Highlighted Resource: Don't miss the
upcoming edition of “YouthCulture @ Today”! The Summer 2003 edition of
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sign up now ($15 donation for a one year, 4-issue subscription) you won't miss
this 24-page ad-free quarterly magazine packed full of helpful information and
analysis on today's youth culture. Featured in this issue will be Walt Mueller's
article on the virus of youth violence and his in-depth overview on the message
and appeal of The Dave Matthews Band, Tom Piotrowski's primer on the
hip-hop subculture, Paul Robertson's "Parent to Parent" commentary on
declining standards in a postmodern age, and Doug West's "News and Views"
overview of changing family trends. In addition, there'll be all the
regular features including resource reviews, media overviews (50 Cent's "In
Da Club", Eminem's "8 Mile," and UPN's "Platinum" series), and a whole lot
more. If you'd like to get your name on the list, give us a call at
1-800-807-CPYU, or click on the following link for a downloadable order form: http://www.cpyu.org/ycorder.htm
The Center for Parent/Youth
Understanding’s
Youth
Culture E-Update
Edition
#38:
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Contents:
I. Youth Culture Stats and Trends:
1) Teens and Movies
2) Video Game Addiction
3) Teen Brain
4) Tongue Splitting
5) Less Sexual Prime Time TV
6) Teen Sex
7) Spirited Teen Magazine Ads
8) Teens and Proms
9) Teen
Summer Employment Plans
10) High
School Dropout Rate
11) Stronger
Religiously Active Families
II. CPYU Resources
V. Current Culture Image
VIII. E-update & CPYU information
Youth Culture
Stats and Trends:
1) Teens
and Movies
Gallup Tuesday
Briefing reports that the average teen
saw 7 movies in a theater in the past year from a survey of 1,200 teens
conducted in early 2003. In regards to movie content, 27% of teens (20% boys and
34% girls) said there is too much violence, and 40% (31% boys and 48% of girls)
said there is too much sex.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/tb/educayouth/20030527.asp (fee to access)
See
also: “R-rated megahits draw teens—but
not ID checks”
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0519/p01s03-ussc.html
Also: The
Associated Press reported on May 19, 2003 that “The Matrix Reloaded” was the
highest grossing opening weekend R-rated film with an estimated $93.3 million
(previous high: $58 million for “Hannibal”).
See
also: 70% of 12-24 year old moviegoers
do not mind ads in theatres
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2735693
See also: God on
film
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/22/god.movies.ap/
2) Video
Game Addiction
According to the National Institute on Media and the
Family, from a survey of 607 Midwestern students, 14% of 8th and
9th graders are addicted to video games. Addicted players, 82% of
whom are male, play an average of 21.6 hours per week (4.5 hours for
non-addicts).
http://www.mediaandthefamily.org/press/20030424-2.shtml
See also:
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VIOLENT_GAMES?
See also: Essential computer and video
game industry facts
http://www.idsa.com/EF2003.pdf (8 page pdf file)
3) Teen
Brain
USA
Weekend article explores the development of the adolescent
brain.
http://usaweekend.com/03_issues/030518/030518teenbrain.html
See also: All grown up at
26
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=2708835
4) Tongue
Splitting
Time magazine reports on the small but growing number of
people who are slicing their tongues.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030526-452805,00.html
See also: Tongue piercing
complications
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=2803793
5) Less
Sexual Prime Time TV
The
Parents Television Council says sexual content during the prime time television
hours (
http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/release/2003/0520.asp
See also: Gay dating show, “Boy Meets
Boy” scheduled on Bravo
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2830212
6) Teen
Sex
The
Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a survey on 1,800 teens to explore their
knowledge and attitudes toward sex. Some of the key findings from pages 79, 80,
and 96 of the 141 page pdf file report:
·
86% of 15-17 year old teens
(89% male, 82% female) have kissed someone romantically
·
36% of 15-17 year old teens
(40% male, 32% female) have had oral sex
·
37% of 15-17 year old teens
(42% male, 33% female) have had sexual intercourse
·
The age at which sexually
active 15-17 year olds report becoming sexually active: 2% at 12 years, 9% at 13
years, 17% at 14 years, 27% at 15 years, 28% at 16 years, and 9% at 17
years.
·
36% of 15-17 year olds who
identified themselves as Protestant said they were sexually active
·
37% of 15-17 year olds who
did not identify with any organized religion report being sexually
active
http://www.kff.org/content/2003/3218/
http://www.kff.org/content/2003/3218/kff_youth_survey_Final_04_03.pdf (full 141 page report)
See also: Study claims condom programs
do not promote sex
http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/6/955 or
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/65/72774.htm?z=3734_00000_1000_ts_01
See also: Absent dads and teenage
pregnancies
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=2742959
7)
Spirited Teen Magazine Ads
Researchers, reporting in the
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/289/18/2424 (free
abstract)
See
also: Binge drinking and unintended
pregnancies
http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/111/5/S1/1136 (free abstract, fee for
article)
8) Teens
and Proms
According to an online poll of 1,500+ teens conducted by
Angelfire by Lycos, as reported by PRNewswire, 68% say they will NOT attend
their high school proms. Who are teens planning to go with to the prom? 53% say
a boy/girlfriend, 20% say a platonic friend, 19% say a group of friends, and 7%
say they will go alone.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-14-2003/0001946477&EDATE=
See also: Teens spend $2.7 billion on
high school proms
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PROM_PROFITS?
See also: Restricting
proms
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-05-20-prom-cover_x.htm
9) Teen
Summer Employment Plans
An
online poll conducted by Junior Achievement on 1,101 teens reveals that 81% of
teens plan to work during the summer of 2003 (down from 85% in 2002 and 86% in
2001).
http://www.ja.org/about/about_newsitem.asp?StoryID=125 (press release)
http://www.ja.org/files/polls/summer_jobs_2003.PDF (full 18-page pdf file poll
results)
See also: “Job dearth this summer
deprives kids of more than money”
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0521/p01s03-usec.html
10) High
School Dropout Rate
According to a study conducted by the Center for Labor
Market Studies at
http://www.brt.org/press.cfm/915
11)
Stronger Religiously Active Families
Researchers from the National Study of Youth and
Religion at the
http://www.youthandreligion.org/news/2003-0507.html
http://www.youthandreligion.org/publications/docs/family-report.pdf (full 40-page pdf file
report)
See
also: Barna Research Group reports that
3% of households tithed to their church in 2002, down from 8% in 2001; 6% of
born again adults tithed in 2002, down from 14% in 2001, and 12% in
2000
http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PagePressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=139&Reference=A
CPYU
Resources:
“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
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.
Newsletter: “YouthCulture @ Today” is the Center for
Parent/Youth Understanding’s 24-page quarterly magazine that is full of
up-to-date information and in-depth analysis on today’s youth culture.
See promotional blurb at top of
e-Update for ordering instructions.
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
“I believe in
eating, and I’m really happy that women are allowed to have curves again—to look
like women, as opposed to waifs.”
-
Actress Shannen Doherty (“90210”), Spin, June 2003, p.
46.
“It’s
important to teach people not to feel like they have to fit a certain body
image. Overcoming an eating disorder myself has made me prouder than selling
millions of albums.”
-
Paula Abdul, Teen People, June/July
2003. p. 81.
“I have never
done hard drugs in my life . . . I am not—and never have been—anorexic or
bulimic.”
-
Actress Brittany Murphy, Cosmopolitan, June 2003, p.
238.
“Men can be
involved with a number of women at once. He might be serious about one girl, but
then there are others who may have special [sexual] capabilities or who are fun
to be with. You just have to be honest and make them all aware of each
other.”
- Singer/actor Tyrese (2Fast 2Furious) responding to the
question, “What should women know about men?”, Cosmopolitan, June 2003, p.
50.
“From June
1962 to November 1963, I was involved in a sexual relationship with President
Kennedy. For the last 41 years, it is a subject that I have not discussed. In
view of the recent media coverage, I have now discussed the relationship with my
children and my family, and they are completely
supportive.”
-
60 year old Mimi Fahnestock and current church administrator, USA Today,
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030516/5165221s.htm
“Sometime
soon. We're still trying to juggle our daughter, and at 2 she's really running
around. When she was born, it was hard to think of
marriage.”
- ‘N Sync’s Joey Fatone speaking about marriage to his
girlfriend of 9 years, Kelly Baldwin, who is the mother of his 2 year old
daughter, Briahna, USA Today, May 28, 2003, 3D.
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030528/5193197s.htm
“I'm on an
exploration, and I know that I probably won't do this for the rest of my life.
There are other things that interest me. Probably when I fall in love, that's
when I will stop doing as much of this, because I will want to settle down
again. I went through a period in my life where I wasn't able to move around and
explore as much.”
-
Actress Nicole Kidman,
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030520/5171659s.htm
“In
-
Jazz violinist Regina Carter quoted by the Associated Press,
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_CARTER?
“But I am
different, and fans love that. I’m not the stereotypical racer. I have a
disability (amputated legs). I’m black and from the inner city. I look
at my job, really, as giving people something to aspire
to.”
-
Pro stock bike racer Reggie Showers, Philadelphia Inquirer,
“I hadn't told
anybody anything, but this is how my life has always been ... everything has
something to do with that—the power of faith. I'm not a Bible thumper. I'm not
any of that stuff, but I do believe.”
“We are
spiritual in a sense. I've always been big about faith. Everything in my life
has happened for a reason, and a good reason.”
-
Jim Carrey (“Bruce Almighty” movie), Reuters,
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2780089
See also:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-05-20-carrey_x.htm
See also: Interview with Tom Shadyac,
director of Bruce
Almighty
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/bruce_almighty.htm
“When I was 10, I wanted to be 16 so I could
drive. Then as I got closer to 16, I wanted to be 18 so I could smoke, have sex,
and buy porn. Now I want to be 21, but after 21, there really isn’t anything.
They need to make more laws, so it’s not like, ‘Oh, 30. Driving the kids to
soccer practice in a minivan.’”
-
Singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, Spin, July 2003, p.
28.
“The teen
years are difficult and always tumultuous. You have all this stuff flying around
you—your body is changing; your relationships are changing; your hormones are
changing; you're besieged by school and peer group pressures. All of that is so
overwhelming for a lot of teens that they find drugs and alcohol as a temporary
relief of that pressure.”
-
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis,
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-05-09-curtis_x.htm
“My faith is
the one thing that has forever and will forever remain
constant.”
-
1st season American Idol
finalist R.J. Helton signs gospel recording contract, Reuters, May 20,
2003.
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=musicNews&storyID=2779840
Lyrical
Expression
You
don't need no friends, get back your faith again, you have the power to
believe
another dissident, take back your evidence, it has no power to
deceive
I'll believe it when I see it, for myself
I don't need no one to
tell me about heaven, I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no
proof when it comes to God and truth, I can see the sunset and I perceive
I
sit with them all night, everything they say is right, but in the morning they
were wrong
I'll be right by your side, come hell or water high, down any road
you choose to roam
I'll believe it when I see it for myself . . .
darling, I believe, Oh Lord, sometimes it's hard to breathe, Lord at the
bottom of the sea, . . .
-
Heaven by Live from the Birds of Pray
album
http://azlyrics.com/lyrics/live/heaven.html
Today I found my soul, I felt it die inside of me, So I
turn to you, Life is like that you know . . .
Well the wind that blows its blowing colder and the
child that grows she's growing older
And the friends we know they'll turn a
shoulder, the friends we know they are growing colder
Where's my soul . . .
Let the truth be sewn before the window’s closing,
Truth is natural like a wind that blows, Follow the
direction no matter where it goes
So it shall be the earth and the sea, Let
the truth blow like a hurricane through me
If I've been cold, if I've spoken
in anger, to have been bold, forgive me . . .
-
Wake for Young Souls by Third Eye
Blind from the Out of the Vein
album
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/thirdeyeblind/wakeforyoungsouls.html (corrections made)
Current Culture Image
This Stridex Fruit Therapy acne cream ad appeared in the
June/July 2003 issues of CosmoGirl
(p. 50) and Teen People (p. 115), and
the July 2003 issue of YM, p. 105.
The ad shows a smiley faced teen girl with a tag line that reads, “When you have
Xceptionally clear skin you can face anything with Xtra Xuberance.” This ad begs
the question, “What if you don’t have clear skin?” It exploits teen insecurities
surrounding acne and highlights the importance of image to acceptability and
confidence.
Culture Links
Angelfire by Lycos is “the leading community site for
teens on the Web”, according to a Terra Lycos press release on
http://www.angelfire.lycos.com/
Spank! is the #1 search item on Google.com for the
search string “Youth Culture” and, according to their web-site, the “longest
running youth e-magazine @ 2766 days” (as of
Walt Mueller’s
“CQ” (Commentary/Quote)
“The Dave Matthews Band reflects the emerging postmodern
worldview, including an emphasis on feeling as a means to discovering truth, and
positive emotional experience as an aspiration and end. When fans assemble for
the concerts, the dancing, singing and smiling reflect that participants are
having an uplifting experience. Reaching those emotional heights become the end
of the experience. As this phenomenon becomes more and more ingrained in our
culture, we need to be aware that those who hold it will carry it into every
nook and cranny of their lives. We should be concerned that the same attitude
might be creeping into the church, specifically at the level of corporate
worship. It's a question that must be asked: Is emotionally charged worship that
emphasizes the experiences of the worshiper as the end, any different from what
happens at a DMB concert? If our worship has gone from worshiping God to
worshiping worship, then it's no different. If our answer to the question "What
made that a great worship service?" is nothing more than ‘It made me feel good!’
then we've got to re-examine our focus.”
-From Walt Mueller's article on The Dave Matthews Band
as included in the upcoming Summer 2003 edition of “YouthCulture @ Today”
(see ordering instructions at top of e-Update)
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