Jersey is my home. I have lived in
the same small town all of my life, yet have traveled around the state because
of soccer games, field trips, etc. There are many different parts of Jersey,
from farmland to cities, to tiny suburbs like my hometown of Fanwood, NJ.
Despite the vast differences, all of Jersey is connected through one thing- the
Jersey shore.
Ever since
MTV came out with The Jersey Shore in
2009, New Jersey has never been the same. Jersey is one of the smallest states
in America, and therefore it never received a lot of attention until this show.
Once aired, America’s perception of Jersey changed. Some people stereotyped the
shore as trashy, with Guido’s roaming around wanting to party. As a native
Jersey girl attending school in Pennsylvania, I have constantly heard jokes
about Jersey, with people believing exactly what they saw on TV. Although the
show is entertaining, I always found these people to be very ignorant by
believing in this goofy show. This is reality TV. Obviously everything is exaggerated,
and people are cast to create entertainment, rather than portray reality.
The people
of Jersey know how much culture and community is at the shore, and they are
what makes Jersey special- not the fake TV crews and tourists wanting to see
the castmates. Unfortunately, disaster struck the shore not too long ago,
leaving the boardwalks, houses, and overall communities greatly damaged.
Although having to defend my state got a little old after a while, I truly pity
everyone who made fun of the Jersey shore but never got the chance to
experience it for themselves, because the Jersey Shore is such a special place.
To me, the
Jersey Shore is happiness. It is where people come together with people they
love, to spend a day, a week, or a whole summer peacefully. From Tent City in
Ocean Grove, to the boardwalks of Point Pleasant and Seaside, it is much more
than simply a beach. There is something for everyone, and as much as the locals
make fun of the “bennies” for being tourists, everyone is welcome.
Sandy has
washed away boardwalks, sanded up streets, and damaged houses, but the
community spirit and love for the shore is as strong as ever. This strength
will allow the shore to make a comeback. It might take months or even years.
But the negative image that MTV has cast on the shore did not ruin its spirit,
and neither will Sandy.
#COMM30Sandy is an online class project for the
Media & Society class at Lehigh University, taught by professor Jeremy
Littau. You can donate to our campaign at this link, and for
more information you can email Prof. Littau at jeremy.littau(at)lehigh.edu
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