What do teenagers from across the globe have in common? Music and television is the one thing that young people from around the world seem to have in common. For the most part, the one channel that is shared amongst this music generation is MTV. Music being the new global language talks to the teenagers worldwide. MTV, the source of the global language, have many versions ranging from the US to Asia. With this type of influence, MTV plays a major impact on the youth of today.
To say this is bad, I cannot, because I also grew up in this generation watching MTV and VH1. The way in which MTV brings cultural values worldwide is fascinating. With MTV’s brand being worldwide, it has created an identity where we globally share some of the same values. We tend to wear items we see other celebrities wearing, drink what we see celebrities drink, and wear T-shirt with logos on them just to express we are part of this MTV culture. For making such a difference globally, we are thankful to music television. For some inapt reason, this MTV generation believes by being freer and better, we are different from our parents. Although we share a common language that being commercial in nature, there still are the prejudices of society, issues of gender, and issues of race that we still share with our parents.
From its conception over twenty years ago, MTVs format looked more like a radio station being broadcast over television showing video clips. After MTV had developed its foot print, it made an unknown into a star, the airings of videos were reduced, and more programs were being aired to help with becoming music television. Once MTV was recognized as a music television, they had no need to depend on record companies but more on music telev...
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... the spot “Generation Next”. At the same time sponsor ads are running, the host of the show is telling you to text your vote to a number. By texting your vote, for each text you send there is a cost associated with it which you the consumer have to pay the bill. Yet again MTV has manipulated the consumer spending of its audience.
It is not surprising that this generation next being raised on these influences attitudes is not flexible when it comes to gender roles, racism, and responsibilities. I myself am a victim of the generation next movement. I grew up listening to the music played on MTV Top 20 list, buying the music in the stores, and appreciating the designer's clothes. Realizing that I am a victim of generation next, it is not too late stand against the social prejudices of society, issues of gender, and issues of race that we share with our parents.
This generation has been introduced to a new language in music, profanity, sex, and drugs. Every child of this country has been influenced somehow from this kind of music. In every type of music rather it be Heavy Metal, Gangsta Rap, or Industrial music, have the fashion trend for violence, drugs, and the disrespect of women. By listening to Hip Hop and Rap music young feel as though promoting violence, using drugs, and disrespecting women is acceptable because a rapper states in his songs.
It would be hard for one to dispute the fact that MTV has influenced every pop culture trend since its birth in 1981. One could even say that MTV is pop culture. No other media network holds in the palm of its hand the power to control popular cultural evolution the way MTV does. What other media network has influenced and helped shape public opinion, filmmaking, newsgathering techniques, presidential politics, and world politics like MTV has? In addition to that, MTV can take credit for reconstructing the music industry (Rushkoff 126). One would be hard pressed to find a person who does not enjoy some type of music. Thus, "Music" television was built on a foundation that was virtually united by the whole world, and its popularity was inevitable. MTV chose popular music as its beating heart, instead of classical music or jazz. Young people around the country could now see their favorite music icons 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, the young people of America were given a national/international platform to share their common voice, a voice that to this day wants to be heard. Since MTV has such a large hand in shaping the young minds of today, it is important that both parents and children are aware of the impact MTV has in their daily lives.
MTV, formally known as Music Television, is one of the most viewed networks on television today. Roughly thirty-three years old, it has changed the American culture drastically in more than just one way. Specifically targeting teens and young adults, the MTV network provides all of the most up to date gossip on celebrities, highlights the latest fashion trends, promotes versified lifestyles, and defines the music industry of our generation. However, this so-called “idolized network” has not always been this way. The American culture has been affected by MTV through the creation of the network, the transformation from simply just music television to inappropriate reality shows, and the promotion of inappropriate content.
Many people find themselves thinking “what did they just say” or “That is so inappropriate” when watching TV. Especially when watching shows on MTV. There’s a controversy about whether shows on MTV such as “16 and Pregnant”, “Teen Mom”, and “Jersey Shore” glamorize or prevent destructive behaviors in teens.
Doug E. Fresh, a popular beat-boxer in rap music today, has been quoted saying, “Hip-hop is supposed to uplift and create, to educate people on a larger level and to make a change.” Although this is the original intention of hip-hop music, public opinion currently holds the opposite view. Since the 1970’s musical artists have changed the face of hip-hop and rap and worldwide, people – mostly teens—have been striving to emulate certain artists and their lyrics, which has created negative stereotypes for hip-hop music and also for those who choose to listen to it. With vulgar lyrics referencing drugs, alcohol, sex, and aggression, it’s no wonder these stereotypes exist. However, is music really the direct cause of how teens act, or could their behavior possibly be the result of music that taps into the emotional feelings of those who listen to it? Could it be peer pressure and the fact that with technology today it has become harder to regulate what teens listen to? When analyzing these questions, it has become apparent, not only why people listen to music, but how it affects each and every person, possibly resulting in inappropriate lifestyle choices.
As the 80’s rocked on, MTV matured and grew to be the total essence of pop culture. When you think of pop culture, you think of MTV. MTV is a multifaceted network. The network covers all forms of music from pop and hip-hop to hard rock. MTV has the power to expose all facets of society to
Since the newer generation receives never-ending backlashes from the older generations. Kingston provides multiple examples of young men and women from Generation Z as evidence to their endless potential with her argument being that, not only is Generation Z being critiqued at an early stage of their lives, but the power of youth intelligence is also being underestimated. The article begins with the glory of Generation Z, which allows her to critique generations such as the baby boomers, or Generation Y. She points out negative traits of the older generation while pointing out the positive in Gen Z. Each of these generations are then compared to each other to portray that each generation was raised in different environments, that they all have a different point of views on running the world. In this article, she dumbs down older gens by bringing up gen Z, however still maintaining the power of gen Y over them.
Hip hop culture is known for its negative reputation. It is often thought as an entrance way into gangs, illegal drug activity, and malicious behavior. In today’s culture it is important to lead kids toward a positive direction in life but the hip hop culture of today is not steering youth in that direction. This is because hip-hop has moved away from what it was supposed to be used for. This genre of music was supposed to be used to for personal expression and growth not to create negative images for the youth and encourage them to change their behaviors and beliefs. Hip hop was supposed to give hope to the youth. Give them a reason to pursue their dreams and give them a positive outlook on life. Are there artists who keep it “old school?” Yes there is, but it is never heard on mainstream radio. Hip hop culture has the potential to help the youth follow their dreams and become better people. It just needs to go back to its roots and bring those morals back up again.
Have you ever met someone who acted just as teens are stereotyped? Not many people have because they do not exist. Real teens are poorly portrayed in the media and are the complete opposite of their stereotypes. Books and TV shows make teens out to be wild or crazy, irresponsible and out of control. One hardly ever hears about teen-heroes. Instead, newspapers and magazines are plastered with stories of teens and crime. And while looking at commercial billboards and other related media, the regular teen seems to be sex-crazed and image-obsessed.
There are many aspects of my generation that reflect, define, and influence my generation. Its a difficult task to understand Generation X, my generation. We are like no generation before us, and no preceding generation will be like ours. We are empowered by the Internet, we have more knowledge about technology than our parents, and we are exposed to so much information. One thing remains unchanged, as with past generation; the relationship between us and our parents. Jamake Highwater once said, "the greatest distance between people is not space, but culture.(301)" This is true, my generation has their own culture, one which is of course different than that of our parents. We are still considered rebellious. We listen to music that is different than what our parents listen to, we dress in a way that upsets them, and act in ways that they might not. Our parents don't dress like us. They don't see how we can be happy doing what we do. They don't understand us. We are opinionated, yet susceptible. In our adolescence we are prone to wrongful doing, wrongful thinking, and we can be difficult and misunderstood. Our weakness is how easily we can let peer pressure or the media or our surroundings influence us. Many aspects of my generation's culture reflect, define, and influence my generation.
This world has become immersed in online media from socializing on networking sites to seeking information on search engines. People of all ages have become reliant on online media, but the most engaged users are the younger, more easily impacted generations. Although there are many positive uses for online media, there are many negative uses as well. Unfortunately, it is all too easy for these negative effects to impede upon the perceptions of adolescents. Some countries have been trying to reduce this effect by expelling the inappropriate content of online media ("Influence on Children Media...”). However, in the United States, children are thrown in the waves, expected to stay afloat in this massive sea, but many are being dragged under the surface by the nefarious temptations media creates. Content that is not appropriate for the young, growing minds of children are easily accessible; a myriad of devices may be used to access this material, all at the click of a button. Without adult content filters on online media, adolescents of various ages are exposed to dangerous conceptions. A world of pornography, violence, and public humiliation lay in the user’s fingertips.
American pop culture can readily been seen in many aspects of American life. “Pop” was originally coined to mean “popular.” While this literal meaning still holds true, pop culture has spun into a new generation. While pop still describes what is popular, the term has taken on a negative connotation. Today, the term is used to describe bands such as the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync. Britney Spears has also been coined as a pop singer. The term pop is often seen as a downfall and indicates temporary fame. Many pop artists are thought to be just that: pop artists. They do nothing more than achieve their five minutes of fame and then move on. Pop culture is destroying the greatness of American culture and putting the true great artists to shame.
The Effects of Hip-Hop Music on Today’s Youth Does hip-hop music effect today’s youth in a positive or negative way? The effects of hip-hop music have been disputable following the time when its rise into the social standard in the late twentieth century, but hip-hop music is not just one sided but can be both positive and negative in today’s youth. What is hip-hop about? Assuming that you address hip-hop fans, the term alludes to more than simply a musical type - it incorporates an entire society, including dance structures, graffiti symbolization, and fashion (Selke INT).
Hip-hop has become a mainstream culture in youth today. It is a classic of music that contains both rap and break dancing. Hip-hop culture, originally from African Americans in the United States, has influenced many young generations. For example, there are many famous hip-hop artists who are supported by new generations, such as Jay-z, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. However, there are some controversy arguments about hip-hop culture has been influenced youth culture with reinforcing bad behaviors, such as academic performance in school and behavioral problem with drug use. Since hip-hop culture adopted the idea of subversion, an idea in popular culture, which defines as a counter-culture attempt to change the status quo. The attempt of subversion
“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses” (Thinkexist, 2010). The mass media, including news, movies, magazines, music, or other entertainment source has become a part of daily life for many people. As the quote mentions mass media and its power are capable of influencing people’s mind and behavior. Contents in the media introduced to young people make it difficult for them to distinguish between what is real and what is not, as a result stimulating confusion and blind imitation. The mass media plays an important role in the increase of violence, sexual activity, and risky behaviors among teenagers.