eZine 09.14.2010

It’s fun, it’s informative, it’s gritty… it’s Jonathan’s Blog.

The Pop Culture Porthole… the MTV VMAs

Last night in the world of pop culture, all eyes were on the MTV VMA’s.

All eyes? Okay… maybe not “all.” Let’s put some numbers to it. In 2009, 26.9 million viewers watched the show on the night it aired. That doesn’t include the 5.5 million people that visited MTV.com the next day to watch the show online. Neilson reported that the VMA show was the #1 viewed cable show of the entire year among people age 12-34.

How about them apples.

So allow me to rephrase. Last night, “numerous” eyes were on the VMAs. I have yet to see this year’s numbers. But most people had two questions on their mind: What will happen between Taylor Swift and Kanye? And how many awards will Lady Gaga actually take home?

Personally, I only had one question: who freaking cares!

Unfortunately, most teenagers do.

The MTV VMA’s show is an interesting phenomena. Youth Culture guru Walt Mueller refers to it as a “map and a mirror.” A show this popular with young people not only reveals to us the direction that youth culture is going (map), but it also provides a glimpse of what youth culture looks like right now (mirror).

Every year I encourage parents and youth workers to take a peek at this show to get their thumb on the pulse of youth culture. This year… adults probably fell asleep watching the show. I know I almost did.

I asked my wife Lori, “Is it just me, or is this show really boring?”

She answered, “Well, we are getting old. Maybe we relate to this stuff less and less.”

Nice. I’m old!

Thanks Lori! 🙂

In retrospect, I think I’d settle for boring more than the excitement that usually plagues this show. Because the buzz-worthy moments that MTV usually creates are either crude or overtly sexual.

This year wasn’t tame, by any means. The host, Chelsea Handler, was as lewd as expected, Gaga was bizarre and preachy (particularly about homosexuality), and the commercials (particularly the ones for “Gucci Guilty” and the new MTV show “The Challenge” ) were over the top. Typical of MTV to use sex to sell. (I guess the MTV execs didn’t listen to the American Academy of Pediatrics plea for responsible programming in their brand new report last week, “Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media.”)

You can read my entire two cents about the VMA’s from our Youth Culture Window article on the subject.

Other Topics Jonathan Blogged about Recently:

Here’s a brand new curriculum from our Music Discussion page using the hit song from Mike Posner, Cooler Than Me. This discussion helps you talk with your students about issues like popularity and judging others. Check it out.

Mike Posner – “Cooler Than Me” August 30, 2010
Main Point:
God loves everyone without exception, and when we show that kind of love to others, it opens doors to share the gospel. Bottom line: Christians should never act as though they’re “cooler” than others.

“Cooler Than Me” peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart on July 31. Lyrically it focuses on the common teenage “coolness caste system” through which kids are assigned “cool” or “uncool” positions, which can impact…

---

---

Jonathan’s Resource Ezine from The Source

Delivered free via e-mail to subscribers each week. We encourage you to distribute this newsletter freely and ask only that you not change its contents.

HAVE YOU MISSED PAST “EZINE” ARTICLES?
CLICK HERE FOR JONATHAN’S “EZINE” ARCHIVES

And for more FREE resources and ideas … go to THE SOURCE
www.TheSource4YM.com

Copyright ©2010 The Source for Youth Ministry
All rights reserved.