyers willing to consume it.