Inspiration brought to you by the TM Planning Department

Once again I reveal that not only do I watch a bunch of television, but on suspect channels for my age (MTV and VH1) and with shows that at first seem a little strange (OCD Project, The Buried Life).  But here I go again because I feel like I’ve found an interesting gem of a show that not only gives me a completely different view into the world we live in but does so with a definite style.

Ever heard of Vice Magazine (potentially nsfw)?  How can I sum this up best:  no holds barred, in your face, straightforward talk about politics, art, fashion and other news from around the world.  You may not agree with what they say but they’ll most likely give you a different way of looking at a given issue.  And not to downplay the entertainment aspect of this, these guys are willing to do just about anything to immerse themselves in a culture which can obviously lead to some interesting finds.

Package this kind of information into a 30 minute video format, and you’ve got the new MTV show The Vice Guide to Everything.  And they do mean everything!  Here’s a quick look at the first two shows:

• Visit to Yemen to see if it’s the next breeding ground for terrorism
• DIY strip club in Detroit
• Mafia pop stars in Naples
• African fantasy coffins
• The “Hermit Kingdom” of North Korea
• TV shows made by Russian mobsters about their past crimes
• Mexican theme parks with an attraction that simulates border crossings
• How to date a girl in a burqa

Just two episodes in and you can probably tell that this is both controversial and fascinating.  It is not my intent to offend, simply discuss this show, so please watch at your own risk.

However, I do find the openness and experimentation with different cultures to be one of the most interesting parts of this storytelling.  How are we to understand this world if we don’t see issues from different viewpoints?  The style in which they present this information is both raw and opinionated which certainly ups the ante on entertainment.  Finally, the topics they choose…well, it is called Vice for a reason.

I’m looking forward to watching a few more episodes because I find that it’s challenging some stereotypes that are in our mass media, shining light on cultures from around the world and practices that I’ve never heard of, and making me think about things in a way that’s at times uncomfortable but also enlightening.

And perhaps you’re bored with the local news and would rather your weather report be Vice-style.