It's time for you to deepen your
understanding of those teens you know and love by securing your copy of the
latest edition of “YouthCulture @ Today”. As your students head back to
school, CPYU is here to help you understand and minister effectively in the
context of the cultural soup they swim in everyday. The Fall 2003 edition of
“YouthCulture @ Today” features Walt Mueller's article on the new rules
regarding teen sexuality, a deconstruction and practical analysis of 50 Cent's
enduring music (winner of 2 MTV VMA awards), a look
at the buying and selling of teenagers, an overview of concerts, and research
briefs on the emerging "Tween" market segment. And, as always, there are
resource reviews, web recommendations, and the popular "Three for 3-D" media
analysis pages for use with your students. A year-long subscription is available
for a $15 donation. To order your copy, give us a call at 800-807-CPYU or download the form
available on our web site at http://www.cpyu.org/ycorder.htm and fax the completed form to us at
717-361-8964.
The
Center for Parent/Youth Understanding’s
Youth Culture
E-Update
Edition #43:
EASY way to SUBSCRIBE for FREE!
Go to http://www.cpyu.org/culture.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) VMA Award Winners
2) Teen
Depression, Adult Relapse
3) Teen Alcohol Access
4) Stressed, Bored and “Loaded” Teens
5) Drug Related Emergency Room Visits
6) Declining Teen Smoking
7) Video Gaming Demographics
8) Loving God?
9) Dressing Like the Stars
II. CPYU Resources
V. Current Culture Image
VIII. E-update & CPYU information
Youth Culture
Stats and Trends:
1) VMA Award
Winners
Check out the list
of winners and a summary of the happenings from the 20th annual MTV
Video Music Awards.
http://www.mtv.com/onair/vma/2003/
2) Teen Depression, Adult
Relapse
Researchers, as
reported by WebMD.com, found that teens who suffered and recovered from a major
depressive disorder during adolescence often experience a relapse in their 20’s
and report a general dissatisfaction with life, from a 5 year study of 851
people appearing in the August 2003 issue of the Journal of Abnormal
Psychology.
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/72/81877.htm?
http://www.apa.org/journals/abn/press_releases/august_2003/abn1123353.pdf (11 page pdf
file)
See also: Researchers
interviewed 7,322 twins and found a connection between humiliating relationship
break-ups and heightened depression.
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/72/81714.htm?
3) Teen Alcohol
Access
Nearly two thirds
(65%) of youth drinkers report the source of their alcohol as family and
friends, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Century Council,
as reported by HealthDay, on 1,000+, 10-18 year old youth and 1,600 parents. The
incidence of drinking increased with age as 1% of 10-12 year olds, 23% of 13-15
year olds and 35% of 16-18 year olds reported drinking
alcohol.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/hsn/20030823/hl_hsn/underagekidsdontgofartogetalcohol
See also: Genetics and college binge
drinking link
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/press/2003/college.htm
4) Stressed, Bored and “Loaded”
Teens
The
http://www.casacolumbia.org/newsletter1457/newsletter_show.htm?doc_id=191037
http://www.casacolumbia.org/usr_doc/2003_Teen_Survey.pdf (69 page pdf file)
5) Drug Related Emergency Room
Visits
According to the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, from analysis of its
2002 DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network) survey, 7 out of every 10 drug abuse
related hospital emergency room visits (670,307 in 2002) were for alcohol in
combination with another drug (cocaine, marijuana, heroin, anti-anxiety drugs,
and narcotic pain killers).
http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/030826nr_DAWN.htm
6) Declining Teen
Smoking
Over the past 20
years teen smoking is down sharply according to research appearing in the August
2003 issue of Health Psychology, as
reported by WebMD.com. Researchers compared the results of 2 surveys conducted
in 1980 and 2001on 7th to 11th grade students at the same
Midwestern school (3,500 and 3,200, respectively). The percentage of students
who have never smoked rose to 66% in 2001 from 45% in 1980. Regular teen smokers
dropped to 11% from 15%.
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/72/81852.htm?
See also: Appealing to
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/08/27/films.smoking.ap/index.html
7) Video Gaming
Demographics
A survey
commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association reveals the composition
of video gamers. Adult males comprise 38% of the gaming population compared to
26% for adult females. The percentages for 6 to 17 year old boys and girls were
21% and 12%, respectively. According to the survey, the average player spends
6.5 hours per week playing games (7.3 hours for 6 to 17 year old
boys).
http://www.theesa.com/8_26_2003.html
8) Loving God?
The August 19,
2003 Gallup Tuesday Briefing reports
the results of a “love of God” survey conducted on 1,509 U.S. adults in June
2002. 80% (1,207) identified themselves as Christians. The following percentages
are for statements respondents said “applies
completely”:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/tb/religvalue/20030819.asp (fee to access)
See also: ABC News reports
on the mainstreaming of Christianity in contemporary pop culture as they
highlight the new Revolve New
Testament Bible, which looks more like a teen
magazine.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/US/christianpopculture030826.html
See also: The August 2003
issue of CosmoGirl, p. 108, reports
the results of an online poll about whether people believe in God. 80% do, 8
don’t and 13% aren’t sure.
9) Dressing Like the
Stars
Teens will be
emulating their top 10 most fashionable celebrities according to a survey of
2,000 teen shoppers.
The rankings for
girls (from 1 to 10): Jennifer
Lopez, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon,
Christina Aguilera, Beyonce Knowles, Mandy Moore, Cameron Diaz, and Hillary
Duff.
The rankings for
guys: 1) Justin Timberlake, 2)
Nelly, 3) Eminem, 4) P. Diddy, 5) Ashton Kutcher and Brad Pitt, 6) 50 Cent, 7)
Ben Affleck, 8) Will Smith, Tom Cruise and Johnny Knoxville, 9) Colin Farrell,
Michael Jordan and Marilyn Manson, 10) DMX and Vin
Diesel.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-27-2003/0002007089&EDATE=
See also: Best Hollywood
Butts
http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=45098&cat=1027
See also: Backside fashion
expressions
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,94435,00.html
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.
Magazine: “YouthCulture @ Today” is the Center for
Parent/Youth Understanding’s 24-page, ad-free, quarterly magazine that is full
of up-to-date information and in-depth analysis on today’s youth culture.
Available for a donation of $15 a year, you can sign up
by either calling CPYU on the phone, 800-807-CPYU, or by downloading the order
form from 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
“I don’t believe
in marriage as much as I believe in commitment. I know more people who are
deeply in love and not married than people who are
married.”
- Singer Enrique Iglesias, Parade Magazine,
“In high school, I
had a tough relationship with my dad. Now I look back and I don’t know why I was
so mean. He was right every time.”
- Actor Adam Brody (Fox’s The O.C.), Entertainment Weekly,
“Each one of them
has to struggle with their own lives and burn up their own karma. All the
scriptures tell you, ‘Don’t judge.’”
- Hip hop founder Russell
Simmons speaking about critics of hip hop, Vibe, September 2003, p.
252.
“When you realize
that there is an Almighty God on who you can rely, it provides great comfort.
That’s why I read every morning, the Bible and scriptures and Charles Stanley
devotionals.”
- President George W. Bush,
“I grew up in the
Pentecostal church—you know, the kind where everybody’s running around, jumping
and hollering. I really didn’t get anything much out of the church; I just loved
singing in front of a bunch of people.”
- Rapper Mary J. Blige, Blender, September 2003, p.
96.
“I just want to
close the book on the whole drug-abuse question. God has taken my life and given
me a new one. I want people to stop harping on the old
one.”
- Mary J. Blige,
“I’ve had my fun
times of parties and playfulness. It’s almost like I’ve lived my college years
in the press. Now I’m graduating and going out in the world. You can only go to
so many parties. I’m older and I’m tired. I like staying home and hanging out
with my friends.”
- Actress Tara Reid (American
Pie),
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030819/5417976s.htm
“I was 102 pounds,
and people at the record label were telling me that I needed to lose weight. The
song is saying that I am worthy to feel beautiful in my skin. It’s something
that every woman experiences in one way or
another.”
- Singer Jessica
Simpson speaking about the inspiration behind the title cut (“In This Skin”)
from her new album, Reuters,
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3297255
“My first (tattoo)
was a gift from my parents on my 16th birthday . . . I tend to get
tattoos whenever something exciting happens in my
life.”
- Singer/songwriter Michelle
Branch, ElleGirl, Sep/Oct 2003, p.
114.
“But the
interesting thing about the book is it shows that using sex as a power over men
doesn't really work anymore. I think it works occasionally, but sex is not such
a big deal anymore.”
- Columnist/writer
Candace Bushnell, who inspired HBO’s “Sex and the City” series, speaking about
the power of sex in her new book, Reuters,
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3314832
“I’m glad I was
raised in bars. I learned about sexuality before sex was an issue. I learned
about what women would do for a compliment before I had to do
it.”
- Singer/songwriter Jewel, Blender, June/July 2003, p.
121.
“Sex will always
be the dominant factor in any man’s life - whether he realizes it or not. It’s
what motivates him to buy the car he drives, the house he lives in, and the
clothes and jewelry he wears.”
“Today, there are
triple-X videos, adult channels, and pay-per-view films; there are strip clubs,
phone sex, and most of all, Internet sites that have no restrictions. Attractive
women are flooding the porn market in a way that surprises even
me.”
- Bob Guccione, 72 year old
editor of Penthouse magazine, Associated Press,
“I got really
angry and defensive. I was like, ‘That’s personal. Why would you be asking a
sixteen-year-old that question in the first
place?’”
- Ashley Olsen
(Mary Kate & Ashley) reflecting back on a question asked by Connie Chung in
reference to her virginity, Rolling
Stone, September 4, 2003, p. 88.
“I don’t think
that what the girls are doing [in the film] is extreme. If this were a movie
about 20-year-olds it would be rated G. It’s because of the age, 13, that all of
this seems extreme.”
- Nikki Reed, 15
year old co-writer of the controversial autobiographical movie Thirteen, as quoted by the Christian
Science Monitor on August 22, 2003.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0822/p15s01-almo.html
“I’m so lucky I
didn’t lose my virginity in the back of a Jeep or something. Instead, I had this
amazing, elaborate wedding, and I topped it off with
that.”
- Singer Jessica Simpson, Blender, September 2003, p.
80.
Lyrical
Expression
Can you imagine us
making love, the way it would feel the first time that we touch
Can you think
of it the way I dream of it, I want you to see like I’m seeing it
It's a
picture of perfection, the vision of you and I
Your lips upon my lips (can
you just picture this)
Your fingertips on my fingertips
Your skin upon my
skin would be the sweetest sin,
That would be the sweetest sin, yeah . .
.
It would feel so
good to be so bad
You don't know how bad I want that,
I would do anything
to feel . . .
- Sweetest Sin by Jessica Simpson from
the In This Skin
album.
I like the way you
look in them pants, see ya fine (fine)
Your momma a quarter piece, she far
from a dime (dime)
The type of girl that'll getcha' up and go make you grind
(grind)
I'm thinkin' about snatchin' her up, dirty, makin' her mine
Look
at her hips, (what?) look at her legs, ain't she stacked? (stacked)
I sure
wouldn't mind hittin' that from the back (back)
I like it when I touch it cuz
she moan a l'il bit
Jeans saggin' so I can see her thong a l'il bit
I know
you grown a little bit, twenty years old, you legal
Don't trip off my people,
just hop in the regal
I swooped on her like an eagle swoopin' down on its
prey
I know you popular, but you gon' be famous
today
- Right Thurr by Chingy from the Jackpot album is the #3 song after 17
weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100™ chart, dated
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/chingy/rightthurr.html
Current
Culture Image
This long running
Captain Morgan rum ad appeared in the July 8, 2002 issue of ESPN, p. 37; the
Culture Links
Christians are
increasingly looking to the world of film to discover what the culture thinks
and believes about spirituality. This site is packed with articles, analysis,
commentary and news on portrayals and elements of faith on the big screen. There
are also links, a directory of columnist, archived articles and a list of
resources.
The Ontario
Consultants on Religious Tolerance web site is devoted to informing people about
religions.
http://www.religioustolerance.org
Walt Mueller’s
“CQ” (Commentary/Quote)
“For too long our
children and teens have been subjected to sex education that is anything but
correct. Society teaches them to express their sexuality freely. On the other
extreme are churches and parents who treat sex as a taboo subject, leading kids
to believe that sex is a dirty word. Sadly, many kids are left not knowing the
truth about sex.
The sex education that our kids so
desperately need will lead them into understanding that God created sex to be
marvelous, wonderful and fulfilling when experienced within the bounds of his
plan.”
- Excerpt from
Walt Mueller’s lead article, “Kids & sex: New rules!” appearing in the Fall
2003 edition of CPYU’s “youthculture @ today”, p. 19.
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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 youth workers, 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.
CPYU grants
permission to cite or quote the “Youth Culture e-Update” electronically or in
print as long as the source is cited as “the Center for Parent/Youth
Understanding's Youth Culture e-Update - Doug West,
ed.”