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Volu m e I - Purdue University Calumet

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dads leaving, and the dads should play a bigger role (Castillo 3). Also some critics feel that this show<br />

glamorizes teen pregnancy (Castillo 4). Producer Liz Gateley still argues against these claims, “Teen Mom<br />

can offer many life lessons, if only its harshest critics will give it a chance and actually watch the program”<br />

(Castillo 2). Gateley also argues that, “just because you are young doesn‟t mean you can‟t do it responsibly,<br />

she adds. “That‟s the problem: Parents don‟t think kids are having sex, and they are. And they are drinking<br />

and going to parties. Teen Mom is about instilling decisions and asking, „Are you making the smart choices?‟<br />

“(Castillo 2). Liz Gateley feels that this show is just addressing the issues that are really just occurring in the<br />

world around us.<br />

The show works to deliver a message, “The overarching message of this show is that once there‟s a<br />

pregnancy, all roads ahead are hard…This show has the potential to show how in devastating clarity how<br />

important it is to prevent a pregnancy in the first place” (Castillo 3).<br />

This show originally aired in June of 2009. It has been through one season, and just recently<br />

finished up its second season. Teen Mom has, “reached across age demographics and became MTV‟s second<br />

most popular reality show after Jersey Shore” (Castillo 1). It is a show that reaches out to various ages. Not<br />

only does the teen crowd watch it, but also mothers have chosen to use it as a way to discuss sex with their<br />

children (Inbar 1). When the show debuted it was found that, “The program drew 2.1 million total<br />

viewers…” (Weprin “Cable Ratings: Teen Mom Premiere Delivers for MTV 16 and Pregnant Spinoff is<br />

Cabler‟s Top New Series Debut of the Year” 1). When the season one finale aired, “Teen Mom became one<br />

of the network‟s breakout reality hits, with the first season finale drawing over 3.6 million total viewers…”<br />

(Weprin, “MTV Orders Unscripted If You Really Knew Me Renews Teen Mom for Season Two” 1). Now,<br />

that I have provided information on this piece of persuasion, let‟s take a look at Kenneth Burke‟s Rhetoric<br />

of Rebirth.<br />

Rhetoric of Rebirth<br />

228

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