Sunday, February 23, 2014

A cycle of outrage: 3 quotes


The first quote I found explains a lot about how society works, even in the 1950s. “Look focused on this visual confusion, claiming that the new adolescent subculture of the 1950s looked aggressive, even if not all the youngsters were on the way to becoming criminals( pg.12).” The article focused on how teenagers lived by primarily focusing on a visual picture and then describing the adolescents to look aggressive, and on their way to become “criminals.” Even today there is a constant stereotype that distinguishes people from being aggressive or being sweet. I remember one of the first weeks of class we discussed how within every generation things will differ such as experiences that individuals encounter, but I think the stigma or visual around pictures of teenagers being “gothic” or “preppy” will always remain. Stereotypes remain present within society today; people are characterized by how they look and what their wearing constantly and usually judged just as Look describes them to be on their way to becoming a criminal (which is crazy to even say). I think it’s important for teens to experiment with their looks and can come to a place and be happy with who they are, so if that means looking not as the other kids, then who cares. I found this article that is great that describes a male teen who understands the misconceptions of teens.  
                                                 
             
 
Cosmopolitan put it another way in a special issue devoted to explaining teenage behavior: We’ve stop trying to teach them how to live, but were asking them how they think we should live (pg. 13).” I found this quote to be so interesting because at this time in the late 1950s society was realizing how much of an impact that teenagers have on shaping culture today. The public only interprets the problem of teen behaviors rather than negatively stereotype teens. This quote reminded me of last week and Raby’s 5 discourses. The discourses categorized teens and what we perceive by them, rather than understand what an influence they have on culture today.  

My final quote describes music culture, “Although older American grew up jitterbugging in the 1930s, and then lost their hearts to Frank Sinatra during the war- and although there were countless efforts to soften and disguise the raw edges of the new music of the 1950s- somehow, the new music appeared hostile, and aggressive.” (pg. 15) After that quote the article explains how Elvis Presley’s music appeared to be lower class, and aggressive because of what he was singing. I think within every generation there are new styles or new fads, different experiences and different languages that we can talk about and sing about. Music now isn’t going to be the same as the 1950s post war for example, because of the different experiences and environment. Parents blamed rock and roll music as corrupting teens and making them misbehave because of the changing American culture. In the 1930s the music was a support during the war and in the 1950s the music became more edgy but all because of the heartbreaking and many different experiences America was encountering. Today music is going to be different because of the changing culture.

3 comments:

  1. Your first quote stood out to me as well as I was reading. Nice job relating it to our class discussion because this is exactly what we talked about as you mentioned!

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  2. I like how you chose the quote involving the music and its perceived influenced on delinquency. If they thought Elvis was "low class" wonder what they would say about the current music today? Music does have a powerful influence on teens and at the same time shapes our culture.

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  3. I also enjoy your last quote. and before I scrolled down to read other comments I was reading and I said to myself "wow, if they thought badly of elvis presley his music and his little pelvis shake with all of his clothes on then they would really think that our grinding and twerking dances, and all rap music about sex and drugs is beyond corrupting" -- you are absolutely right with the change in generations and cultures. It will always be that way, yes music influences people but not all of it is bad, and at the same time it helps teens in a way to start molding themselves with what they enjoy.

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