As we have been learning, the Jersey shore is not only an attraction to the residents of the Garden State, but also an attraction to tourists. Having the shore so close to us, enables families and friends to spend quality time together during the summer weeks. 
Since I can remember, I have spent a few of my summer weeks every year down at the the shore, whether it was at my grandparents beach club in Seabright, my family friends house in L.B.I., or my friends house in Margate. I find all of these places to be a relaxing get away from the school year and I look forward every summer to spending a few weeks down at the shore. Whether its walking the boardwalk, tanning on the beach, or just eating an ice cream cone, I always find myself content when I'm at the shore. 
Although the Jersey Shore is not necessarily an escape from New Jersey, it allows people to get away from their residential home towns and spend a few relaxing hours in the sand, where they can forget about all the hustle and bustle they have to deal with on a daily basis. All in all, the Jersey Shore is definitely an icon for New Jersey and it is a place where family and friends can relax and enjoy their summer days.
I agree with Alexa, the Jersey shore is definitely an icon for New Jersey. The Jersey Shore allows many New Jersey residents to get away for the day and relax. In my previous post I spoke about the diverse New Jersey landscapes. The Jersey Shore is just one of these many landscapes. It is nice to be able to have the option to "vacation" for the day and drive down to the shore for a few hours. Despite the fact that we never actually leave New Jersey to get to the shore, it definitely feels like it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny that the quaint, relaxing shore that Alexa describes, the one that has its origins in church retreats, has turned into an international icon of sleazy, sordid partying. The land of laws requiring men wear t-shirts on the beach has morphed, in like 150 years, into the land of T-shirt Time. Besides its blatant use of offensive Italian stereotypes, the downside of MTV's ever-entertaining "Jersey Shore" is the scuzzy rep is gives our beaches. LBI, Margate, Seabright- all the places Alexa mentioned- are perfect examples of classy towns filled with natural-skinned, piercingless guys and girls who wear underwear.
ReplyDeleteWhere are the Guidos? I thought the jersey shore was full of gorilla juice heads and guidettes.
ReplyDeleteTV shows like Jersey Shore point out the contradictions associated with New Jersey. For one, like Carolyn said, when the Jersey Shore towns had first originated they had strict regulations, due to the fact that most of the founders were extremely religious. Belmar originated as an extremely religious town. However in the present day it is anything but. Belmar is now labeled as being a "Guido Beach", and all previous origins have been completely forgotten. Some towns, even prohibited drinking alcohol. The cast members on Jersey Shore mock the origins of the Shore. Their partying, drinking, and idiotic personas make not only the Jersey Shore look bad, but it makes the state of New Jersey look bad as a whole. Not to mention many of the cast members are not even from New Jersey. This show has tarnished the New Jersey image and is a complete insult to New Jersey, especially considering that the Jersey Shore was supposed to be a religious sanctuary.
ReplyDeleteThe Jersey shore welcomes many groups of people from every walk of life, not only those shown on the tv. Sitting on the beach, you look around and find yourself in a multicultural atmosphere. It is open to the public, however reality tv points out the italian group. Reality tv doesnt only make the Jersey Shore and New Jersey look bad, but it also gives the Italian culture a bad name. The representation of the current reality show : The Jersey Shore is a complete misrepresentation of the truth. They aren't residents of NJ, however they managed to create a stigma of who goes to the Jersey Shore.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents lived in Avon, New Jersey, and I spent every summer of my life there up until the age of 12 and I can proudly say the Jersey Shore is not only what is seen on the tv. It is for the most part frequented by families with kids of all ages who want to enjoy a family seaside experience. It's not only about the drinking and partying reality tv shows us. In actuality, Avon and surrounding areas were known as the "Irish Caribbean" not the Italian Caribbean. It is a misnomer that it is an Italian infiltrated beach.
I have traveled to the Jersey Shore countless times in my lifetime and it really is how Alexa describes it. The reason people give it a bad reputation is due to reality television which is good entertainment if you ask me. As Mike pointed out above, you can find these type of people on the Jersey shore, they exist, just not in higher class communities.
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ReplyDeleteSounds like a cool place. Me, Blake, and Mike will have to come visit aleen this summer at one of her many Jersey shore destinations. I agree that the jersey shore is a very peaceful and relaxing place, not as chaotic as many make it out to be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alexa that the Jersey shore is great place to be with family and just relax. Every summer I go to Cape May, NJ and it is nothing like what out of state people think of the shore.
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