Media Monkeys 2 & 3

Sorry for lagging on the post from last week. I'll combine our two messages into this post here.

At REALife we have been taking a look into the messages that we hear from media outlets such as music, movies, television, magazines, and internet. This has been a great series to help students really question the messages they are hearing in the media and compare them to the messages that God wants us to hear.

Last week we talked about the unrealistic expectations we receive from movies and television. Think of the television shows that portray high school students, such as Glee, Gossip Girl, and High School Musical. The actors that are supposed to portray high school students, ages 14-18 years old, are actually more often in their mid to late 20's. So while actual high school students are struggling with developing bodies, acne, voice change, etc., the "high school students" they see on TV and movies are not struggling with any of that...because they are 25 years old. This may not sound like that big of a deal, but think about how actual high school students can respond to these unrealistic portrayals: "My body doesn't look like that...what's wrong with me." "Why do I have acne when no high school students on TV have it?" Our teens are being fed unrealistic expectations of what they are supposed to look like and who they are supposed to be. It is important for us to acknowledge the truth that the phase of life they are in is normal. God created them the way that they are, and they shouldn't compare themselves to actors on TV who are older than they are.

This past weekend we took a look into consumerism in the media. While adults are often times tied down with how to spend their money due to house payments, bills, and other expenses, teenagers have more discretionary income. Teenagers are more likely to spend their money on food, clothing, and entertainment. Marketers are well aware of this, and are targeting much of their advertisements to teens and children (check out this new way to see a $30,000 car through this form of advertising: http://tinyurl.com/3969orl). Media outlets bombard teenagers with advertisements in hopes of grabbing the allegiance of a consumer at a young age . While advertising is not bad in itself we have to be aware of the effects that advertising can have on our teenagers. How many of you have seen an advertisement and thought "how much better would my life be if I had that?" So often we get the idea in our head that we will be happy once we get _______, or our life will be so much more complete once we buy______. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 that our possessions here on earth are going to fade away. In the very consumerist society we live in it is important to teach our teens that true joy and happiness isn't found in the things that we buy, but in a life lived for Jesus.


At the beginning of this series I intended to incorporate some insight for parents about social networking sites. The series turned a slightly different direction, but check back soon for details that can help you better understand how to engage your son or daughter's use of social networking.