So I have been notoriously hardnosed when it comes to controversial material, especially related to the darker material that often comes though my line of academic inquiry (for example, after watching a documentary on factory farming of chicken I was the only one to not turn vegetarian, at least for a short period of time. As a matter of fact, I went home that night and made chicken). However, I just watched a movie in class today that honestly made me sick to my stomach. It's not necessarily new material (the film was actually aired in 2001) and it concerned a topic that I have had many discussions about (media and the comodification of culture), but I think seeing the direct connection between the theory and the media that directly influenced my High School years, and ultimately who I was at that point in my life, really hit home. So I encourage anyone with an hour to sit down and work though this documentary called "The Merchants of Cool" (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/) and then respond to this post with any feedback you might.
The film speaks for itself, but I did want to say that at about 50min into the documentary it discusses the relationship between media and the re-/production of society, and I could not help but remember what MTV was like when I was in High School and then compare it to the shit my brother watches on MTV now, and I can see a direct relationship between the type of people we were producing then and the type of people we are producing now (especially in the influential teen age range), and it really shouldn't be any wonder that our society is turning to cheep, comodified shit. I think the take home point here is a clear understanding of how much media influences the population and ultimately shapes the next generation... and that maybe we should look beyond the dollar sign and be a little more conscious with our social management (and let's be honest, the effect of the media on society is well understood and has been utilized continuously through marketing as a form of social management... its called Marketing and Advertising, and you can actually get a degree in it).
Iron Hill Newtown: At Long Last
5 years ago
Looks like an interesting documentary. I haven't had time to watch it but read the synopsis. You know, the prevalence of teen culture is in part due to the material wealth we have now... Teens are so influential culturally because we can afford to let them. They don't actually directly contribute the productivity of our economy, so their impact is mostly superfluous. We saw something similar in the 60s, a combination of a large number of youth and general prosperity led to a huge influence of youth culture (albeit in a much less commercialized way). That pulled back in the 70s because of poor economic times. Perhaps one of the blessings in disguise of the recession is that there will be pull back in this trend, since we will refocus economic resources more on essentials and less on superfluous crap like teen culture in general.
ReplyDeleteWell Shit, Teens are a big demographic on MyMiniLife. ehh, I'll just call it a consolation prize if it happens. :-)