Fake Rebels and modern culture

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I've noticed that, in recent years, youthful rebellion hasn't gone down, but has changed in quality.
Things have changed from the likes of Rage against the Machine and Bob Marley, both reasonably political in nature, to the likes of Eminem and Slipknot, to whom rebellion means Homophobia, insulting other artists, and obsession with death and corpsedust respectively.

The capitalists have cottoned on that youth will always be rebellious, so they invented
diversions so that they can rebel against their parents and not threaten the ruling class.

Who agrees with this hypothesis?

[Indysocialist]

I think that's a given. The new youth movement is "Let's stop teenage smoking!" I think it's been fostered more or less by a feeling of "I just want to have fun and look good doing it!" Plus there's the stigma of "hippy" put on people who're anything but conservative. I've noticed though that things like that pass with time.

[Sabocat]

Agreed.

For anyone in the U$, a good representation of youth involvement in politics and world events could be summarized by the questions asked during the MTV Rock the Vote Democrat Debates that took place recently here in Boston.

One of the questions asked by an audience member of all the 8 or so candidates was "Which person would you most like to party with?"

Great relevant question.

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

I am also agreed.

You guys seem to be all talking from the States, but it's the same here. Students walk around with Che on their shirts, or Bob Marley but they know nothing of the symbol they display.

Ok, granted that Marley could be followed as a musician, but the reason his face appears everywhere is because he is politically a hero also. As for Che, well his face has become a fashion statement.

Buying a £30 shirt from River Island with Che's face on it completely defies the point of his existence. I have two Che shirts, both bought for 50p from a tent at the Virgin music festival (feeding Virgin, I know, but there were awesome bands there!). And it'd be great if people were wearing Che to promote his belief and in support of him, but they don't. You can tell the real Che followers from the people who just know him as "they guy from the t-shirts". Mainly because one set also have David Beckham hairstyles. (I'll leave you to figure out which one).

Long gone are the days when the youth were involved in politics. We are now a minority. You just have to look at voting figures between age groups to see that. The young are satisfied with their expensive hairstyles, new shoes and Sky Digital for now.

[Eastside Revolt]

I think you're taking too direct an aproach to your hypothoses. You are confusing the general degeneration of society with big busineses influence in popular culture.
In truth can you really tell me that Lou Reed is that much deeper than Eminem, just because Eminem isn't always trying to say something?
I will agree with you that there is a general sense in pop culture that being intellectual is "uncool". This, to me is because there is a general degredation in society, and to me it looks as if things ARE getting better. I mean for fucks sakes just look at the 80's with the exception of Hip-Hop which was not nearly so dominant then. And even Punk has been made out to have much more influence in our culture than it actulally does.

[Xuix]

We are a ignorant generation. It's all about material values now and whats on Much music or Mtv(for those who dont know much music is a canadian alternative to Mtv, although much music is a tad less biased)Most people at my age are very ignorant in the fact that they don't have a realistic approach to live, thinking that living in the fast lane is gonna last forever when it won't.