Imperialism & Youth culture

[Springmeester]

Comrades,

I'm writing a piece on youth culture for the newspaper of my party, but I am in need of some information. For the article I was thinking something along the lines of the monopolization of youth culture by MTV and large record labels. I want to explain how the 'music industry' can kill real culture and leave us with pulp and horrors such as a singing Britney Spears or Paris Hilton. :D
I would like some more thoughts on the subject so please feel free tot give me your opinion on the matter, interesting information and lots of numbers!

[Holden Caulfield]

Leon Trotskys quotes on, left wing culture limping behind left wing theroy could be good to use?

Noam Chomskys theoy of there being a divide of the 20% who understand and are critical of culture and the media, and the majority of people who take it all in ignorantly.

and Ang's theory of all media being not for entertainment, not for a message only for money

all these are a bit obvious but could be used well to get points across of the state and power of the media, and to throw in names the masses would recognize

(sorry if they were insultingly obvious)

[Springmeester]

Leon Trotskys quotes on, left wing culture limping behind left wing theroy could be good to use?

Noam Chomskys theoy of there being a divide of the 20% who understand and are critical of culture and the media, and the majority of people who take it all in ignorantly.

and Ang's theory of all media being not for entertainment, not for a message only for money

all these are a bit obvious but could be used well to get points across of the state and power of the media, and to throw in names the masses would recognize

(sorry if they were insultingly obvious)

Tnx for your contribution. However, I feel these references are to much focused on media as a whole and not youth culture in specific.

[Jimmie Higgins]

There's a good documentary from PBS called "the Merchants of Cool" that was made 10 years ago. It's about MTV and how they specifically go to the houses of upper middle class white males to find out what they like and then market that for everyone - hence teenage girls in provocative costumes and the "rage-rock" of Limp Bizkit (like I said, it was made a number of years ago).

It's not a revolutionary look at the industry, but I'm sure you could draw your own conclusions from the marketing techniques the doc focuses on.

[Springmeester]

There's a good documentary from PBS called "the Merchants of Cool" that was made 10 years ago. It's about MTV and how they specifically go to the houses of upper middle class white males to find out what they like and then market that for everyone - hence teenage girls in provocative costumes and the "rage-rock" of Limp Bizkit (like I said, it was made a number of years ago).

It's not a revolutionary look at the industry, but I'm sure you could draw your own conclusions from the marketing techniques the doc focuses on.

Alright, tnx Gravedigger!

[Luís Henrique]

I don't know if it is just a Brazilian phenomenon, but here the record labels have the awful habit of bribing radio DJs so that they play the music (or "music") they are selling (the practice is known as jabá or jabaculê, and is thought to be able to transform chemically pure shit into hit parade successes).

Luís Henrique

[Jimmie Higgins]

I don't know if it is just a Brazilian phenomenon, but here the record labels have the awful habit of bribing radio DJs so that they play the music (or "music") they are selling (the practice is known as jabá or jabaculê, and is thought to be able to transform chemically pure shit into hit parade successes).

Luís Henrique

In the US was called payola. Now I think the companies go right over the heads of DJs because there are few in the US who get to pick their own playlists. Radio is so monopolized by big companies and the bribes are so large that they are just normal business practice.

[Raúl Duke]

I like the concept/theory of "reification" (I think thats what its called): In which we make culture yet its appropriated by the corporations, etc and "re-sold" to us in a slightly modified (more commercial-consumerist and "safer") form. For example, the difference from early rap to contemporary rap, the consumerization of "grunge" , the "hot-topic" poseur "punks", etc
Although sometimes the culture does seem to come "from above" (as in from the upper classes) and usually that needs little change in content. That culture is also "sold" to us.
Also, in capitalism nothing is safe nor sacred from being use to turn profit; its just the nature of this society.

[More Fire for the People]

If you think Paris Hilton is on MTV, I don't think you're watching MTV because (1) MTV only plays music videos after 3 AM and before 9 PM and (2) most of the good music videos come on MTV2 & MTV Tr3s. Criticizing MTV doesn't make you cool, neither does listening to Tibetan tribal wailing.

[Joby]

I don't know were you all grew up, but youth culture at my high school consisted of a bunch a ignorant dumbasses unwilling, or unable, to look at anything past their own pathetic lives.

Not that it wasn't fun, just not very intelectually stimulating. And annoying for those of us guys who still don't like shopping.

[BrokenHeart]

...what is real culture?

[Joby]

...what is real culture?

haha That's a great question.

You could write a book on that question alone.

[YSR]

It's a bit thick, but Guy Debord's Society of the Spectacle is the most incisive critique of the politico-cultural establishment I've ever found.

I've never read any of those cats from the Frankfurt School but all my buddies are Cultural Studies majors and that's all they ever talk about. Maybe something there may give you a solid framework to write from?