The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding’s

Today’s Youth Culture E-Update

Edition #24: October 30, 2002

Feel free to forward our bi-weekly resource, but please encourage people to subscribe.

NEW & EASY way to SUBSCRIBE for FREE!

Go to http://www.cpyu.org/bboard.htm

Type in your e-mail address and hit “Submit”

Just follow the instructions when you receive the e-mail confirmation.

Contact eupdate@cpyu.org if you have any questions or experience any problems.

Contents:

I. Youth Culture Stats and Trends:

1) Duct Tape Warts

2) Ear Piercing Danger

3) Post Divorce Preventative Intervention

4) Top Teen Internet Searches

5) Teen Relationships

6) DVD Rentals Rising

7) Online Music Consumer Analysis

8) Teaching “Intelligent Design”

9) Teen Brand Preferences

10) Teen Angst

11) Ecstasy Ignorance

II. CPYU Resources

III. Pop Culture Quotes: Disturbed’s Dave Draiman, Johnny Knoxville, Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera and others

IV. Lyrical Expressions: Foo Fighters and Christina Aguilera

V. Current Culture Image

VI. Culture Links:

VII. Walt Mueller’s “CQ” (Commentary/Quote)

VIII. E-update & CPYU information

Youth Culture Stats and Trends:

1) Duct Tape Warts

Researchers report in the October 2002 issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, that duct tape eliminated warts in 22 of the 26 patients (85%) that used the treatment compared to 15 of the 25 patients (60%) who received cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen applications).

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/issues/v156n10/rfull/poa20075.html (free full article access)

2) Ear Piercing Danger

Investigators from the Infectious Disease Society of America are cautioning teens about the risks of possible infection and disfigurement from piercing the upper ear cartilage.

http://www.idsociety.org/NewsRoom/NR_Ear%20Piercing_10-24-02.htm

3) Post Divorce Preventive Intervention

The Journal of the American Medical Association reports the results of a six-year study of 218 families who have gone through a post divorce intervention program. Adolescents, whose mothers participated in the mother and child program, were less likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder, as compared to a control group that was given books on post divorce adjustment (11% and 23.5%, respectively). These adolescents were also less likely to use alcohol and drugs, and had fewer sexual partners

http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v288n15/abs/joc11877.html (free abstract)

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021016/4538174s.htm

See also: “Childhood divorce fuels fire of new rock” article by Steve Beard

http://asp.washtimes.com/printarticle.asp?action=print&ArticleID=20021004-72687856

4) Top Teen Internet Searches

The Lycos 50™ reports the top teenagers searched on Lycos over the past 3 months.

1) Singer Avril Lavigne

2) Singer Mandy Moore

3) Rapper Lil' Bow Wow

4) Actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

5) Singer Michelle Branch

6) Tennis star Daniela Hantuchova

7) Singer Holly Valance

8) Tennis star Jelena Dokic

9) Singer Aaron Carter

10) Actor Daniel Radcliffe

http://50.lycos.com/101702.asp (includes top 20 searches and list of last year’s list)

http://50.lycos.com/101802.asp (top kid character searches)

See also: Lycos 50™ top music-related Internet searches

http://www.billboard.com/billboard/hotweb/lycos50.jsp

See also: AOL creates an Instant Messenger advice “buddy”

http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_story.html?FRONTID=TECHNOLOGY&STORYID=APIS7MRTSFO0

5) Teen Relationships

The Kaiser Family Foundation in conjunction with Seventeen magazine released its latest SexSmarts survey on teen relationships from telephone interviews of 505 15-17 year old teens conducted in July 2002. Key findings:

26% of both girls and boys said oral sex was always or most of the time part of a dating relationship, while 23% said oral sex was part of a casual relationship
22% of boys and 28% of girls said sexual intercourse was part of a casual relationship, compared to 27% of boys and 29% of girls in dating relationships, yet in a later question 19% of boys and 8% of girls said they had sexual intercourse in a casual relationship, while 34% of boys and 28% of girls had sexual intercourse with a boyfriend or girlfriend
20% of boys and 30% of girls report cheating on, or doing something sexual with someone else.
60% of teens said religious teaching about sex and relationships influenced sexual behaviors

http://www.kff.org/content/2002/3257/

http://www.kff.org/content/2002/3257/Final_summary_sexsmarts3.pdf (4 page pdf file)

See also: “Women want sensitive, sober, virgin men” article

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=humannews&StoryID=1606074

6) DVD Rentals Rising

The Video Software Dealers Association reports January through September 2002 DVD rental revenue of $2.03 billion (33% market share) compared to $4.12 billion for VHS. DVD’s market share in 2001 was 17%. The year-to-date top renting DVD and VHS titles are:

Rank	DVD	VHS
1	Training Day	Don’t Say a Word
2	Don’t Say a Word	Training Day
3	The Others (2001)	The Fast and the Furious
4	Vanilla Sky	Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
5	Domestic Disturbance	Rat Race

http://www.vsda.org/Resource.phx/public/press/october2002/oct4-02.htx

See also: USA Today article about DVD’s

http://www.usatoday.com/life/2002-10-17-dvd-cover_x.htm

7) Online Music Consumer Analysis

Jupiter Research conducted an online survey of 2,544 music consumers in August 2002 to assess attitudes and behaviors. Some of the findings:

18 to 24 year olds rank file sharing first, while 35 to 44 year olds prefer shopping, and those 45+ prefer radio
31% of file sharers report decreased music spending
88% of music buyers bought CD’s from a physical store, compared to 44% and 43% for online and record club purchases, respectively

http://www.jup.com/sps/research/report.jsp?doc=mus02-v02&Page=3 (registration required)

See also: “Affluent Americans drive Internet growth, according to Nielsen//NetRatings”

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-15-2002/0001819394&EDATE=

8) Teaching “Intelligent Design”

The Ohio state school board, as reported by the Associated Press, adopted a science curriculum that allows school districts to decide whether to teach “Intelligent Design” in science class.

http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_story.html?FRONTID=SCIENCE&STORYID=APIS7MM7JN00

See also: Voluntary Bible studies offered in the White House

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021014/4531562s.htm

9) Teen Brand Preferences

U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Retail Analyst Jeff Klinefelter researched teen spending habits and retail brand preferences of 710 teens from 12 high schools and 10 states. The top brand preferences among teens were: 1) Abercrombie & Fitch, 2) Pacific Sunwear, and 3) American Eagle Outfitters. Teen spending was down to $1,154 from $1,536 in the fall of 2001.

http://www.gotoanalysts.com/piperpublic/goto/link.asp?MainURL=/piperpublic/goto/features/feature_retail_survey4.asp

10) Teen Angst

Researchers from San Diego State University, as reported by Reuters, believe the cause of teen angst is a temporary—from puberty to 18 years of age—increase in nerve activity in the brain, which blocks a teen’s ability to discern other people’s emotions.

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=healthnews&StoryID=1586701

11) Ecstasy Ignorance

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America®, in a nationwide survey of 1,219 parents conducted from December 2001 to January 2002, discovered a perception and information gap about the club-drug Ecstasy (MDMA). Key findings:

92% of parents have heard about Ecstasy, but 49% are unclear about its effects
12% of teens (2.8 million) report using Ecstasy, while only 1% of parents think their child has tried it
26% of teens said Ecstasy was very or fairly difficult to get, compared with 41% of parents
Parents talk “a lot” about inhalants (36%), cocaine/crack (48%), marijuana (60%) and alcohol (70%), compared to Ecstasy (29%)

http://www.drugfreeamerica.org/Templates/pats.asp?ws=PDFA&vol=1&grp=NewsCenter&cat=National+Surveys&top=PATS+2001-2002

See also: Ecstasy deaths increase in Miami area

http://www.aacap.org/press_releases/2002/1025_2.htm or

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=healthnews&StoryID=1644146

See also: Actor Nick Nolte found driving under the influence of GHB—“Liquid Ecstasy”

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=entertainmentnews&StoryID=1622848

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 Fall 2002 newsletter featuring the Osbournes 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), which 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. A searchable “e-Update” archive is available at http://www.cpyu.org/bboard.htm

On-Line Discussion Group: Sign up for our youth culture e-mail discussion group (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.

Speakers: CPYU Speakers are available to speak at your church, school or organization. Our "Understanding Today's Youth Culture" seminars are presentations designed for parents, youth workers, teachers and others dealing with the specific challenges associated with understanding the world of pre-teens and adolescents. To book a CPYU seminar, contact CPYU at 717-361-8429 or check out the seminar page on the CPYU website http://www.cpyu.org/seminars.htm

Pop Culture Quotes

“Vengeance is not a godly thing. I don’t deny the existence of God—I deny the traditional theological perspectives. Whether it’s Catholicism, Judaism, or anything else, if it thrives off fear and guilt, I can’t subscribe to it.”

- Disturbed’s lead singer Dave Draiman, Revolver, Nov/Dec 2002, p. 68

“My teenage years were very tumultuous, as is so common. What we have to go through during adolescence should never be trivialized. In many ways, it dictates the kind of people we become. I know; I speak from painful experience.”

- Dave Draiman, Blender, November 2002, p. 72.

“I gotta think you’re coming out of this (watching “Jackass: The Movie”) not a better person. You don’t feel very holy after seeing Jackass: The Movie.”

- Johnny Knoxville (real name P.J. Clapp), MTV News, October 22, 2002.

“I just wish parents would take a little more time to see what their kids are watching and see what their kids are doing.”

- Johnny Knoxville as reported by CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/25/film.jackass.ap/

See also: Time magazine article about Knoxville’s movie

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101021028-366323,00.html

See also: “Jackass” the top grossing film

http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2002/JCKAS.html

“I like spirituality, not religion or politics. Religion turns into 'My god's bigger than your god; therefore, you're a heathen, and you should die, and I'll take your land and build a temple on top of your flattened house.' Religion is a corrupt business. Spirituality is like water and sun. When it rains, the prostitute and the pope get wet just the same. Spirituality is not memorizing the Koran or the Bible while hurting people in the name of Allah or Jesus or Buddha or oil. We are all chosen. Surely we have the capacity to transmute anger and fear into a masterpiece of joy.”

- Carlos Santana, USA Today, October 16, 2002, 1D

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021016/4538293s.htm

“Shamans heal with music and herbs. You have Buddha, Krishna, Allah, Rama, Jehovah ... they all want unity and harmony on this planet, all of them. That's the message: unity and harmony and transform your fear.”

- Carlos Santana speaking about the title of Santana’s latest album titled, Shaman, Associated Press, October 16, 2002.

http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_story.html?FRONTID=ARTS&STORYID=APIS7MMSVL80

''When you're part of a pop phenomenon, you have so many opinions shoved down your throat. People try to tell you what you should do, how you should act, what you should wear, who you should be with. At the time things started happening for me, it was popular to be the squeaky-clean, cookie-cutter pop singer. But that role didn't speak to me, because it's so boring and superficial. 'I think it had to do with social standards, too. People want to see a white blond girl stick to a safe, good-girl image. Not that I'm trying to be the bad girl; I just want to be real, to be myself. People don't really know who I am yet. That's where the title of my new album came from—it's about being emotionally stripped down for the first time.”

- Singer Christina Aguilera, USA Today, October 24, 2002,

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021024/4561349s.htm

See also: Christina’s physically stripped down Rolling Stone cover story and Dirrty video.

http://www.rollingstone.com/features/coverstory/featuregen.asp?pid=1275 (viewer discretion advised!)

See also: Associated Press article and interview of Christina

http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_package.html?FRONTID=ARTS&PACKAGEID=music&STORYID=APIS7MUT1NO0&SLUG=MUSIC%2dAGUILERA

See also: CBS (subsidiary of Viacom, Inc, which owns MTV) to air Victoria Secret lingerie show, November 20

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=entertainmentnews&StoryID=1636456

The following quotes can be viewed from Rolling Stone’s “Women in Rock” issue: http://www.rollingstone.com/features/coverstory/featuregen.asp?pid=1237

“And pretty much all the music that’s being sold right now has an addictive quality. It’s usually selling sex—addicting kids to sex.”

- Jewel, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 78.

“And I think the respect stops the more clothing you take off. When you come in and you’re showing your crotch, who cares what you have to say?”

- Jill Scott, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 104.

“As a child, I don’t remember seeing scantily clad women on the covers of magazines as excessively as today. And I feel it’s negative for young boys to grow up thinking that that’s the standard of beauty. The long-term repercussions are not good at all.”

- Nelly Furtado, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 58.

“Music has become generic, and now it’s all about the images. It’s made it virtually impossible to be ugly and popular. And it’s really manipulating how young girls see themselves, how they define beauty.”

- Sheryl Crow, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 69.

“Any time that our bodies are viewed singularly as objects, it’s depressing to me, because there’s so much more to us.”

- Alanis Morissette, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 94.

“God, my granddaughter is three, and she’s really rhythmic. And already she’s grabbing her crotch and dancing. It’s really tragic what MTV has done to the world. Because it’s piped all over the world.”

- Joni Mitchell, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 116.

One thing being a woman that I don’t do, though is sell my body. I want people to respect me, and I don’t go around shaking it or wearing a sports bra. I think a lot of girls look at that stuff and it makes them self-conscious because their body doesn’t look that good. And they don’t want their boyfriend staring at that s___.”

- Avril Lavigne, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 118.

“I don’t think anyone should be a role model, period. The role model comes from the way you live your life and the choices you make.

- Melissa Etheridge, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 124.

“And teenage girls are the strangest creatures, because everything seems like the end of the world. Relationships, friendships—everything is magnified a bazillion percent.”

- Michelle Branch, Rolling Stone, October 31, 2002, p. 75.

Lyrical Expression

All my life I've been searching for something, Something never comes never leads to nothing
Nothing satisfies but I'm getting close, Closer to the prize at the end of the rope
All night long I dream of the day, When it comes around then it's taken away
Leaves me with the feeling that I feel the most, The feeling comes to life when I see your ghost

- “All My Life” by the Foo Fighters from the One by One album, and MTV video.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/foofighters/allmylife.html

I am beautiful no matter what they say, Words can't bring me down, I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down, So don't you bring me down today
To all your friends, you're delirious, So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness, The piece is gone and the puzzle undone, That's the way it is
You are beautiful no matter what they say, Words won't bring you down, You are beautiful in every single way

- “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera from her Stripped album

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/christinaaguilera/beautiful.html

Current Culture Image

This PowerBar ad, which appeared in the October 31, 2002 issue of Rolling Stone, p. 100, shows a stack of weight lifting plates with a series of words written on each plate. The top plate reads, “Sub”, followed by “Starter”, “Captain”, “All-Pro”, and lastly, where the pin is placed, “Action Figure”. A portion of the small print reads, “Lift yourself to new heights.” Another PowerBar ad (not shown here), appearing in the September 19, 2002 edition of Rolling Stone, p. 41, substitutes different words on the plates, beginning with “Buff” and moving up to “Cut”, “Ripped”, “Chiseled”, and “Idolized”. The small print reads, “Make a lasting impression.” Discussion could focus on issues related to male image and identity pressures.

Culture Links

http://www.netfamilynews.org/

Net Family News is a web-site dedicated to keeping parents and teachers “up to speed” regarding the Internet, and is “based on the premise that informed, engaged parents and educators are essential to improving kids' quality of life online” In addition to lots of helpful information visitors can sign up for a free weekly Net Family Newsletter.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/crossroads/quizzes/quizhome.html

Interactive and educational teen driving site put together by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

http://pastor2youth.com/

This site provides lots of resources for youth workers.

Walt Mueller’s “CQ” (Commentary/Quote)

If you're going to be at the Youth Specialties National Youthworkers' Convention in Pittsburgh next week (November 7-11), be sure to plug in to Walt Mueller's seminars. Walt will be presenting a "Mars Hill Ministry - Using Culture To Impact Culture" seminar on Saturday afternoon at 2pm. He'll be speaking on "How Today's Music and Media Impact Your Students" at 8am on Sunday morning. And, for you late-nite folks who are looking to chat about culture, Walt will be leading a "Let's Talk About Youth Culture" discussion option on Saturday night at 10:15pm. We hope to see you in Pittsburgh

“If we are going to be responsible in our efforts to help our kids make good media choices, we had better prepare ourselves so that we know what we are talking about. We can’t attack an album, show, or movie on the basis of what we’ve heard in an extended game of whisper-down-the-lane. We need to get the facts so that we can intelligently discuss those shows, films, and songs that concern us.”

- Walt Mueller from Walt’s award winning book, Understanding Today’s Youth Culture, p. 194.

<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><

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 or PO Box 414 Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or call 717-361-8429, or fax 717-361-8964.

“Browser Discretion Advisory”: CPYU does not necessarily endorse, support, or condone the organizations/sites for which we've provided you with links, nor does CPYU necessarily agree with the conclusions and/or recommendations of studies cited. Some are listed for informational and research purposes only as they are prevalent in youth culture today.

www.cpyu.org