Current Culture
ImageThe Center for Parent/Youth
Understanding’s
Youth Culture
E-Update
Edition #56:
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Contents:
I. Youth Culture Stats and Trends:
1) Teen Inhalant Use
2) Extreme Drinking
3) Lasting Divorce?
4) Internet Access
5) Thong Views
6) Movie Ticket Sales
7) Urban Youth Media Consumption
8) Gambling Nation
9) F-word Flagged
II. CPYU Resources
V. Current Culture Image
VII. “VCR/DVR Alert”
IX. E-update & CPYU information
Youth Culture
Stats and Trends:
1) Teen
Inhalant Use
The Partnership for a Drug-Free
America says 2.6 million 12-17 year old youth have used inhalants from analysis
of a survey conducted on 8,410 6th-12th grade students in
2003. In 2003, 26% of sixth and eighth grade students said they had tried
inhalants, up from 18% and 22%, respectively, in
2001.
http://www.drugfreeamerica.org/acrobat/Inhalants%20mini%20report%202003.pdf
(5 page pdf file)
http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/040311ma_inhalants.htm
See also: Listening parents
and drug prevention
http://www.news.uiuc.edu/news/04/0318teens.html
See also: Popular club
drug Ecstasy TV report
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Primetime/ecstasy_040401.html
2) Extreme
Drinking
Researchers from the
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-25-2004/0002134985&EDATE=
See also:
http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/94/4/663
See also: “Drunk and
naked in
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040331/6064712s.htm
3)
Lasting Divorce?
The Gallup Tuesday Briefing reports that 27%
of U.S. adults (6% of 18-29 year-olds, 28% of 30-49 year-olds, 46% of 50-64
year-olds, and 27% of those 65 and older) have been divorced from a survey of
1,005 adults conducted March 5-7, 2004. A majority of divorcees have remarried:
50% of 18-29 year-old divorcees; 71% of 30-49 year-olds; 63% of 50-64 year-olds;
and 48% of those 65 and older.
http://www.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=11161
(fee to access)
4)
Internet Access
Nielsen//NetRatings reports that
74.9% (204,307,000) of Americans have home Internet access. The breakdown by age
group: 77.6% of 2-17 year-olds have Internet access; 75.0% for 18-24 year-olds;
76.3% for 25-34 year-olds; 81.0% for 35-54 year-olds; and 63.4% for those 55 and
older.
http://www.netratings.com/pr/pr_040318.pdf
(3 page pdf file)
5)
Thong Views
The May 2004 edition of YM, p. 121, reports the results of an
online poll of over 3,000 voters in regards to their opinions about thong
underwear. 35% love thongs, 31% are not a huge fan, and 34% say they’re
horrible.
See also: YM relaunch to target late
teens
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-29-2004/0002136710&EDATE=
6)
Movie Ticket Sales
The National Association of Theatre
Owners reports that 1.574 billion movie tickets were sold in the
http://www.natoonline.org/SW%202004%20Release%20Key%20Topic%20Points.pdf
(3 page pdf file)
7) Urban Youth Media
Consumption
MEE Productions reports the results
of a survey conducted in 2002 on 1,918 African American youth, ages 16 to 20, in
regards to their media preferences. Some of the
findings:
http://www.meeproductions.com/survey.cfm
8)
Gambling Nation
The Gallup Lifestyle Poll conducted
on 1,011
http://www.gallup.com/content/?ci=11098
9) F-Word
Flagged
The Federal Communications Commission
is stepping up its efforts to deter the use of the profanity on
television.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-245133A1.pdf
(1 page pdf file)
See also: “NASCAR slams brakes on
swearing”
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040316/6007742s.htm
CPYU
Resources:
To order resources from CPYU visit our “
All suggested donations include shipping and
handling.
Newsletter: “YouthCulture @ Today” is the Center for
Parent/Youth Understanding’s 24-page, ad-free, quarterly newsletter that is full
of up-to-date information and in-depth analysis on today’s youth
culture. The just released Spring 2004 edition highlights the
music and message of Outkast, and
much more. “YouthCulture @ Today” is available for
a suggested donation of $15 for one
year (4 issues). To order your copy go
to http://www.cpyu.org/pageview.asp?PageID=7265 or give us a call at 800-807-CPYU (2798).
“How to
use your HEAD to guard your HEART: a 3-D
Guide to making responsible music
choices” This colorful 12 page booklet is one
of our most popular resources. The “3-D Guide” walks you through the 3-Ds of “Discover,” “Discern,” and “Decide” as you listen to today’s
popular music and media. The “3-D Guide” will help you to “mindfully critique” media and not “mindlessly consume” it. This is a great
tool to use in youth meetings as you discuss with your teens how to “think
Christianly” and make wise media choices. The suggested donation has
been lowered to $2.00 each for 1-5 copies or $1.00 each for 6 or more
copies!
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, go to
http://www.cpyu.org/pageview.asp?PageID=7275 and/or contact CPYU at 800-807-CPYU
(2798).
Pop Culture
Quotes
“He's more hostile. He's got a lot of
teenage aggression, which all people at 13
do.”
- Actor Daniel Radcliffe describing
the evolution of his Harry Potter character in the next movie installment due in
June, USA Today, March 19, 2004,
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040319/6023763s.htm
“None of us completely outgrow who we
were when we were teenagers.”
- Actress Jennifer Garner (Alias TV show), YM, May 2004, p.
65
“My mom doesn’t like when I wear
skulls and crossbones. She thinks it’s
evil.”
- Singer/songwriter Avril
Lavigne, MTV.com,
http://www.mtv.com/bands/l/lavigne_avril/news_feature_032204/
“I have been keeping diaries since I
was 12, and the diaries were an inspiration for the
music.”
- Reality TV star (Simple Life) Paris Hilton speaking about
her musical aspirations, In Touch,
“When that happened, my whole
perception of life changed. It sounds stupid, but that was when I became an
artist. The music is my attempt to heal
myself.”
- Evanescence singer Amy Lee speaking
about the death of her younger sister when she 6 years old, Blender, April 2004, p.
66.
“Yes, I love Jesus. But if you’re a
true believer, you’re gonna be devoted to the ability God has given you. It’s
your obligation. Anything less than 100 percent is a repudiation of God’s
gifts.”
- Major League Baseball player
J.D. Drew, Sports Illustrated,
“The soul is the endlessness of our
beings. The soul is infinite, and we’re just passing
through.”
“I believe in a universal power.
That’s how I would define spirituality: as something universal that we don’t
understand but that somehow governs and guides the aspects of our being that
aren’t merely physical.”
“I’m not very far advanced in my
series of lives. I’m not even into double figures. I don’t have an especially
visual memory or recall of my past lives, but I believe I came from somewhere
and that I’m going somewhere beyond this life—so therefore I must have lived
before.”
“I certainly don’t think that there’s
an elevator that goes up to heaven and down into eternal damnation, but there
has to be a peaceful place. And I believe that people who have lived good
lives—and good is very difficult to define—will achieve
peace.”
“God is either a universal energy
outside of us or a life force within us. Or
both.”
- Veteran pop singer Kylie
Minogue expressing her beliefs, Blender, April 2004, pp.
90-92.
“My generation is under-entertained.
We have seen drug epidemics. We were the first latchkey kids. Television doesn't
reflect what we are experiencing. If it did, Janet Jackson's (breast) wouldn't
shock everybody.”
- Comedian Dave Chappelle,
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040316/6007809s.htm
“I’ve always been a girlfriend type
of guy, but a girlfriend just doesn’t sound pleasing to me right now. When
artists get married, their music or films go to s---. Because they don’t have
trouble, don’t have friction. I’d rather talk about being lonely and horny than
being together and sad. I don’t think I’ll ever get married. Even married people
tell you, ‘Don’t get married.’ I love being
free.”
- Outkast’s Andre 3000 (Andre
Benjamin), Blender, April 2004, pp.
119-120.
“Before, a lot of the experiences I
talked about, I hadn't really lived them out. But this time, I wanted to bring
up a few issues that were personal to me. On my first album, I wasn't having
sex, I was just talking about it. On my second album, I was going through some
of the (topics), but I wasn't able to articulate myself. I was able to
articulate myself on my third album, and I was able to be very clear on my
fourth album.”
- R&B singer
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-03-22-usher_x.htm
“You're moaning, you're groaning, and
it's technical and it's uncomfortable, and I don't know this man, and I'm
embarrassed. It took 11 takes. At the end of it, I was hysterical crying. My
husband was furious, but he was mad at me, because I didn't have the (guts) to
say anything.”
- Actress Jamie-Lynn DiScala ( HBO’s
The Sopranos) discussing her simulated sex scene for her role as Hollywood madam
Heidi Fleiss in USA network’s TV drama, USA Today, March 26, 2004,
2D.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-03-25-discala-heidi-fleiss_x.htm
“There’s a beautiful girl with a
beautiful body, but that’s not me! I had a body double. Nudity is not something
that I’m comfortable with.”
- Actress Jamie-Lynn DiScala talking
about the nude scenes from the Heidi Fleiss TV drama, In Touch, March 29, 2004, p.
37.
“I smoke a little bud, but I know my
limitations.”
- Outkast’s Big Boi (Antwan
Patton), Blender, April 2004, p.
114.
“I had some of the best times when I
was high. I never worried about anything; now, I worry about every little
thing.”
- Outkast’s Andre 3000 (Andre
Benjamin), Blender, April 2004, p.
114.
“Anything with chemicals scares the
s--- out of me. I’ve seen people fall apart, and I won’t have any part of that.
I’ve only done mushrooms and smoked pot. And I won’t say that I’ll never do
those again, because I have a long life in front of
me.”
- Former ‘N Sync member JC Chasez
answering the question, “What drug will you never take again?”, Blender, April 2004, p.
160.
“I like to use them all! I probably
drop the f bomb more than any other.”
- Former ‘N Sync member JC Chasez
answering the question, “What’s your favorite curse word?”, Blender, April 2004, p.
160.
“If it gets to the point, period,
where you can't cuss on TV, I'm moving to a different
country.”
- Korn lead singer Jonathan
Davis, as reported by Reuters on
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=4660220§ion=news
“Everybody curses now, and teenagers
swear more than anyone.”
- “Ho-wop” artist Eamon [hit
song “F--- It (I Don’t Want You Back)”], MTV.com,
http://www.mtv.com/bands/e/eamon/news_feature_022404/
Lyrical
Expression
Baby Teresa got your eyes, I see you
all the time
When she asks about her daddy, I
never know what to say
Heard you kicked the bottle, and
helped to build the church
You carry an honest wage, Is it true
you have someone keeping you company?
What do you say when it’s all gone
away? Baby I didn’t mean to hurt you
Truth spoke in whispers will tear you
apart
No matter how hard your resist it, It
never rains when you want it to
You humble me Lord, Humble me Lord,
I’m on my knees empty
You humble me Lord, You humble me
Lord, Please, please, please forgive
me
- Humble Me by Norah Jones from the Feels Like Home album. The album has
been #1 on the Billboard charts for 6 consecutive weeks, selling 2.2 million
copies.
Tell me why it takes a tragedy to
see, To wake us up and bring us down to our
knees
All the people suffering with
disease, and that’s the way, that’s the way, that’s the weight of the
world
As the world crashes down, heaven’s
looking better everyday
As the sun burns the ground, there’s
gotta be another way
Is our God looking down, and does He
feel everybody’s pain
As the world crashes down, heaven’s
looking better everyday
- Heaven Nine Eleven by Tesla from the Into the Now
album.
(The accompanying image on the song lyrics
page in the album’s liner notes section is of a steel structure cross left
following the collapse of one of the
Current Culture
Image
This Candie’s ad appeared in the April 2004
issues of Teen Vogue (p. 57), Seventeen (p. 23), and YM
(pp. 16-17). The ad shows American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson sitting in
the bathtub, partially covered by bubbles, and wearing only shoes and jewelry.
Sitting on the toilet next to Kelly is the original Candie’s girl, Jenny
McCarthy, who recreates her controversial pose from a 1997 ad campaign. A
variation of the ad, with Jenny donning snorkel gear while in the tub with
Kelly, appeared in the April 2004 issues of Teen People (p. 29) and
ElleGirl (p. 63), and the May 2004 issue of YM (p. 19). See the
ads at http://candies.com/
This ad could be used to spark a
discussion of humor in advertising.
Culture Link
CPYU’s
http://www.xanga.com/Default.aspx?
http://www.cpyu.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40&PN=1
(to read more of Walt’s forum
post)
“VCR/DVR Alert”
Check out and/or tape Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2004, hosted by Mike
Myers and Cameron Diaz, set to air on
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/specials/kca_2004/index.jhtml
See also: “TV: Oscar Junior”
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4615508
Walt Mueller’s
Commentary
The primary channel for the
boundary-less sexual ethic of our times is the very effective and attractive
teaching tool known as media. The messages are coming through loud and clear. If
they are not filtered or processed through the framework of a Christian world
and life view, they are powerful socializing
forces.
- Excerpt from Walt’s “blog”,
dated
http://www.cpyu.org/pageview.asp?pageid=8394
When society sees sex as the path to
intimacy and redemption, music that echoes those sentiments will connect. And,
when music encourages and allows young male listeners to indulge their lust,
those who are learning how to handle their developing sexuality will embrace
that music as mentor and guide.
- Excerpt from Walt’s feature article
on Outkast from the just-released Spring 2004 edition of CPYU’s “youthculture @ today”, p.
10.
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The CPYU “Youth Culture e-Update” is a
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