How the MTV Real World Desensitizes its Viewers to Alcoholism, Promiscuity, and Bad Stereotypes

Admit it, sometimes you stay up late and watch re-runs of The Real World on MTV.If you're like me, a 20-something trying to live in the real world after college, this show has been on MTV for the majority of your life and was the source of information on the lives of real people. The Real World made its first appearance on MTV in 1992 and has remained the longest running program on the channel. Its premise was and still remains fairly simple - 7 strangers in their 20s are put into house and their every move is caught on tape. The opening sequence of every episode promises that the show documents what happens "when people stop being polite, and start getting real". It was a fresh idea in the days before the popularity of other reality shows like Survivor or Big Brother. The show even had the potential to create awareness for real issues; roommate Pedro Zamora of the 1994 season in San Francisco was one of the first openly gay men to be living with AIDS to be presented on tv. The Real World had the opportunity to expose the true lives of its participants. Viewers could see the relationships of the roommates, their trials as people, and the bonds of their friendship. Unfortunately, 13 years after Pedro Zamora was helping to expose the realities of AIDS, The Real World depicts a distorted view of 'reality' that teaches its young generation of viewers to find only satisfaction in alcohol, sex, and selfishness.

The primary focus of this article will be the most recent season, The Real World: Denver, which recently ended its initial airing on MTV. This season is a great example of a number of harmful issues going on in this house of 7 strangers. The first major issue with the Real World begins long before anyone moves into the house - casting. The earlier seasons bear a strong constrast to the latter in this category; early season members did not physically resemble fashion models and remained somewhat relatable. By the time the show got to Denver, it seemed that only bikini models could make the final cut. The girls are all skinny by realistic standards (the average American woman is a size 12); the men are fit and pretty buff. The decision to only accept a cast that resembles the unrealistic beauty ideals in American society only reinforces low self esteem and bad body image. How can an average 16 year old girl watching a Denver castmate like Jennifer Grijalva (who has to be around a size 2) feel like her body matches up?

The next problem of casting lies in the use of stereotypical figures. Whether the castmates seem to fit neatly into character stereotypes due to clever editing or their own behavior (probably a mixture of both), they are on the screen acting in stereotypical roles. Alex Smith is depicted as a 'player', bouncing from one sexual encounter to another. Stephen Nichols is the conservative Christian Republican purposely set against openly gay Davis Mallory. Stephen appears to be very judgmental towards the other castmates while Davis portrays negative homosexual stereotypes. Colie Edison and Jennifer Grijalva fall into the 'party girl' role, and Brooke is the hysterical woman prone to mood swings and throwing things. The only seemingly somewhat complex person is Tyrie Ballard, whose main drama stems from dating two women at once and ending up in jail overnight. So characters that fit neatly into personality types is the first ingredient to this reality show stew. Now the show adds another factor that has become vital in influencing the vast majority of action and drama that occurs - free alcohol.

It seems that every episode of The Real World: Denver includes alcohol - the cast is either taking a trip to a bar/club or drinking in the house. Alcohol has become a large part of the lives of 20-something Americans, so I would never point a finger of blame solely at The Real World. That being said, The Real World is under no obligation to not only enable excessive drinking, but encourage it with providing so much access to alcohol. When I consider the show I find myself understanding why the producers and MTV would be willing to encourage alcoholism - alcohol = drama = bigger ratings. Remember the season in Hawaii when one castmate found herself in the ER with alcohol poisoning, on the first night? The majority of the insanity on the show occurs when someone is under the influence: Davis passes out naked at the computer desk after drinking all night, Jennifer sleeps with Alex, Tyrie urinates in public and grabs his girlfriend during an argument. The list goes on and on. Of course these castmates are adults and make their own decisions, but is it right that MTV should profit when they make bad decisions? Especially when the show encourages the bad decision. And what about underage teens who make up the prime demographic of MTV? They get to watch images of supposedly 'real' people being rewarded for bad behavior by getting on a national tv show. What about the real 20-somethings out there who spend their time volunteering or educating themselves?

The last major issue that plagues The Real World: Denver is the presentation of sexualpromiscuity. Don't think that I'm saying that no one in reality has sex. Sex happens every day to real people; obviously it is a complicated issue that many of MTV's viewers deal with on a regular basis. What a great opportunity to observe real people dealing with a real issue, right? Maybe, if dealing with it horribly counts. All the castmates involve themselves in a number of 'hookups' except for Brooke, who is filmed describing how sexually frustrated she is. The remaining castmates are so casual in their sexual encounters that one has to wonder if they can really believe that separating emotion from sex constantly is a good idea. Colie has a crush on Alex at the beginning of the season; knowing this, Jennifer gets drunk and sleeps with him...twice. What a great friend, right? Don't worry, Alex isn't complaining either. In the post-season reunion show, he states that he joined the show to only have a "good time", which I can't help but interpret as casual sex. Davis lives out the negative stereotypes of homosexuals, only fueling the fire for criticism from conservatives. He has a boyfriend at home, but manages to ignore this fact and has sexual encounters with other men. Stephen even cheats on his girlfriend while at the house by kissing other women. Colie brings home a number of men, specifically one to make Alex jealous. Jennifer is probably the most comfortable with casual sex: she has a number of partners while in the house, all while a sort of boyfriend is at home. The moment that made me chuckle was when she had the nerve to become jealous and angry when a friend tells her that her supposed man was at a bar with another woman. Sheesh!

What do these encounters tell the audience about sex? That sex is a casual experience and one where no emotion or relationship needs to be included. The monogamous relationship is in terrible danger here - why have a significant other when you have little guilt in cheating on them? It seems that on the show a good cry makes cheating acceptable. Desensitizing sex in general is a growing problem among teenage girls - I wonder where they are getting the idea to seek self satisfaction in the acceptance of a sexually pleased man? These people decided on their own to be on tv, and being on a channel where teenagers are watching and learning based on behavior opens the cast to becoming role models. Are these people the role models society should have for teens?

In the end, I am offended, frustrated, and reassured by The Real World. As a 20-something myself, I am so offended with the very idea that someone may watch this show and come away from the experience believing that all 20-somethings are like the castmates. That is certainly not true. I know a number of loving and caring people who are genuinely good people. I am also offended by the idea that teenagers, especially girls, are taking the events of this show as reality. It is so manipulated that it is a far stretch to call it 'reality'. I am very frustrated with the female castmates on the show. There is more to life than excessive drinking and skanky behavior. They never take the time to express themselves as real women. Maybe they are actually intelligent people; the show never depicts any shred of intelligence or complex thinking. All the characters are shallow, selfish people looking for satisfaction and happiness in all the wrong places. Finally, watching The Real World: Denver reminds me that I am a complex, deep person who cares about people. I take relationships very seriously. It is not so far off to say that I will try to live my life by doing whatever a Real World roommate would not do.

So in the end, watch The Real World if you want to see what the current generation of teenagers are watching. Watch so you can correct the lessons that are taught with stereotypes, alcohol, and sexual promiscuity. As an audience and society the more important task we have is to be real in the real world.