Breaking Reality TV

     Let me set the stage for you, it's 10 o'clock on a Sunday night and even though it's the first week of school I have some math homework. Given the situation, I turn on the television, hoping to ease my math pains with the some mindless show on TLC, ironically "the learning channel". I'm oh so fortunate enough to tune in right on time for the series premiere of "Breaking Amish". It seems to be an expose of sorts on the hardships behind growing up Amish, following 6 young adults who are chosing to leave this strangely oppresive lifestyle. This concept really fascinated me but as the show progressed I grow more and more uncomfortable with the show itself. The producers of "Breaking Amish" offered the participants and all paid for trip to NYC to experience the real world, but the viewer has to realize this is for TLC's benefit not the participants as you hope. To say this experience will be a culture shock is an understatement.The show takes these sheltered people and hands them a Jersey Shore lifestyle, they've been thrown into a celebrity like status that they may never escape after the season airs. They also will never be able to return to the amish as they have broken their rules and are now shunned, by those closest to them, members already recieving hatemail. My stomach felt uneasy last night because though I was happy they were given a choice for the first time in their life, I cringed that a TLC executive took advantage of it. I'm not sure how the season will progress but by this first episode one girl has already recieved a DUI and the previews for the next episode showed a bar brawl and "slut" scream off. I plan to follow this series as it progresses despite my discomfort of the show's dehumanizing marketing tactics. The only thing for certain is these ex-amish's lives will never be the same and someone at TLC is getting a promotion.

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