I just got a new CD for my birthday. It's by one of my favorite guilty pleasure emo bands and as I was inspecting the case I came to a startling realization: the 'boys' who I listen to every day singing about their torturous teenage angst are not boys at all; they are 25 year old men. It's kind of scary to think about the fact that yesterday's emo kids are still very much part of the scene despite the fact that they are quickly aging. It's a little bit disconcerting to look at the lyrics talking about being "burned out" and whining about problems in relationships and not knowing how to deal with love, then open up to the band info and read that their ages span from 23-30. This CD has really got me thinking: how old is too old for teen angst? And I don't think that I can even really leave it at that. How old is too old to act and dress like a teen? Why is there even this division between the "teen" look and the "adult" look. Shouldn't everyone be able to dress and act how they want in our society?
And I don't even think that this only applies to "emo" music. It seems that many of today's teen idols are aging. A good example of this is Madonna. How is someone who is pushing 50 still dancing around singing in skimpy clothes with hits on MTV? It just seems strange to me that today's teens have so many older people to look up to these day who simply do not act their "age." But again that brings us back to why is it okay for us to act in certain ways as teens that it would not be acceptable for an adult to act. Just because I am 40-ish years younger than Madonna it would be a lot more acceptable for me to dance around half naked than it is for her to (not that I have any desire to do so).
It just seems odd to me that although most people manage to mature and behave in ways that adults are "supposed to" it is magically okay for entertainers to avoid doing that simply because of their profession. If you see a random 30 year old man walking down the street in jeans halfway down his butt and his whole body covered in tattoos, chances are you are going to be very confused and maybe a little scared. Alternatively, if an actor or band-member does the same thing you most likely won't ask any questions. Any given band that teens are listening to today is guaranteed to fit into some kind of acceptable teen stereotype by looking and acting the part... yet why is it that some of these bands are 17 and some of them are 37 and even 47. Is it bad that these artists are seemingly unable or unwilling to "grow up"?
Monday, March 12, 2007
March 8, 2007 Response to Media Panel
I thought that the media panel was very interesting. I liked hearing what both of them had to say about their jobs and what they are doing to try to promote anti-mainstream media. It kind of scared me to think that the fact that we have absolutely no control over the media that we are exposed to. I think that both panelists had very different attitudes toward popular culture and it was really interesting to hear what they had to say. I liked that important records is more of a "true" indie label than the ones that produce "indie" bands like "The Hold Steady" etc. I like both of their attitudes towards popular culture and thought that it was interesting how they both viewed it as something that we need to find ways of getting around.
Big media companies can say that they are just "showing what the people want" but that is not necessarily the case. Isn't it not so much what the people want but what the people with the money want? I like that 106.1 doesn't take money from advertisers but the concept is still a little confusing to me. It seems that although they don't do any direct advertising they do still have to concentrate on pleasing a certain demographic in order to be able to receive pledge money (or do those "brought to you by" things that aren't advertisements... I don't remember what they're called...).
I found both of the presenters to be really interesting and inspirational people but I was especially intrigued by hearing about the radio station. I was very surprised that anyone can go in there and broadcast after receiving the proper training. I am seriously considering trying to look into that myself. Although I don't know if I would actually be interested in going into radio but I think it would be amazing to know how to do that for future reference. Even if they just gave me random air time at like 2AM I still think it would be crazy to be able to broadcast music that I like. I think that it would be such an empowering thing to broadcast something you relate to to the world... even if nobody heard it.
Big media companies can say that they are just "showing what the people want" but that is not necessarily the case. Isn't it not so much what the people want but what the people with the money want? I like that 106.1 doesn't take money from advertisers but the concept is still a little confusing to me. It seems that although they don't do any direct advertising they do still have to concentrate on pleasing a certain demographic in order to be able to receive pledge money (or do those "brought to you by" things that aren't advertisements... I don't remember what they're called...).
I found both of the presenters to be really interesting and inspirational people but I was especially intrigued by hearing about the radio station. I was very surprised that anyone can go in there and broadcast after receiving the proper training. I am seriously considering trying to look into that myself. Although I don't know if I would actually be interested in going into radio but I think it would be amazing to know how to do that for future reference. Even if they just gave me random air time at like 2AM I still think it would be crazy to be able to broadcast music that I like. I think that it would be such an empowering thing to broadcast something you relate to to the world... even if nobody heard it.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
February 27, 2007: Media Response #4
This week in school everyone has been talking about Dana Berlin. This whole thing makes me so confused. I don't know what to think and everyone seems to have their own opinion about it. As for me, I don't really care either way about what actually happened. What's done is done. Although I don't believe that sexual relationships between people that close in age should necessarily be illegal- that is not up to me to decide. What really bothers me is the fact that the newspapers have taken such an interest in this. I was under the impression that stories regarding people under the age of 18 could not include their names or photos however, this articles has both of those things. I don't if I mis-understood the regulations but I was under the impression that parental consent was necessary in order to print these things. Not only do I think doing that is illegal but it is simply insensitive and unkind. Because of this article Dana has been exposed to the gossip and stares of the entire school. Not only does everyone at our school know about what happened but they don't know enough to make an informed opinion. The newspaper has provided just enough info to get everyone all riled up but not enough to allow them to actually know what they are talking about. I honestly don't care that much for what Dana did but I am astounded that the newspapers have exploited his misfortune/bad decisions to make good news. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, though, because this seems to be what the media does best.
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February 23, 2007 Media response #3
Something that really scares me about the modernization of media is the whole myspace/facebook craze. It's not such a bad thing if you use it responsibly but there are so many ways to misuse and abuse these resources. What confuses me is all of the hype about how myspace turns all of these 12 year old girls into little whores. I mean, sure, it gives them a place to sell themselves by meeting strangers and posting near-pornographic images of themselves, but is myspace really to blame? I think that it is very possible that these girls (and the perverts too) would find a way to be sketchy even if they did not have easy access to myspace or even the internet. This is where things get a little blurred, though. Although I think that it is unfair to blame myspace for the actions of these mentally unstable children, it is also impossible to ignore the fact that many young children have been raped and stalked as a result of this seemingly revolutionary web-community. I do not believe that myspace is legally culpable for these events but I also find it difficult to separate the site from the activities that are carried out on its bandwith. I think that myspace should follow more in the footsteps of the more clean-cut facebook and keep profiles of strangers private. Although you are able to post suggestive and "erotic" pictures on facebook... at least they are only able to be viewed by your friends. Facebook also discourages you from "friending" people that you don't know. If you say that you don't know someone in your "friend details" it won't let you keep them as a friend. I have been using facebook a lot this week and it's made me think a lot about the ethics of these online networks. Are the people responsible for their individual activities? Their parents? Or myspace its self?
February 14, 2007: Brainstorm of questions for term-project
How do different kinds of music make people behave differently?
How are the goals and aims of today's media different from that in the past? (for example during the American Revolution)
How is the US media unique compared to other media environments around the world?
Why is is that although people who belong to "media sub-cultures" are striving to be unique they still feel the need to conform to the same trends as all of the other "alternative" kids?
Survey project: how does something become "cool"? Why?/ What is the NEXT "big thing"?
How has film evolved since its creation?
Is the effect of a DVD different than VHS? CDs vs. MP3s? Tapes? Is something being lost as we shift towards digital media?
What is the effect of media on the outcome of political elections?
How are the goals and aims of today's media different from that in the past? (for example during the American Revolution)
How is the US media unique compared to other media environments around the world?
Why is is that although people who belong to "media sub-cultures" are striving to be unique they still feel the need to conform to the same trends as all of the other "alternative" kids?
Survey project: how does something become "cool"? Why?/ What is the NEXT "big thing"?
How has film evolved since its creation?
Is the effect of a DVD different than VHS? CDs vs. MP3s? Tapes? Is something being lost as we shift towards digital media?
What is the effect of media on the outcome of political elections?
February 8, 2007: Media Messages!
Thursday afternoon between 1:30 and 4:30pm
Location: Oyster River High School, My car, Breaking New Grounds (Durham, NH), Main Street Portsmouth NH
Activities: Free Period, Getting Coffee and driving to yoga from BNG
Each message is listed only once regardless of how many times it was seen.
Media Messages:
Bic
Sharpie
Abercrombie
Mead
American Eagle
Boston Red Sox
Staples
Burt's Bees
Hollister
Adidas
Converse
Bongo
Boston Bruins
The North Face
Coke
Old Navy
Nike
Spitfire
Roxy
Aquafina
Express
Bong
Elmers
Crayola
Poland Springs/Smart Water
Cheetos
Vitamin Water
Oreos
Mountain Dew
Breaking New Grounds
Sprint
Franz's
Young's
Honda
BMW
Toyota
Subaru
Etnies
Urban Outfitters
Champion
Puma
Windows
L'Oreal
Exxon
Blue Canoe
Marlboro
Newports
Swisher Sweets
M&M's
Camel
Snicker's
Corona
Miller Lite
Bud Lite
Dunkin' Doughnuts
Location: Oyster River High School, My car, Breaking New Grounds (Durham, NH), Main Street Portsmouth NH
Activities: Free Period, Getting Coffee and driving to yoga from BNG
Each message is listed only once regardless of how many times it was seen.
Media Messages:
Bic
Sharpie
Abercrombie
Mead
American Eagle
Boston Red Sox
Staples
Burt's Bees
Hollister
Adidas
Converse
Bongo
Boston Bruins
The North Face
Coke
Old Navy
Nike
Spitfire
Roxy
Aquafina
Express
Bong
Elmers
Crayola
Poland Springs/Smart Water
Cheetos
Vitamin Water
Oreos
Mountain Dew
Breaking New Grounds
Sprint
Franz's
Young's
Honda
BMW
Toyota
Subaru
Etnies
Urban Outfitters
Champion
Puma
Windows
L'Oreal
Exxon
Blue Canoe
Marlboro
Newports
Swisher Sweets
M&M's
Camel
Snicker's
Corona
Miller Lite
Bud Lite
Dunkin' Doughnuts
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