Haven’t you heard? MTV’s “The Real World” is coming to good ‘ol Denver. I find this a very interesting city of choice for MTV, seeing as how not a whole lot of excitement or entertainment is located here.
Denver is, though, a wonderful city. We have many bars in our downtown area, as well as a great number of dance clubs and high-risk zones where the roommates of the show can cause trouble. Could Denver’s hosting of “The Real World” actually harm Denver’s reputation, or will it all be a matter of fun and games?
Perhaps having such a popular show set in Denver will serve to raise society’s awareness about what a wonderful city we live in, thus benefiting Denver’s economy through tourism.
After this season of “The Real World” has been aired on national television, Denver may very well become a highly rated city for fun, excitement, entertainment and travel. The filming of the show in our city, however, may also prove to have more negative effects than positive.
What happens, for example, if a University of Denver student is taped as being an irresponsible drunk at a local bar? This footage then could be used in the show, pinpointed as being the new stereotype of the people at the DU, and serve as a poor representation of not only the people in Denver, but the student body on our campus as well.
MTV’s goal is to entertain the public, at the cost of whomever happens to put themselves in the spotlight-intentionally or accidentally.
The producers are on the look out for individuals in the public who interact with the roommates in ways that will spark the audience’s attention.
When it truly comes down to it, I have to wonder if this is a reality TV show at all, or if the directors simply manipulate the videoing to show the most dramatic and intense social dynamics between the group as possible.
This type of interaction on TV is not “reality TV” but a search for inappropriate and embarrassing moments that individuals may find themselves being caught up in.
When auditioning to be a member of “The Real World” cast, however, the roommates are required to sign a contract that whatever footage is taken is fair game to show publicly.
Random people at bars and in community settings around Denver will not have the same choice. Any juicy interactions between cast members and Denver citizens will undoubtedly be shown nationwide. My advice to you is this: The prospect of meeting a “Real World” roommate and being shown on TV is undeniably tempting and intriguing.
I cannot deny this fact. Before you act, however, first consider the embarrassment not only to yourself, but your city and also your school if you are caught on tape projecting any image of yourself as being less than angelic.
