Creative nonfiction
Whether you kept up every Jerzday or kept your distance, I think we can all agree that MTV’s Jersey Shore is a cultural phenomenon. Each member of the Jersey Shore House gave us a glimpse into the culture — all guided by our dear Snooki, otherwise known as Nicole LaValle (née Polizzi). At the time of the first season, I was a 14-year-old growing up in the Midwest, and I couldn’t relate to these people at all. For one, I wasn’t Italian. For another, I was ten years younger than most of them. But for some reason, I felt drawn to Snooki. Her social blunders felt relatable, and her enthusiasm for partying was something I could aspire to. I could see myself in her — maybe it’s because we were both the youngest girl in a family. She was relentlessly bullied, not by an older brother, but by American media through things like South Park’s famed “Snooki want smoosh smoosh” scene, tabloid rumors of anorexia, and the meme-ification of the photos of her arrest. In spite of the hate she received, she became a pop culture icon, and watching it happen was nothing short of inspiring to those of us also getting bullied — maybe my path could be like hers. Through her storyline, character development, and growth, Snooki found herself and her place within guido culture and took us along for the ride. She cemented herself as the main character of the show’s first season, and thanks to the high school English classes I was in while watching it, I found a connection between Snooki’s journey and Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.
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