The Center for Parent/Youth
Understanding’s
Youth
Culture E-Update
Edition
#32:
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Contents:
I. Youth Culture Stats and Trends:
1) Devilish Beliefs
2) Underage Alcohol Consumption
3) Teens Abusing ADHD Drug
<
4) Body Appearance Pressure
5) 45th Grammy Award Winners
6) Age of the Universe
7) Parents and Sex Education
8) Detecting Depressed Teens
9) Pressured Youth and Substance Abuse
10) Drug Paraphernalia Peddlers Indicted
11) Vegan vs.
Meat-Eating Teens
II. CPYU Resources
V. Current Culture Image
VIII. E-update & CPYU information
Youth Culture
Stats and Trends:
1)
Devilish Beliefs
The
February 25, 2003 Gallup Tuesday
Briefing reports that 70% of Catholics and 79% of Protestants believe in the
Devil, while 17% of Catholics and 12% of Catholics do not believe in the Devil.
The survey was conducted in May 2001 on 1,012 adults (18+ years
old).
http://www.gallup.com/poll/tb/religvalue/20030225b.asp (fee to access)
2)
Underage Alcohol Consumption
Researchers from the
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v289n8/rfull/joc22321.html (free, full-article
access)
See also: 83% of
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2003/02/02-26-03tdc/02-26-03dnews-09.asp
See also: College blackout
drinkers
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030220/4883485s.htm
See
also: Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs Kill
7 Million Annually
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=2282904
See also: PETA wants
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GOT_BEER?
See also: Boozin’ Reality
Shows
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030218/4874550s.htm
3) Teens
Abusing ADHD Drug
According to ABCNews.com teens are increasingly abusing
the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder medication Ritalin—and
Adderall—because the drug produces a high similar to cocaine.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/Living/GMA030225Ritalin_abuse.html
See also: All drugs tweak the brain the
same
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2254298
See also: Synthetic drug use (ecstasy)
booming
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2290730
See also: Dietary supplement ephedra
implicated in pitcher’s death
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030303-426037,00.html
4) Body
Appearance Pressure
Results from a survey of 1,000 teens, age 12-17,
conducted by Secret Anti-perspirant, as reported by PRNewswire, reveal the
importance of body appearance on a teen’s self esteem.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-24-2003/0001896391&EDATE=
See
also: ABC’s “Are You Hot?” draws 10.1
million viewers
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2233508
See
also: EU seeks to ban underage breast
implants
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2225126
5)
45th Grammy Award Winners
Here is the list of winners from the 45th
Grammy’s held on
http://grammy.aol.com/awards/winners2003.html
See also: Grammy’s draw 23 million
viewers, up from 19 million in 2002
http://www.billboard.com/billboard/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1825200
See
also: Music stuck in your
head?
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2278935
See also: Comparison of fee based
Internet music services
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030226/4898659s.htm
See
also: Resurrecting
Napster?
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NAPSTER?
6) Age of
the Universe
Scientists from NASA claim the universe is 13.7 billion
years old, and that stars started shining 200 million years after the “Big
Bang”.
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2003/0206mapresults.html
7) Parents
and Sex Education
The
Coalition for Adolescent Sexual Health released the results of a survey
conducted on parents to assess their views on sex-ed programs. 73.4% of parents
approve or strongly approve of “abstinence-plus-character sex education
guidelines”, compared to 16.3% who disapprove or strongly disapprove. 61.1% of
parents disapprove or strongly disapprove of “comprehensive or
abstinence-plus-condoms sex education guidelines”, compared to 25% who approve
or strongly approve.
http://www.whatparentsthink.com/pdfs/aozs.pdf (see page 6 of 7 page pdf
file)
http://www.whatparentsthink.com
See
also: British officials are encouraging
teens to consider oral sex to combat a high teen pregnancy
rate
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2268173
See
also: Female teacher accused of having
sex with 7th grade student
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TEACHER_SEX?
See also: Adult male posing as female
e-mails to lure young girl
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=2290899
8)
Detecting Depressed Teens
A
high percentage of parents (90%) believe they can detect if their child is
depressed or considering suicide, according to a survey of 900 U.S. parents who
have children 18 years of age or younger. In reality, only one-third of teens
with mental health problems are actually known.
http://teenscreen.org/resources/press1.html
9)
Pressured Youth and Substance Use
Youth who are pressured to excel academically and in
extracurricular activities have a high risk of using alcohol and drugs,
according to a study of 6th & 7th grade students in an
affluent Northeast suburb.
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/reality/articles/2003/pressured.asp
10) Drug
Paraphernalia Peddlers Indicted
The
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, in an attempt to curb the proliferation of
Internet based drug paraphernalia selling, announced the indictment of 50 people
implicated in illegal activities.
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr022403p.html
or
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DRUG_PARAPHERNALIA?
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/paraphernaliafact.html
See also: Record pot
seizure
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030224-123018-7117r
See also:
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=2289843
11) Vegan
vs. Meat-Eating Teens
An
Associated Press article, exploring the vegetarian vs. meat eater debate, cites
a Teenage Research Unlimited survey of 12 to 19 year old youth, which found that
20% of all respondents—and 28% of girls—said vegetarianism is
“in”.
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VEG_VS_MEAT?
CPYU
Resources:
NEW MUSIC RESOURCE!!! If you want to know and
influence kids in today's culture, you've got to know and respond to their
music. In the “More Than Noise” video, CPYU's Walt Mueller takes viewers
on an informative and practical journey through the confusing maze of today's
popular music. The video is broken up into 5 parts for classroom use, and
includes a helpful study-guide. Copies are available for a suggested donation of
$15. Order your copy with a credit card by calling CPYU at
717-361-8429.
“How to use your HEAD to guard your HEART: a 3-D
Guide to making responsible music choices” is
a colorful 12 page resource by CPYU’s Walt Mueller. 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 is 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 soon to be released Spring
2003 newsletter featuring Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera
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/cultquest.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
“Every song is
about our life. Everybody thinks we are lesbians. But we just love each
other.”
-
Lena Katina of controversial Russian duo t.A.T.u., Rolling Stone,
See
also: Time magazine blurb about
t.A.T.u.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030217-421034,00.html
See also: Tatu’s new single “All the
Things She Said” tops British singles chart for 4 weeks
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2272765
“I’m a pretty
big pothead. And not the ‘Whoa, hemp can save the world’ kind of pothead. I
smoke pot most days. It’s not like I’m driving a school bus,
y’know?”
-
Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas, Blender, March 2003, p.
176.
“I’m growing
up and trying to have fun and be creative and I don’t do drugs. That’s something
that makes me angry: potheads. I don’t like pot because people who smoke pot are
stupid and slow and have nothing interesting to say.”
-
Actor and musician Robert Schwartzman (Michael in Princess Diaries), ElleGirl, Feb/Mar
2003, p. 72.
“We both
decided we'd be with each other and have fun until we didn't. We still are. The
only thing I can point to in my life and say I was sheer genius, somehow was in
having that person want to be with me.”
- Actor Kurt Russell discussing his 20-year,
marriage-free relationship with Goldie Hawn in the Los Angeles Times, as
reported by Reuters.
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2277275
“Some days I
would look at my reflection and see garbage, and I guess I was worried about the
size of my breasts for a long time. But now I think I have finally reached an
age where I have accepted myself for who I am.”
-
Shakira, Blender, March 2003, p.
124.
“Performing
live is as close as you get to making love. There's the anticipation, the
adrenaline when you are performing and the big satisfaction when you wind
down—that's like having a cigarette afterwards.”
-
Veteran singer Tom Jones, as quoted by Reuters,
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2243348
“It's a
challenge, but that's the way it is. Some people think they can't stay the same
person they were with all the commotion. I think you need to have some good
friends around you and you need a lot of mental strength and help from
God.”
-
Jennifer Lopez as quoted by Reuters
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2271313
“There was
somebody dead on top of me. I survived because I started
praying.”
-
“That’s
nobody’s business, really. I’m a musician. I’m doing a song. I think that’s
everybody’s individual choice. Nobody needs to be preaching to people. That’s
everybody else’s choice that they keep inside themselves, and God forbid that
they ever have to make it.”
-
Country singer Tim McGraw answering whether he is “pro-choice”, Blender, March 2003, pp.
78-79
“The last
thing I would want is for some 13-year-old kid who emulates everything I do to
have a difficult day and go try to kill themselves.”
-
Mariah Carey refuting claims that she tried to commit suicide, Vibe, March 2003, p.
120
“Celebrity
stuff is fluff. None of it is real at the end of the
day.”
-
Mariah Carey, Vibe, March 2003, p.
120.
“To
see a human being come out of her was some other s___. I’ve never seen anything
to this day measure up to that.”
-
Rapper Busta Rhymes speaking about witnessing childbirth, Vibe, March 2003, p.
146.
Lyrical
Expression
Save me smiling Jesus, Get off that cross
Hate me
screaming masses, I don’t care if I’m lost
Don’t tell me that you’re all
better, I don’t care if you are
Don’t tell me that you’re trendsetters, I
don’t care if you are
-
69 Tea by Seether from the Disclaimer album
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/seether/69tea.html
See
also: There are 10 album covers to
choose from for Seether’s Disclaimer
album. See the one Amazon posts on its website. It shows a girl holding a sign
which reads, “I hate myself . . . I hate you”.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006BMWO.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
(Editor’s note: “Love your neighbor as yourself”?)
(chorus) Lord I don't cry no more, Don't look to the sky
no more
Have mercy on me, Have mercy on my soul, Somewhere my heart turned
cold
Have mercy on many men, Many, many, many, many men, Wish death upon
me
(verse) Every night I talk to god, but he don't say nothing back
I know
he protecting me, but I still stay with my gat . . .
-
Many Men (wish death) by 50 Cent
from the Get Rich or Die Tryin’
album
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/50cent/manymenwishdeath.html (explicit lyrics)
. .
. The Lords blessing left me lyrically incline (uh huh), S___ I aint even got to
try to shine
God's a seamstress who tailorfitted my pain, I got scribtures in
my brain
I can spit at your thang, Straight out the good book . . .
-
Patiently Waiting by 50 Cent from
the Get Rich or Die Tryin’
album
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/50cent/patientlywaiting.html (explicit lyrics)
See also: 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die
Tryin’ album has sold 2.2 million copies in 3 weeks
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=musicNews&storyID=2294316
Current
Culture Image
This ad for Clairol Herbal Essence, appearing in the
October 2002 issues of CosmoGirl and Seventeen, the February 2003 issues of YM,
Teen People, and Rolling Stone (Feb 20), and the March 2003 issue of YM, shows a
close up shot of a long-haired redhead female with the tag line, “Does your body
long to be held . . . and held and held . . . ?” Taking a closer look at the
reflection in the woman’s eyes reveals a silhouette of a man. It has been said,
“Guys use love to get sex, and girls use sex to get love.” This ad could be used
to discuss what it means to be acceptable and lovable in the eyes of others, and
to what extent people, particularly girls, will go to achieve
it.
Culture Link
“Spirituality.com is a Web community for anyone seeking
a deeper understanding of spirituality and life in order to make a difference in
the world. It is a resource for every individual's spiritual
journey.”
Walt Mueller’s
“CQ” (Commentary/Quote)
“Our culture bombards young girls with this highly
unrealistic appearance pressure before they’ve even started the journey through
puberty. By the time they get there, the visual image of what they must look
like if they are going to be normal, loved, desired, and accepted has already
seared itself on their impressionable young minds.”
-
Walt Mueller quoted from CPYU’s Spring 2000 “YouthCulture @ Today”
newsletter
http://www.cpyu.org/news/00springh1.htm
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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 or
“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.
