Rebecca Black \”Friday\”

Assuming that everyone in the western hemisphere at this point has been exposed to Rebecca Black’s youtube-“hit” Friday I would like to offer my thoughts on the 13-year-old Bieber-Fan that apparently has set her mind on bringing us a lot of Fun Fun Fun.

First of all, I’m kinda surprised at the harshness of the response to this. People seem to feel very threatened by the tacky video, Miss Black’s obvious shortcomings in terms of vocal performance and the sillyness of the lyrics. Well, the song is terrible but have you ever checked out the Olsen Twins’ musical endeavours? Not better or more pleasant than this. Black’s voice is weak but since when are we looking for vocal master class in teen pop? Also could a better voice have saved this song? The words to the songs are pathetic but in terms of content, singing about having fun on the weekends is rather common. A little more attention could have been paid to the ryhming patterns – well, actually nothing here rhymes here – but still, few songs on the Billboard Hot 200 have deep meaning or poetic value. Overall, yeah, it’s awful, but the hype is kind of disproportional. Maybe it’s because it’s funny and in a way seems to poke fun at meaningless pop anthems. Whether this is intented or not remains the big question.

The only concern I have with it is the fact that a 13-year-old girls seems to be hangin out with people who already drive and goes to legit parties. She’s a little ahead of her age-group there but then Miley Cyrus started sliding down poles when she was 15 so the training these days apparently has to start early. After all, who are we to judge?

In his essay Harry Potter and Christian Theology Peter Ciaccio discusses religious and moral undertones and lessons taught in the Harry Potter series. He does not try to give a definitive explicitly religious interpretation of the books but rather examines representations of Christian values and shows parallels to biblical stories and events in the Potter universe. Many of the values he highlights from the books tie in with common notions of Millennials we have previously discussed in class. A sense of community, the importance of friendship and family – in the Potter books this theme is often related to loss or the fear thereof – and individualism opposed to conformity. These topics all have politcal aspects which Ciaccio discusses with special regards to politics and education: In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the ministry of Magic tries to take control of the teaching methods and subjects at Hogwarts and through that tries to implement political views and practices upon the students. By controlling and navigating the knowledge and ability of young adults/wizards the ministry wants to intervene in society and tries to force a younger generation to adhere to their beliefs and more importantly to their benefits. The correlation between political power and educational practices is a common issue in society: Is education neglected the consequences on society can be grave but many regimes have also used education as a tool for propaganda and brainwash. All of this is alluded to in the fifth installment of Harry Potter.

Other Millennial related topics are addressed as well. By teaching his friends and fellow Hogwarts students in the Defense against Dark Magic, Harry takes on the role of a leader and has to trust in his ablities and accept his status as being special – by doing so he contributes to the good of everyone. All of the characters in Harry Potter have special gifts: Hermione is the clever one who always comes up with solutions; Ron is a loyal friend and sticks with Harry even when this isolates him from others – even though throughout the series he struggles with that; Neville’s is patricularly gifted when it comes to Herbs. By embracing those talents and accepting their individual traits, all of these characters form a strong community. This is a typical Millennial ideology: The synthesis of individuality and the greater good for your community.

A special theme of Phoenix is definitely the question of authority and loyalty. Authority, in this instance the ministry which claims to act in everyone’s interest and based on higher knowledge, is questioned and even challenged. To challenge authorities, belief systems and ideologies is a valid approach in all fields are or at least should be connected to morality: Politics AND Religion. The audience is encouraged to be inquisitive and disobedient. Loyalty should be based on personal convictions and is not tied to mere obligations to an institution or powerful figures. Instead the individual should trust his or her instincts and if necessary take matters in their own hands. This is a message that according to Ciaccio but also Strauss/Howe should resonate strongly with the Millennial readership of the Harry Potter series.

Looking at my previous Blog-Entries I realized how negative my spin on American culture has been so far. But as an American Studies major there must be something I like about it, right? I dug deep to find my single favorite cultural phenomenon from the US and am ashamed to say if I had to name the most addictive and enjoyable thing to come out of the US I’d have to say: The View.

Hear me out.

I can see it’s awful. Four or five women talking, more often shouting at each other. Segments on baking and self-help books, awkward interviews and of course the best/worst part: Hot Topics. Barbara Walthers and her patronizing ways, Joy Behar and her monopoly on liberal shrillness, Sherry Shepard who’s not entirely convinced that the world is round and global warming actually exists and Elisabeth Hasselbeck who is, oh well, Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Only Whoppi Goldberg has an impenetrable air of coolness, even though you could hardly tell based on the stuff she’s wearing. She often looks like a character from Sesame Street. It’s the crazy combination of all of these characters that simply makes great television. The political arguments often get off track, yet sometimes hit poignant marks (N-Word discussion).

As obnoxious as the panel can be, there is something insightful about American culture and politics to be found and it actually is the fact that it is not filtered that there is a ring of realness to it. It’s just people with very different approaches and fairly varied degrees of knowledge sharing opinions. I prefer this over the snoozefest of political talkshows from my homecountry any day! That being said, I’m obviously aware that this is as guilty as a guilty pleasure can be. Still, I love it. It’s the View.

The Stein Article discusses how fan forums and communities can provide both a platform and support system beyond the immediate context of the actual text it is dedicated to based on the fan community of Roswell and the example of 9/11. Even though the fansites mentioned in the article are primarly meant to give an outlet and a forum of discussion for fans of the show, allowing them to talk about characters and storylines and collectively speculate on possible upcoming events, in the wake of the tragedy of September 11th, conversations on the message boards and threads started delving into other topics such as religion and politics.

The shared experience of fandom for this particular show had created a bond that by its members and through the article is referred to as “friendships”. As previously with regards to Harry Potter fans fan communities connect people based on a common interest, in this instance and tv show, but by frequently and consistently talking about something they feel passionate about and exchanging opinions and views, relationships are developed, without ever meeting in person, that create intimacy and a sense of belonging – ultimately friendships evolve. Especially at a time of crisis, such as in the fall of 2001, these communities get together and cope together. What I found particularly striking was the fan art discussed in the article that combines fictional characters with actual events. This practice, as Stein points out, is controversial, as the line between reality and actual tragedy and events in a narrative are blended. To the artist this is a personal form of expressing and dealing with grief, whereas for an outsider this may seem strange or even inappropriate.

Based on the first two episodes of Roswell that were screened we get a vague idea of the themes and values the show conveys. Healing and interpersonal connections play a crucial role and Millennial themes such as families and support systems of friends are portrayed. More importantly though the show illustrates the feeling of alienation felt by many teenagers. The question of belonging in this world or being an outsider and the complications one might stumble upon while trying to overcome these issues are represented within a science fiction/ coming-of-age narrative. It is hardly surprising that these themes would resonate with young viewers and would result in a passionate fan following. A central love story of star-crossed lovers is certainly helpful to engage a young probably predominatly female audience. The set-up of an average girl falling in love with an other-worldly good-looking guy seems familiar – while viewing the episodes many parallels to Twilight could be recognized.

The article compares Roswell at times to Buffy, which makes sense as both shows use a supernatural backdrop to address the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Still, it seems remarkable that the online communities around this show reacted so strongly to 9/11. It seems that bonding over universal themes such as the pain of adolescence connects viewers and allows them to actually form friendships that exceed the medial texts their based upon.

So sorry. I tried.

I love Friends, best show ever, but I just don’t get it – why do people here love Seinfeld so much. My American friends tell me it’s hysterical. I find it unbearable. This show is essentially about four mean, self-centered people who constantly brag, do terrible things to others and who have epic discussions on totally random boring stuff. What’s also interesting is that whenever I try to force myself to watch it so I might finally get it, I end stunmling across the same episodes. I’ve seen the “legendary” one with “Shrinkage”. Didn’t get funnier the second time I watched it. And then there’s the one where they try to pitch a show about nothing to NBC. How self-reflective. Not funny either. I used to think the sense of humor was lost in translation, the show is obviously dubbed in Germany. Nope, same in English – annoying and not funny. But what’s the problem?

Some say, maybe the Jewish sense of humor is not for me. But I love Mel Brooks and Sarah Silverman!

Others said, maybe I’m turned off because it’s so politically incorrect and offensive. But I loved the Chapelle Show. It was politically incorrect and offensive – but unlike Seinfeld actually funny.

There are a lot of shows with main characters who are not immediately striking as sympathetic. Hugh Laurie on House, Steve Carell on Office, and I love Alec Baldwin’s Jack on 30 Rock. The difference is that these characters are either satire or there’s a glimmering of a human being beyond the surface. The characters on Seinfeld are just shallow and I don’t think it’s supposed to be satire. They allegedly are people like you and me. Well, definetly NOT like me.

So sorry. I tried. Absolutely hate it.

A major theme of this weeks readings was the Fan Fiction and reader’s and viewer’s imagination can go beyond “professional” cultural texts and continue in others mediums and contexts. From the online newspaper “The Daily Prophet”, Henry Jenkins discusses in his article, a website effectively run by children who use their knowledge of the world of Harry Potter and turn into fictional journalism and editorial pieces, to the short stories and fanzines Bond and Michelson address. Here, readers explore possibilities of how stories could have played out or create background for characters they have come to know. A crucial point that Bond/Michelson talk about in their essay is the fear of many that commercial fiction and its spin-offs online are not nurturing youth literacy and understanding of literary text. They eventually argue though that by taking literature out of the context of school and the pressure that comes with it and allowing children, teenagers and young adults to take these stories and further develop them in the medium they enjoy to interact in daily actually deepens their connection and imaginative capability. They get to truly envision and emotionally experience the stories they read and can relate to them even more by actively engaging with the text and infusing their own desires and experience. This can also be achieved through games or discussion in fan forums.

As seen in the screening of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Harry Potter Series delves into many topics that the Millennial generation cares about so deeply. Family is a complicated concept for Harry who misses his own parents and is raised by his aunt and uncle, in an hostile environment where he is seen as a burden and a freak. The most important ties Harry has are those that connect him to his friends Hermione and Ron. In the forth installment tensions, common for teenagers arise – Hermione and Ron struggle with their burgeoning feelings for each other, Ron is jealous of his “popular” friend and feels like he never gets his chance to shine and then there is Harry who has to deal with grave responsibilties while only wanting to be a normal teenager who’s about to fall in love for the first time. And then there is Dumbledore, a figure of guidance of looks out for his students and tries to create a support system for Harry.

Harry Potter addresses themes that teenagers and even children can strongly relate to and by letting them experiment with story-telling through whatever medium or form, not only their emotional experience of the material is enhanced but they also are enabled to passionately engage and gain understanding of literature and its structure – especially by creating something themselves.

Britney’s done it. Lindsay’s done it. Charlie’s doing it – sort of. Many celebrities do it and they enjoy it so much they do it several times. It starts with reports of stars suffering from exhaustion and/or dehydration and by the time tmz and perez hilton have uploaded pictures and reports of, well, unflattering obviously intoxicated appearances in the L.A. nightlife by the big name in question, they’re already off, “seeking help for medical and personal issues”, doing what you have to do these days as a celebrity: Rehab.

Artists (and some stars might qualify as artists, at least with regards to their lifestyle) have always been known for their affinity and struggle with chemical substances and alcohol. But whereas in the past most of them have tried to sober up privately, today these trials and tribulations have become more and more transparent. Certainly the sensationalism and insane growth of tabloids and semi-serious publications that sell based on the gossip they spread have done their part to drag these personal issues of celebrities into the public. Facilities like Promises in Utah or the Mecca of celebrity detox, the Betty Ford Clinic, have become common destinations and well-known locations for personalities from TV, Movies and the music industry.

As a society, we struggle with addiction. Are these people to blame for their fall from grace or are they victims of a disease that troubles people from all social backgrounds? Can we sympathize with them because after all they’re rich, famous and beautiful? Isn’t it their choice to excessively engage in self-destructive behavior?

Well, it depends. Most vulnerable to this downward spiral seem to be child stars. You can get away with quite a bit, because as soon as the news hit that another former child performer has checked into rehab, questions arise about how these kids are supposed to deal with the temptation of drugs at such a young age, with all eyes on them, ready to judge. “Oh, they’ve never really had a childhood.”

Britney Spears’ career saw a renaissance after she rebound from her massive meltdown. Everyone’s favorite Catholic school girl shaved her head and raised serious doubts about her abilities as a mother. But now she has rebound and seems more popular then ever. She’s the comeback kid and therefore forgiven.

But then there’s Lindsay Lohan, once beloved mean girl, whose popularity has seriously dipped. It’s been too long since we’ve seen her in a movie and even longer since we’ve seen her in a halfway decent movie. Countless car crashes, jail time, parents you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy plus a lot of drugs have effectively ruined her career beyond repair. There’s a certain time window in which you can play the misguided-child-star card and it seems this window has closed for her.

Most recently television’s highest paid actor, Charlie Sheen of Two and Half Men has checked into rehab – at least for a little bit. After hitting the Las Vegas Trip with a bunch of prostitutes and publicly beefing with the producers of his hit show, it seems air is getting thin for him now. He’s always been known for his excessive lifestyle (ask Heidi Fleiss) but at this point everyone’s had with him.

Celebrities dealing with their addictions seems to work in two ways. It can either become part of their public persona’s narrative and, especially if they successfully overcome their demons, add to their popularity, by making them seem more human. But it also feeds into people’s unpleasant desire to see rich people mess up their lives and lose their privileges. Either way, most importantly it helps to keep People magazine in business.

The screened episodes of Gilmore Girls address both general perceptions of Millennials discussed throughout the class and elaborate on the aspects of feminism the essay by gamber touches upon.

Gilmore Girls discusses the importance but also the difficulty of being close to your family – an issue that Millennials, according to Millennials Rising, care about a great deal. This does not necessarily entail conservative ideas of family as shown by GG: The relationship of Lorelai and Rory is anything but conventional. The lines between friendship and Mother/daughter relationship are blurred; something acknowledged by Lorelai as she has to play “the mother card” when Rory doesn’t want to go to Chilton anymore. The way Rory and Lorelai interact is more reminiscent of a friendship than the typical parent/child relationship. In a sense it presents an idealized model of how mother and daughter could relate to one another.  This ideal is somewhat put in perspective by acknowledging the hardship Lorelai had to overcome raising a child on her own without her family’s support. Generational differences and conflict play an important role in GG. There is a complex generational dialogue going on, as Lorelai’s parents are trying to come to terms with the issues they had with their daughter, while trying to be a part of their granddaughter’s life. Lorelai’s relationship with Rory is decidedly different from the relationship she had with her parents growing up while Rory is facing the issue of negotiating the way her mother raised her with the world her grandparents endorse for her to participate in.

Rory’s struggle to situate herself within the lifestyles promoted by her mother vs the lifestyle of her grandparents is one of the central themes discussed by Gamber and parallels issues of feminism. Rory, represents the third generation of Gilmores and has several options to chose in terms of female role models. While incorporating her grandparents social aspirations with her mother’s empowerment through independence, Rory has to find her own identity. This negotiation of values and feminist ideals is prevalent in today’s society and puts women in the position of making the call: Career woman or family person? Can both work at the same time? In the second episode we watched, we can see Rory trying more or less successfully to make it all work. She tries to establish herself at the Yale newspaper, while also trying to make time for a boyfriend and most importantly be there for her mother, by protecting her from Christopher (her own father). These struggles should be relatable for Millennials who are ambitious in terms of their careers while still putting an emphasis on family and community.

Gilmore Girls reflects upon an array of topics relevant to this new generation of millennials. Family and career are cornerstones for defining one’s identity. The show presents an unconvential take on family and the relationships between three generations but shows how those structures, despite difficulties and conflict, can provide a support system and a network of relationships that allows a new generation to achieve its full potential. By drawing from varied even contradicting role models and through communication with those older generations, rory is able to negotiate and eventually succeed at finding an identity that allows her “to have it all”.

A central theme in this week’s screenings of Kyle XY and Veronica Mars was family and the family unit as a space to define one’s identity and the consequences of dysfunctional family structures for young adults.

Kyle is invited to stay with the Trager family after virtually coming out of nowhere without any recollections of his whereabouts and his past. They are a loving yet complicated family. Nicole, the family’s matriarch struggles to keep her personal life seperated from her work and to balance her demanding job with her obligation to the family. Her husband is supportive yet overwhelmed by his wife’s decision to take in Kyle. Their daughter Lori is a (stereo)typically self-absorbed, rebellious teenager who is initially annoyed and strangely indifferent to the new edition to the family’s household. Josh, the son of the family, is also anything but excited about Kyle’s arrival which interferes with his burgeoning puberty and consuming men’s magazines. This doesn’t exactly tie in with Howe’s and Strauss’ theory of  inspired family-oriented Millennials. Yet there is hardly a narrative without conflict and upon early reservations on part of most members of the trager family, Kyle ends up bringing them together as most obviously witnessed at the end of both episodes. They realize Kyle needs them and vice versa. For Kyle being accepted as part of the family provides support, guidance and grounding – something desperately needed by all teenagers and young adults but especially by someone with no background or memory whatsoever.

The episode of Veronica Mars addresses similar issues but delves deeper into problematic family situations. Veronica, herself child of a failed marriage helps a fellow student to find his father and in the process comes to terms with the fact that she does miss her mother despite her resenting the fact her mom deserted the family during a time of crisis. And there is Logan who still suffers from the loss of his sister and struggles with his fathers expectations of him to move on and find a direction for his future. All these characters deal with the issue of finding their own identity, even if Veronica tries to create the impression she is grounded and self-confident all the way, and look for answers in their broken home.

As previously discussed in class and as highlighted by Howe and Strauss, the Millennial generation cares a great deal about family. All screening look into this matter, problematize unhealthy family relations but also carve out the fact that through crisis families can find ways to come together and create  support systems.

The introduction by Watkins and the Stein article discuss the millennial’s affinity to new media, the social development this triggers and how they are therefore targeted by internet platforms and in the case of Kyle XY, ABC Family. None of the episodes refers to this directly but it is worth mentioning that the character of Veronica is clearly savvy and digitally literate otherwise she would not be able to help her father in his work the way she does.