Today’s Youth Culture
E-Update
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Contents:
I. Youth Culture
Stats and Trends:
1) ADD/LD Prevalence
2) School Violence
Remedy
3) “Dot Kids Dot US”
4) “Teens, Sex and TV”
5) Top Teen TV
6) Teens: Friends, TV and
Family
7) “Adventures In Parenting”
8) Video Game Rentals
9) Smoking Down, Not Out
10) Another “Alco-Pop” Entry
11) Summer Pay Gender Gap
12) Suicide Attempts and Emergency Room Visits
II. CPYU
Resources
IV. Lyrical Expression:
V. Current Culture
Image:
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Youth Culture
Stats and Trends:
1) ADD/LD
Prevalence
In a report titled, “Prevalence of Attention Deficit Disorder and Learning Disability”, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that nearly 2.6 million 6-11 year old children were diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Learning Disabilities (LD). The results are from a survey of 78,041 households and 8,647 6-11 year old children in 1997 and 1998. Other key findings:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r020521.htm (press release)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_206.pdf (2.9MB, 18 page pdf file)
See also: info about ADHD from the National Institute of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhdmenu.cfm
2) School
Violence Remedy
The National Academies’ National Research Council released a report titled, “Deadly Lessons: Understanding Lethal School Violence.” The report, which examined six case studies in urban and suburban/rural areas, found that urban shooters were responding to specific physical threats, whereas shooters in the suburban/rural areas were responding to “abstract conditions”. Researchers revealed that males with easy access to guns posed the greatest threat, but no profiling methods were fool-proof. Their recommendation is for “adults to stay connected to kids”, and for adults to recognize and respond to threats.
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309084121?OpenDocument
See also the January 2001 report on youth violence by the Surgeon General:
http://surgeongeneral.gov/library/youthviolence/youvioreport.htm
3) “Dot
Kids Dot US”
Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives passed
legislation on
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=internetnews&StoryID=990585
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:1:./temp/~c107ggYKKw::
4) “Teens,
Sex and TV”
The Kaiser Family Foundation released the results of a survey of 503, 15-17 year old teens. 72% of respondents said that sexual content on television influences other teen’s sexual behavior “A Lot” or “Somewhat”, while 78% said it had little or no impact on their own behavior.
http://www.kff.org/content/2002/3229/
See also: “Sexy TV Linked to Sex
Behavior in Some Teens”
http://hvlib.integris-health.com/HealthNews/reuters/NewsStory052220027.htm
See also: “Hollywood Cleans Up its Act”
http://www.cmpa.com/archive/2002popcultreport.htm (16 page report)
See also: “Rogues’ Gallery of Television 2001”
http://www.moralityinmedia.org/ (find the article by clicking on “Current Issues”)
5) Top Teen
TV
Nielsen Media Research, as reported by USA Today, lists the top television shows among 12-17 year old viewers.
1. Malcolm in the Middle (Fox)
2. The Simpsons (Fox)
3. Friends (NBC)
4. Bernie Mac Show (Fox)
http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/tv/2002/2002-05-28-top-tv-shows.htm
6) Teens:
Friends, TV and Family
According to the May 28, 2002 edition of the “Gallup Tuesday Briefing”, in a survey of 454, 13-17 year old teenagers conducted from July to September 2001, teens would rather spend time hanging out with friends (36%) or watching TV (23%), compared to spending time with family (6%).
http://www.gallup.com/poll/tb/educaYouth/20020528b.asp (subscription/fee required to access)
7)
“Adventures In Parenting”
Decades of research on effective parenting is compiled in this resource from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/parenting/adv_in_parenting_final.pdf (68 page pdf
file)
8) Video
Game Rentals
Video game rentals in the
http://www.vsda.org/Resource.phx/vsda/news/industry/may02/index.htx (scroll down to May 20)
http://esrb.org/search.asp (search game titles at the Entertainment Software Rating
Board site)
9) Smoking
Down, Not Out
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports, in
its
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5119a1.htm (5 page pdf file)
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r020516.htm (press release)
See also: Nicotine H2O is the latest lure to attract, initiate, and hook young smokers.
http://news.tobaccofreekids.org/plugin.jtml?siteID=TFKNEWS&p=1&Tab=News&Object_ID=551292
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020524/4139512s.htm
10) Another
“Alco-Pop” Entry
Add “Jack Daniel’s Original Hard Cola” to the increasingly lucrative and competitive list of alternative alcoholic beverages, such as “Smirnoff Ice”, “Mike’s Hard Lemonade”, “Bacardi Silver”, “Skyy Blue”, etc.
http://www.brown-forman.com/brandnews/052002JDOriginalHardCola.htm
See also two “Malternative” articles:
http://www.acnielsen.com/pubs/ci/2002/q1/features/parade.htm
http://www.infores.com/public/global/news/glo_new_040902.htm)
See the top-10 Soft Drink Companies and Brands for 2001:
http://www.beverage-digest.com/editorial/020228s.php
11) Summer
Pay Gender Gap
Junior Achievement conducted a nationwide poll of 1,559 students in October 2001 and found a disparity between wages paid to guys and girls. 33.5% of boys and 19.2% of girls reported making more than $7.51 per hour. More than half of girls and 33.5% of boys reported making less than $6.00. Some other findings:
Ø Top 3 summer jobs are in retail, babysitting and the food industry, (21.9%, 17.7% and 16.3%, respectively)
Ø 40% of boys plan to work more than 30 hours per week, compared with 33.1% of girls.
http://www.ja.org/about/about_newsitem.asp?StoryID=55
12) Suicide
Attempts and Emergency Room Visits
Data from 66 hospitals in the Consumer Product Safety
Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System reveals that 60%
(158,466) of the 264,108 nonfatal self-inflicted injuries emergency room visits
in 2000 were probable suicides, with another 10.3% as possible suicides, as
reported in the
§ 61.9% of the patients were white, 8.6% black and 6.7% Hispanic.
§ Poisoning was reported for 71.7% of females and only 54.7% of males
§ The highest rate per 100,000 people for females is the 15-19 year old group with 259, while for males the highest rate is the 20-24 year old group with 213.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5120a3.htm
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=healthnews&StoryID=1004613
CPYU
Resources:
NEW MUSIC RESOURCE from CPYU’s Walt Mueller: A colorful 12 page resource titled, “How to use your HEAD to guard your HEART: a 3-D Guide to making responsible music choices”. Prices, including shipping and handling, are $3 each for 1-5 copies and $2 each for 6+ copies. To order, contact CPYU at 717-361-8429 (voice), 717-361-8964 (fax), or e-mail cpyuinfo@cpyu.org
Newsletter: “youthculture@today” is the Center for
Parent/Youth Understanding’s quarterly 24-page newsletter that’s full of
up-to-date information and in-depth analysis on today’s youth culture. Order now
and we’ll send you a copy of our Spring
2002 newsletter featuring P.O.D and the soon to
be released Summer
2002 newsletter featuring Pink and much
more. Available for a donation of $15 a year, you can sign up by
either calling CPYU on the phone (717-361-8429), or by using the downloadable
order form found on our website at http://www.cpyu.org/ycorder.htm and faxing it to CPYU at
717-361-8964.
Website: Check out the CPYU
website (www.cpyu.org).
The site is loaded with all kinds of current information and analysis on today’s
youth culture. You’ll find a searchable database of back issues of “youthculture@today” an extensive
bibliography, culture facts, a youth culture bulletin board, links to dozens of
valuable youth culture oriented websites, a listing of CPYU resources, and much
more. The site is constantly changing so be sure to visit
often.
On-Line Discussion Group: Sign up for our youth culture e-mail discussion group at www.cpyu.org/bboard.htm With one e-mail, you will be able to share questions, comments, and answers with youthworkers, parents and educators from around the world.
Pop Culture Quotes
“Before, I saw
the world in very rigid, black-and-white terms. Now I see it as being more
ambiguous and complicated.”
- Moby quoted in the June 2002 edition of SPIN, p. 60.
“I love the
teachings of Christ, but I don’t think of myself as a Christian by anyone’s
conventional understanding.”
- Moby quoted in the June/July edition of Blender magazine, p. 50.
“You have to be
able to connect a song with something in your life. It has to resonate and ring
true for you. The message is really important, more so than the melody and the
harmony and the rhythm . . .”
- Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson answering a question about
the key factor in interpreting a song, as quoted by Associated Press,
“They make it
worse with the bleeps. It just draws attention to it.”
- Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Kelly talking about the foul language in the top-rated “Osbourne” show on MTV, Blender magazine, June/July 2002, p. 94.
“I only do what my gut tells me to . . . if it doesn’t feel right to me, there’s just no way that I’m going to do it. You’re the only one that can tell you what’s right for you.”
- Jennifer Lopez quoted from the June/July 2002 edition of Cosmo Girl, p. 36.
“Maybe it’s because I grew up in the
- Jennifer Lopez quoted from the June/July 2002 edition of Cosmo Girl, p. 39.
Lyrical Expression
Only love can ease the pain of a boy caught in the rain. Only hope will remember, burning flame in December. . .
Only faith can bring to life one who falls by the wayside. Only trust can inspire soggy lungs to breathe fire . . .
- “December” by Weezer from the Maladroit album.
I am so high. I can hear heaven. I am so high. I can hear
heaven. No heaven, no heaven don’t hear me.
And they say that a hero can save
us, I’m not gonna stand here and wait.
I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles. Watch as they all
fly away.
Someone told me love will save us all. But how can that be, look
what love gave us.
A world full of killing, and blood-spilling. That world
never came.
- “Hero” by Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger. Also MTV video and Spider-man movie soundtrack song.
Yo all I need is one mic, one beat, one stage, one n____ front my face or in the front page
Only if I had one gun, one girl and one crib, one god to show me how to do things his son did
Pure, like a cup of virgin blood mixed with 151 . . .
All I need is one blunt, one page, and one pen, one
prayer, tell god to forgive me for one sin
Matter fact maybe more than one,
look back at all the hatred against me, f___ all of them
Jesus died at age
33, . . .
- “One Mic” by Nas from his Stillmatic album, and high rotation, long running MTV video.
http://www.letssingit.com/cgi-exe/am.cgi?a=song&id=24gjgzv
Say hello to the girl that I am! You're gonna have to see
through my perspective
I need to make mistakes just to learn who I am, And I
don't wanna be so d___ protected
There must be another way, Cause I believe
in taking chances
But who am I to say, What a girl is to do, God, I need some
answers
What am I to do with my life (You will find out don't worry)
How
am I supposed to know what's right? (You just got to do it your way)
I can't
help the way I feel, But my life has been so overprotected
- “Overprotected” by Britney Spears on the Britney album and #2 video on MTV’s Total Request Live for the week ending May 17, 2002.
The more I get to know you I hope and pray to, Everyday
do whatever's righteous and true
Cuz your love is so religious, And Babygirl
don't you know I worship the ground that you walk on,
Live by your every word cuz your love is so
religious.
I wanna thank your father for making you on that day.
And give blessings to your mother for raising you so
heavenly.
Now in my heart I know for certain without an ounce of doubt in my
mind.
That I can preach a whole entire sermon just to testify on the goodness
of your love.
-
“Religious” by Musiq from his Juslisen album, which was Billboard’s #1
selling album
If we had this night together, If we had a moment to ourselves
If we had this night together, then we'd be
unstoppable
Do you think that this is right, or is it really wrong, I know
that this is what we've been wanting
And all this is burning in my soul, it
fills up to my throat, It fills up till my heart is breaking
- “Unstoppable” by The Calling from the Camino Palmero album
Current
Culture Image
This Starburst ad appears on p. 77 of the June/July 2002 edition of Cosmo Girl and on p. 93 of the June/July 2002 edition of Teen People. It shows an up close view of a guy and a girl in a passionate kiss with the words, “there’s more than one way to share a starburst”, pasted overtop of them. The slogan below the “Starburst” name reads, “isn’t life juicy?” Discussion could center on “love”, dating, sexual expression and boundaries.
Culture Links
Group Publishing’s new subscription based resource that explores media content to spark spiritual discussion.
http://www.ministryandmedia.com/ (fee based site with limited free content)
NavPress’ Current Thoughts and Trends has an on-line version of its magazine, with limited free access.
The Bible as told with Legos:
http://www.thereverend.com/brick_testament/
Want to learn more about video games? Check out this site:
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/filters/e3/0,15021,all,00.html
Links to these and many other sites can be found on our
CPYU web-site at http://www.cpyu.org/links.htm
Walt Mueller’s
“CQ” (Commentary/Quote)
“In true
postmodern form, popular music tells your child that truth can only be found
inside oneself. To look elsewhere, even to God (unless it’s some personally
defined god and not the one true God of the Scriptures), is to be untrue to
yourself. There is no universal right and wrong. Rather, you must find what is
true for you while I discover what is true for me. You must ultimately appeal to
self to decide on matters of sexuality, obedience, lifestyle,
etc.”
-From Walt Mueller’s award winning book, “Understanding Today’s Youth Culture”, p. 101.
(Editor’s note: the menu at Outback Steakhouse reads, “No Rules, Just Right.”)
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The CPYU
“Today’s Youth Culture E-Update” is a bi-weekly e-mail resource on relevant
topics of interest for youthworkers, parents, and educators. The Center for
Parent/Youth Understanding is a non-profit organization providing information
and analysis on today’s rapidly changing youth culture. To contact us, write to
Eupdate@cpyu.org
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