Web site sets out to alter views of typical stereotypes

  newstereotypes.com UCLA graduate Matt Balaker aims to
reinvent and redefine "white trash" with his new Web site,
www.newstereotypes.com

By Siddarth Puri
Daily Bruin Contributor

Just as the French Revolution and the Civil Right’s
Movement dramatically changed their respective eras, a new,
still-silent revolution has began: the evolution of “white
trash.”

Leading this “revolution” of white trash ““ or
just “T” ““ is none other than one of their own
““ Matt Balaker. Self-proclaimed “white trash,”
Balaker is a Winter 2001 UCLA business-economics graduate with a
specialization in labor management relations. His Web site
www.newstereotypes.com aims to promote the change in the perception
of typical stereotypes.

“White trash is any sort of person who takes themselves
too seriously and is obsessed with something beyond belief that it
becomes the center of their life,” Balaker said. “I
used to watch SportsCenter three times a day (it was the same
episode, of course) and so I’m “˜SportsCenter white
trash.’ White trash is not just black-gummed rednecks chasing
their cousins around the trailer park anymore. The definition has
expanded itself.”

It was when Balaker began living with his brother in New York
““ meaning Balaker “mooched” off his brother
““ that insults such as “white trash” and the more
sophisticated “gym white trash” and “Nascar white
trash” transformed into terms of endearment, thus igniting
the fiery passion in the two brothers to redefine white trash.

“People are always so worried about not generalizing other
people, it’s about time to start the crusade to fine-tune
generalizations and stereotypes,” Balaker said.

The Balakers’ proposal to redefine white trash was first
an idea for a book titled “The Guide to Stereotypes:
Redefining White Trash.” Until the guide hits bookstores,
however, the brothers’ Web site will feed the hunger of the
inner curious white trash.

The Web site is a blatant mockery of stereotypes and
generalizations. The Balakers’ attempt is to take a
different, more light-hearted look at the types of set stereotypes
and begin to dislodge and broaden them, specifically in the
“white trash community.”

“I think we’re too caught up in labeling
people,” Balaker said. “In a country of a lot of
people, if you get hung up on individually labeling people for
their religion, social group or even the sports they like, it
reaches a point where it becomes ridiculous. Even some of the
student groups you see on campus are so specific ““ the
Norwegian Poker jumping alliance ““ it’s ridiculous.
This is a sort of light-hearted reaction to people’s
reactions to classifying everyone.”

Their caustic, sarcastic humor does not go unnoticed. The Web
site is sprinkled with sections titled “Featured
Profiles” where the brothers have so tactfully and
“accurately” described several people including
“Oprah T” and “GOP T” as well as a
“Great Moments in T History” that recalls the wonderful
moments that made white trash what it is today. Finally, they even
have a section dedicated for the support of “Family and
Friends” of white trash.

The Web site’s layout was even constructed to further mock
the topic and make it entertaining. Constructed by former Bruin
Steven Seybold, who graduated in design, the site is purposely
designed to be “upper-class” while it talks about a
subject that has long been perceived as a lower social
class. 

Of course, Balaker had many inspirations that set him on his
path for crude humor, the forerunner being Conan O’Brien.
Balaker’s real passion began after he saw O’Brien win
the Jack Benny award; Balaker immediately interned at a
broadcasting corporation where he saw how much he loved comedic
styles. ACME, the Groundlings and other comedy groups also helped
snowball his interest in comedy. Saturday Night Live (SNL) also
heightened Balaker’s comedic personality.

“I wasted a lot of time on SNL,” he said. “It
might have been from the lack of a social life. But it was
definitely something that influenced me.”

While the Web site acts as a precursor to their book, Balaker
says it has already started to entice people and instigate
reactions. His aim is to expand and break down the description of
white trash and make it so that the term crosses boundaries and
becomes accessible to all social classes.

“I would like to expand the white trash label,”
Balaker said. “I want to take it out of the trailer park and
move it into Park Avenue, cyberspace, and the Political
Arena.”

INTERNET: New Stereotypes is at http://www.newstereotypes.com.