Chicago to host 'Jersey Shore' conference

CHICAGO, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The University of Chicago student planning a conference on "Jersey Shore" studies said he expects 200 to 500 people to attend.

David Showalter, 21, a senior at the university and avid fan of the MTV program, said Friday's Conference on "Jersey Shore" Studies will discuss how the show relates to issues of gender, sexuality, ethnic identity and "the game of reality television," the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.

"I don't know if it's just my nature or that the University of Chicago has done this to me, but I couldn't help trying to, I don't know if I would say intellectualize ("Jersey Shore"), but think more thoughtfully about it," Showalter said.

Showalter said about 50 papers were submitted for possible inclusion in the conference from sources including academics, graduate students and undergraduates from schools across North America.

"We should spend more time thinking seriously and thoughtfully and rigorously about what we are watching," he said. "I hope this conference serves as a model, something to legitimize the idea that you could devote a day or longer to studying what most people consider trash TV."