Five best and five worst things MTV has done for womanity
Posted at 5:00 AM Oct 19, 2009
By Nicki Escudero
For American music lovers in the 80's, MTV was one of the best things that happened to the industry--non-stop music videos, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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MTV has managed to do a lot for women, but it's also set us back in ways. Here are the five best and five worst things MTV has done for womanity.
Five best:
5. The presence of Alexa Chung
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4. think MTV
Young people get a bad rap sometimes for being lazy do-nothings, but think MTV encourages the younger generation to learn and work for causes such as the environment and human rights. MTV even has a whole website dedicated to relationship issues and launched the "It's Your (Sex) Life" campaign, encouraging contraceptive use and STD testing in young people.
3. Documentary programming
Shows like MTV's True Life, 16 and Pregnant and Engaged and Underage follow young people and give viewers glimpses into challenges the 18-24 demographic faces today. True Life, an hour-long program, has documented edgy issues such as alcoholism, drug use and coming out of the closet, showing raw, real footage of young people's experiences with them. It's also followed cheerleaders, people getting plastic surgery and cheating boyfriends and girlfriends, making programs that, while a little more superficial, are still interesting.
And 16 and Pregnant and Engaged and Underage may help to break stereotypes people might have of these groups and serve as a warning to young viewers. With shows like these, MTV shows it cares about its audience.
2. Political work
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1. Helped launch the careers of iconic female musicians
MTV brought a visual side to the music industry, and, without it, female music stars such as Madonna, Janet Jackson and Gwen Stefani wouldn't be as popular as they are now. And, although the channel is clearly lacking in music videos right now, it's supporting lots of female artists on its website through features such as the acoustic music performances on MTV Unplugged, which is currently displaying performances by Paramore, Silversun Pickups, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone and Adele. It's nice to know that MTV still gives props to some genuinely talented ladies.
Comments
What about Jolene Van Vugt on Nitro Circus? Shes the first female to backflip her dirt bike, and she's a part of the cast of Nitro circus, not just a guest star!
Posted 10/19/2009 at 05:43:37 AMMTV automatically wins to me in any catergory because they aren't BET. Nuff said.
Posted 10/21/2009 at 11:03:12 AMThe singer of Silversun Pickups is a guy, maybe you were insinuating otherwise, but yeah, it's a male lead singer...
Posted 10/25/2009 at 11:22:00 PM