Trashy V. Classy
When Students Decide: A Television Debate
Heather Derby/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/18/09 Section: The Verge
When you sit down on your couch or bed and tune in to a much needed tuning out, what are the channels you flip to? Is it the run of the mill reality show? Is it something science fiction? Or is something that simply makes you laugh?
Students Samantha Wonderlich, a sophomore art education major; Kevin Adam, a junior management information systems major; Michael Gibson, a senior biology major; Hannah Brinson, a sophomore studio art major; Christopher Powell, a sophomore accounting major; Sarah Fosbender, a recreational administration major; and Terricka Christian, a freshman elementary education major, all sat down to define what make TV shows trashy or classy.
*All answers by the above students are attributed by their initials in parantheses.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: "Greek" (SW)
"30 Rock" (KA)
"Breaking Bad" (MG)
"Lost" (HB)
"Boston Legal" (CP)
"True Blood" (SF)
"One on One" (TC)
Q: Do you consider this to be classy or trashy TV and why?
A: ("Greek") is classy because it's 'family friendly,' but I wouldn't recommend it for a really young
audience due to some activity. (SW)
("Breaking Bad") is classy because it has a deep plot to it and it has substance. (MG)
("Lost") is classy because it has really good acting, a very good plot and a good director. Good
cinematography as well. (HB)
("True Blood") is trashy because it is not like normal TV. (SF)
("One on One") is classy because I can relate to the show. The girl on the show is around my age,
and I look up to her. Also, the show deals with issues like jealousy and competition and shows us
how to handle them. (TC)
Q: How would you define the words classy and trashy in the terms of TV?
A: Trashy is something that isn't appropriate for the entire family to watch. Classy is anything that has good values and morals behind it. Something you can learn from. Something Grandma Moses would watch. (SW)
Classy is anything that has substance and a deep plot. Trashy is anything that is reality TV. (MG)
Trashy is anything that has gratuitous sexual references, sex, bad language and crude humor. Classy is when the plot is unique and the plot is something that is outside of the norm. They don't rely on generic things just to get laughs or to shock people. (HB)
Trashy is anything over gory, disgusting, ridiculous or has a lot of cussing. Classy TV is good scripted humor, good characters, developed comedy, shows with thought behind them. (CP)
Trashy TV is TV that always displays things that have no meaning and is just there for the fun of it. Classy TV is TV that has more positive viewpoints and that handle issues in an appropriate manner (TC)
Q: Do you think that trashy TV is preferred over classy TV among college students and why?
A: Yes, because majority of college students are trashy. They are able to watch whatever they want to watch without anyone saying no. (SW)
Yes, because those shows target this age group and the typical guy. (KA)
Maybe. Like half and half. (HB)
No, because I can't bring myself to think that that many people would watch that type of stuff. (CP)
Yes, I think for most people it's because they're away from their parents and they're going to watch things their parents didn't let them watch. Also, it's the first time some people have cable. (SF)
Yes, trashy TV is entertaining and keeps people entertained. (TC)
Q: Do you ever take time to watch something outside of your norm?
A: Yes. When I'm feeling crappy, and I want to watch someone else's life that's worse than mine, I watch trashy TV. (SW)
Only if my girlfriend is watching something like that. (KA)
No, only when a group of people are watching them (trashy shows), then I do. (MG)
Yes, I like trying out new shows, especially when nothing else is on. (CP)
Yes, when I'm not busy and I need to laugh and entertainment. (TC)
Heather Derby can be reached at 581-7942 or at hnderby@eiu.edu
Students Samantha Wonderlich, a sophomore art education major; Kevin Adam, a junior management information systems major; Michael Gibson, a senior biology major; Hannah Brinson, a sophomore studio art major; Christopher Powell, a sophomore accounting major; Sarah Fosbender, a recreational administration major; and Terricka Christian, a freshman elementary education major, all sat down to define what make TV shows trashy or classy.
*All answers by the above students are attributed by their initials in parantheses.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: "Greek" (SW)
"30 Rock" (KA)
"Breaking Bad" (MG)
"Lost" (HB)
"Boston Legal" (CP)
"True Blood" (SF)
"One on One" (TC)
Q: Do you consider this to be classy or trashy TV and why?
A: ("Greek") is classy because it's 'family friendly,' but I wouldn't recommend it for a really young
audience due to some activity. (SW)
("Breaking Bad") is classy because it has a deep plot to it and it has substance. (MG)
("Lost") is classy because it has really good acting, a very good plot and a good director. Good
cinematography as well. (HB)
("True Blood") is trashy because it is not like normal TV. (SF)
("One on One") is classy because I can relate to the show. The girl on the show is around my age,
and I look up to her. Also, the show deals with issues like jealousy and competition and shows us
how to handle them. (TC)
Q: How would you define the words classy and trashy in the terms of TV?
A: Trashy is something that isn't appropriate for the entire family to watch. Classy is anything that has good values and morals behind it. Something you can learn from. Something Grandma Moses would watch. (SW)
Classy is anything that has substance and a deep plot. Trashy is anything that is reality TV. (MG)
Trashy is anything that has gratuitous sexual references, sex, bad language and crude humor. Classy is when the plot is unique and the plot is something that is outside of the norm. They don't rely on generic things just to get laughs or to shock people. (HB)
Trashy is anything over gory, disgusting, ridiculous or has a lot of cussing. Classy TV is good scripted humor, good characters, developed comedy, shows with thought behind them. (CP)
Trashy TV is TV that always displays things that have no meaning and is just there for the fun of it. Classy TV is TV that has more positive viewpoints and that handle issues in an appropriate manner (TC)
Q: Do you think that trashy TV is preferred over classy TV among college students and why?
A: Yes, because majority of college students are trashy. They are able to watch whatever they want to watch without anyone saying no. (SW)
Yes, because those shows target this age group and the typical guy. (KA)
Maybe. Like half and half. (HB)
No, because I can't bring myself to think that that many people would watch that type of stuff. (CP)
Yes, I think for most people it's because they're away from their parents and they're going to watch things their parents didn't let them watch. Also, it's the first time some people have cable. (SF)
Yes, trashy TV is entertaining and keeps people entertained. (TC)
Q: Do you ever take time to watch something outside of your norm?
A: Yes. When I'm feeling crappy, and I want to watch someone else's life that's worse than mine, I watch trashy TV. (SW)
Only if my girlfriend is watching something like that. (KA)
No, only when a group of people are watching them (trashy shows), then I do. (MG)
Yes, I like trying out new shows, especially when nothing else is on. (CP)
Yes, when I'm not busy and I need to laugh and entertainment. (TC)
Heather Derby can be reached at 581-7942 or at hnderby@eiu.edu
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