Lauren Greenfield's photography, as well as her "artist statement," struck a cord in me that forced self-examination/analysis of my deeply embedded assumptions about teens. I realized that, while it is true: every youthful generation deals with issues/obstacles surrounding drugs, sexuality, violence, cultural norms, so-called subversive behavior, etc., that does not take away from the fact that... well, times really are different. At the risk of sounding like an old woman in her rocking chair, lecturing "When I was your age...", I would argue that today's youth indeed face moral dilemmas and a variety of problems that yesterday's youth did not confront. These photographs portrayed the degree to which desensitization, disillusionment, and destruction have become the rule, not the exception.
Even when examining my own junior high and high schools, I see the kids dealing with topics I never had to figure out. The only drama I had as a 12 yr old in seventh grade was finding the courage to ask a boy to dance with me at a Halloween school dance, (which my father was kind enough to chaperone, of course). The pre-teens and teens that attend KP North Regional nowadays are having oral sex on the back of schoolbuses because their peers/the media place pressure/emphasis on having sex to be popular. My little brother has told me horror stories that shock me... when often, there is no shock factor for him anymore. They seem quite jaded for their age, while I, on the other hand, read old journals I kept as a kid, and see how innocent/curious/sensitive I was at the time.
I think through education, we can teach youth to reject the dominant ideologies of our culture/country, but in the meantime, so many of them suffer unnecessarily, being raised on too much tv and junk food, numbed by games like Grand Theft Auto, losing their childhood in the process.
...or maybe I'm just seeing the glass half-empty?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Hip Hop, Tricia Rose interviews, etc.
Women have to address their relationship to sexuality, in order to "make it" as a female artist in hip-hop. In this NPR interview with Tricia Rose, she discusses a particularly damaging and narrow binary that women deal with in commercial hip-hop. They must either be "hyper-sexual or hyper-tough". Female MC's must confront this difficulty in a way that men do not, (though commercialized hip hop does unfairly portray both genders).
Rose seems to be critical of both sides of the debate when it comes to our nation’s dialogue on hip hop. While she acknowledges the sexism and stereotypes that commercial hip hop perpetuates, she simultaneously argues that critics of hip-hop tend to oversimplify the issues of violence and racism/sexism.
One particular quote really resonated with me, for a variety of reasons. Rose was entirely accurate when she said, “Look, I don't want it to seem like I'm bashing everything about Lil Wayne and Jay-Z, because I'm not. I think they're both very talented. If you look at the metaphors Lil Wayne produces, they're amazing; they're very creative. It's the substance. What are you making metaphors about 24 hours a day? Same thing with Jay-Z. Even he has acknowledged that he's "dumbed his music down" so that he can sell records. This economic imperative has had more of an impact on hip-hop than [on] rock or soul or R&B.”
First of all, as far as Lil Wayne (and artists like him) are concerned, I cannot stand the content of their music, and vehemently object to the messages they send to women/youth. That said, I absolutely love dancing to their beats, finding myself more than happy to dance with friends to those songs.
Growing up around Brazilian family members definitely taught me at an early age to appreciate any/all Latina music and culture. So with the new Latino influences in hip-hop, I have become especially entertained by hip-hop music, regardless of any offensive lyrics. Moreover, as dumb as it may sound, I grew up being forced into an ideological box because of my “skinny weak white girl” appearance. As I’ve grown older, I’ve had to un-brainwash myself on some levels and learn that, despite my physical appearance or how others perceive me, I can TOO be strong, tough, powerful, and a force to reckon with, if I so choose to be.. And hip-hop music (along with its styles of dance/ dress /attitude) empowers me to feel like I can be those things, even if it’s only for a Saturday night spent clubbing :) … Although, on the other hand, it frustrates me to enjoy the sound of something that I am aware is promoting tremendous negativity. Therefore, I jump at any chance I get to listen to artists like Ciara (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRuUJR4LPI) and Missy Elliot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khgIVMUvihg) and Beyonce (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpR4LC1__OA) who are not afraid to be tough, large & in charge, loud, funny, and playing with gender roles. Women need to be continuously infiltrating the hip-hop scene to re-define their place in that culture, or both women and hip-hop as a genre will suffer from the loss of female voices being heard.
Rose seems to be critical of both sides of the debate when it comes to our nation’s dialogue on hip hop. While she acknowledges the sexism and stereotypes that commercial hip hop perpetuates, she simultaneously argues that critics of hip-hop tend to oversimplify the issues of violence and racism/sexism.
One particular quote really resonated with me, for a variety of reasons. Rose was entirely accurate when she said, “Look, I don't want it to seem like I'm bashing everything about Lil Wayne and Jay-Z, because I'm not. I think they're both very talented. If you look at the metaphors Lil Wayne produces, they're amazing; they're very creative. It's the substance. What are you making metaphors about 24 hours a day? Same thing with Jay-Z. Even he has acknowledged that he's "dumbed his music down" so that he can sell records. This economic imperative has had more of an impact on hip-hop than [on] rock or soul or R&B.”
First of all, as far as Lil Wayne (and artists like him) are concerned, I cannot stand the content of their music, and vehemently object to the messages they send to women/youth. That said, I absolutely love dancing to their beats, finding myself more than happy to dance with friends to those songs.
Growing up around Brazilian family members definitely taught me at an early age to appreciate any/all Latina music and culture. So with the new Latino influences in hip-hop, I have become especially entertained by hip-hop music, regardless of any offensive lyrics. Moreover, as dumb as it may sound, I grew up being forced into an ideological box because of my “skinny weak white girl” appearance. As I’ve grown older, I’ve had to un-brainwash myself on some levels and learn that, despite my physical appearance or how others perceive me, I can TOO be strong, tough, powerful, and a force to reckon with, if I so choose to be.. And hip-hop music (along with its styles of dance/ dress /attitude) empowers me to feel like I can be those things, even if it’s only for a Saturday night spent clubbing :) … Although, on the other hand, it frustrates me to enjoy the sound of something that I am aware is promoting tremendous negativity. Therefore, I jump at any chance I get to listen to artists like Ciara (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRuUJR4LPI) and Missy Elliot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khgIVMUvihg) and Beyonce (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpR4LC1__OA) who are not afraid to be tough, large & in charge, loud, funny, and playing with gender roles. Women need to be continuously infiltrating the hip-hop scene to re-define their place in that culture, or both women and hip-hop as a genre will suffer from the loss of female voices being heard.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Rise and Fall
The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager, by Thomas Hine, was an interesting read, but more importantly, it was a RELIEF to read. I was previously unaware that the term "teenager" was invented in the 1940's, and no such concept existed before that time. Perhaps all my thoughts/ideas/feelings have not been so crazy after all.
This notion of the "teenager" creates such a sense of isolation. By labeling this group of young individuals as something "other," we reinforce the belief that they should be kept separate from the rest of society. And I, for one, absolutely hated being separate when I was an adolescent. By the time I hit about sixteen/seventeen, I was discovering that I got along better with twenty/thirtysomethings than I did with people my own age. And it frustrated me terribly to have to endure being surrounded by(day in, day out)my peers who I felt I had truly outgrown. The last two years of high school were painful for me to experience when I was far more mature than my classmates. If it had not been for my family and small group of close friends, I probably would have gone insane, wondering why I could not intellectually connect with those my age.
This idea of "separate but equal" has never worked, and clearly is not working in this case either. Until the 20th century, as Hine points out, adult expectations of young people were "not determined by age but by size." As sexist as it may be, boys were supposedly entering manhood when they had grown strong enough for farm work and other labor needs, and girls were considered women once they were ready for motherhood. Back in the day, the criteria for adulthood was based on ability (mostly physical ability), whereas now it is based on age and legal recognition in our society.
And even THIS is only in reference to our own culture. When one examines how OTHER cultures have viewed childhood/adolescence/adulthood, it becomes even more clear that there is something wrong with how we collectively regard youth in America.
I hope that this changes over time. I was watching the news recently and it disgusted me how one local story was covered; in Falmouth, MA some students were caught "sexting" (sending pornographic text messages/photos) and they are now being slapped with child pornography charges. Instead of figuring out ways to teach healthy sex ed in jr. high/high schools, and instead of insisting upon abstinence in all senses of the word, there should be far more communication. There should be an understanding that teenagers are indeed sexual creatures once they have hit puberty, and they should be shown how to handle their sexuality responsibly. I am not sure what adults in America are so afraid of, but living in denial and trying to force these kids into a form of denial/repression as well certainly is getting us nowhere fast.
This notion of the "teenager" creates such a sense of isolation. By labeling this group of young individuals as something "other," we reinforce the belief that they should be kept separate from the rest of society. And I, for one, absolutely hated being separate when I was an adolescent. By the time I hit about sixteen/seventeen, I was discovering that I got along better with twenty/thirtysomethings than I did with people my own age. And it frustrated me terribly to have to endure being surrounded by(day in, day out)my peers who I felt I had truly outgrown. The last two years of high school were painful for me to experience when I was far more mature than my classmates. If it had not been for my family and small group of close friends, I probably would have gone insane, wondering why I could not intellectually connect with those my age.
This idea of "separate but equal" has never worked, and clearly is not working in this case either. Until the 20th century, as Hine points out, adult expectations of young people were "not determined by age but by size." As sexist as it may be, boys were supposedly entering manhood when they had grown strong enough for farm work and other labor needs, and girls were considered women once they were ready for motherhood. Back in the day, the criteria for adulthood was based on ability (mostly physical ability), whereas now it is based on age and legal recognition in our society.
And even THIS is only in reference to our own culture. When one examines how OTHER cultures have viewed childhood/adolescence/adulthood, it becomes even more clear that there is something wrong with how we collectively regard youth in America.
I hope that this changes over time. I was watching the news recently and it disgusted me how one local story was covered; in Falmouth, MA some students were caught "sexting" (sending pornographic text messages/photos) and they are now being slapped with child pornography charges. Instead of figuring out ways to teach healthy sex ed in jr. high/high schools, and instead of insisting upon abstinence in all senses of the word, there should be far more communication. There should be an understanding that teenagers are indeed sexual creatures once they have hit puberty, and they should be shown how to handle their sexuality responsibly. I am not sure what adults in America are so afraid of, but living in denial and trying to force these kids into a form of denial/repression as well certainly is getting us nowhere fast.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thirteen...
When I think of being thirteen, I think of my 13th birthday.
Because that was when I had my first kiss.
Sarah, my junior high best friend, was spending the evening camping in my treehouse with me. Winterfresh gum, strawberry-scented shampoo, and sleeping bags all remind me of that night- even to this day.
I did not expect her to be my first kiss, and I remember the next morning I struggled with a lot of unanticipated emotions.
What did kissing a girl mean? What did it "make me"? I couldn't like girls, because I had been taught by my mother to always dislike homosexuality (yup, because it was a sin in God's eyes). So I justified it the way my other girlfriends did. We were just "practicing" for when we had our first "real" kiss with a boy. Our young minds were entirely shaped by a sexist/heterosexist culture that we had grown up with, from the media/our parents/etc.
Thankfully I'm 21 now, and as an adult I am free to act/think/feel however I want- without worrying about getting 'caught'. without worrying what my parents will say. without having to attend a homophobic high school that completely suffocates my sense of identity. I wish I could go back in time and tell my teenage self to stop caring about everyone's opinions. Because kissing girls is way too worth it. And learning to accept and love yourself for who you naturally are is way too much fun.
Because that was when I had my first kiss.
Sarah, my junior high best friend, was spending the evening camping in my treehouse with me. Winterfresh gum, strawberry-scented shampoo, and sleeping bags all remind me of that night- even to this day.
I did not expect her to be my first kiss, and I remember the next morning I struggled with a lot of unanticipated emotions.
What did kissing a girl mean? What did it "make me"? I couldn't like girls, because I had been taught by my mother to always dislike homosexuality (yup, because it was a sin in God's eyes). So I justified it the way my other girlfriends did. We were just "practicing" for when we had our first "real" kiss with a boy. Our young minds were entirely shaped by a sexist/heterosexist culture that we had grown up with, from the media/our parents/etc.
Thankfully I'm 21 now, and as an adult I am free to act/think/feel however I want- without worrying about getting 'caught'. without worrying what my parents will say. without having to attend a homophobic high school that completely suffocates my sense of identity. I wish I could go back in time and tell my teenage self to stop caring about everyone's opinions. Because kissing girls is way too worth it. And learning to accept and love yourself for who you naturally are is way too much fun.
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