Guilty Pleasures and Guidos

We've confessed before, in several posts on this blog about the fact that we quite like some trashy TV shows which allow us to switch our thought processes off when we've been at work with brains at full tilt, so it's probably only right we tell you about our new Guilty Pleasure.

There's a new show appeared in recent weeks on MTV called 'Jersey Shore'. It's a reality program about a group of 20 somethings who are put in a house (at the Jersey Shore) together and are filmed.

Photo Courtesy of MTV

"Nothing new there", I hear you say.

The house isn't shut off from the world, like Big Brother. The TV producers don't organise them or give them tasks. In fact, they all have to work whilst they're there. It's just normal life.

So, what is so compelling about the car crash TV that this has turned out to be?

Well, these youngsters self-identify as belonging to the group called 'Guidos'.

A "Guido" according to Wikipedia, is a pejorative term for a "working class Italian-American".

However, in an interesting example of linguistic reappropriation, where the insulted group reclaim the word for their own use, these people wear their Guidohood with pride.

Italian pride.

With gelled hair, fake tans and loads of gold chains.

And that's just the guys.

I kid you not.

It's kind of like the worst of the 2 cultures, smashed together, and it makes compelling watching.

First, there's the fashion sense.

I always like Italian men for being well groomed and looking good. The guido culture takes it one step too far - the guys are primped to the point of ridiculousness - daily gym sessions, tanning salons, waxing, not a hair out of place.

You'd think this was a good thing, right?

But like any subculture, certain looks are 'in' and that tends to mean they all look the same - check out these online images for guidos!

Guido girls, known as Guidettes, are no better. Fake tan, gold and loads of makeup. Usually fake boobs too, and lots of their body parts hanging out!

Then there's the egos. The guys & gals have typical HUGE Italian egos. It comes from being part of Italian families who worship you & tell you how wonderful you are, all the time.

I should know!

In Italy, this seems to work fine though, as the rest of the culture (respect for your elders and a sense of community) keeps the egos at bay. However, set that against a backdrop of American culture of excess and instant gratification, and somehow it spills over into aggression and means that the guidos & guidettes are permanently getting into fights and arguments with everyone around them.

We spend the whole show with our jaws open in shock at the things they say, do, and how they dress. And the fact that they seem proud to be who they are.

Like I said; Guilty Pleasure!

Guido Links

The Jersey Shore phenomenon has spawned a whole load of interest in the Guido subculture...

Do you know what your Guido names are? Our guido names are Connie Mortadella & Danny Salami.Take The Jersey Shore Nickname Generator today! Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.
 
TV.com interview Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino - the guy on the far left in the cast pic above
 
 A funny sketch with little kids playing the characters from the Jersey Shore