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 * Defining America **

1. How has excessive violence in movies negatively effected the lives of American teens? 2. Does reality television set an unrealistic standard for which a teen thinks they should live in America? 3. Do provocative lyrics and scenes in American music videos change the way a teenager goes about sex and relationships?
 * Big Idea -** Defining America
 * Essential Question -** How does pop culture influence the way teenagers think they should lead a life in America?
 * Challenge -** Explain the effects of violence in movies, reality television, and provocative situations in music and music videos change the way American teenagers believe they should live their life.
 * Guiding Questions -**

1. Interview 2. Interview/Survey 3. Survey
 * Guiding Activities -**

According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, statistics show that: These facts show that violence in movies is hardly justified, making it seem more acceptable. The resource center then applied these statistics to aggressive behavior. Based on the information provided on this website, it is proven that children and teenagers are generally more aggressive in the future after watching numerous violent movies compared to less aggressive children and teenagers who watch fewer violent movies. http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/faq/mediaviolstats.asp
 * Guiding Resources 1 -**
 * 61 percent of television programs contain some violence, and only 4 percent of television programs with violent content feature an "anti violence" theme.
 * 44 percent of the violent interactions on television involve perpetrators who have some attractive qualities worthy of emulation.
 * 43 percent of violent scenes involve humor either directed at the violence or used by characters involved with violence.
 * Nearly 75 percent of violent scenes on television feature no immediate punishment for or condemnation of violence.
 * 40 percent of programs feature "bad" characters who are never or rarely punished for their aggressive actions.

In order to see what teenagers think about violence in movies, there is no better way than asking a teenager. Colleen Gargiulo, a fourteen year old freshman at Pascack Valley High School, was asked two basic, yet informing questions: 1. Do you think that violence in movies creates an unrealistic concept of the real world that leads teenagers to believe it's acceptable to act in the same way?, to which she answered yes and, 2. Do you think it is inevitable for teenagers to act upon what they see in movies?, to which she answered no. Based on the first answer, one can assume that a normal teenager believes that violent movies such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, 300, and The Godfather series can provide some teenagers with the idea that although it's not legal, the practice of using guns and weapons is a powerful experience that may lead others to think its //socially// acceptable, such as with their peers. However, based on the second question, two possible assumptions can be made. The first solution one can arrive at is that teenagers don't think movie violence is a strong enough factor to change the way every young person in America feels they should act. Another solution to be arrived at is that teenagers don't know enough statistics to see that it is, in some cases, inevitable for violence in movies to have an impact on the seemingly average American teenager. Whether a real teenager thinks it or not, movie violence can impact the way an American teenager thinks.
 * Guiding Activities 1 -**

http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/409.php http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=1742 Interview - Jenna Krietman Class Survey: Does reality television set an unrealistic standard for which a teen thinks they should live in America?
 * Guiding Resources 2 -**
 * Results:** 15 people - yes; 5 people - no.

Your eyes dart back and forth between the TV and the clock, waiting for it to strike 9. You tap your fingers impatiently against your legs, anxious for the new episode of Bravo’s “NYC Prep” to air. Finally, you hear the familiar theme song and instantly get lost in a world full of high fashion, lavish lifestyles, and drama. Seeing these Upper East Side girls live their lives is never the less entertaining, but what happens when the viewers think that their reality is their own reality, too? Reality television is attracting a whole new generation of people, most of them being teenagers between the ages of 13-19 years old. There is nothing wrong with watching reality TV. In fact, many people watch it religiously. A problem only occurs when America’s youth believes that they are starring in their own show and start acting like it, too. Have you ever watched a reality television show that is based around a bunch of young, wealthy, and attractive people having the time of their lives, and thought, “I wish I could live like that?” If you answered yes to that question, that is perfectly normal. This is because reality television purposely manipulates its audience to become infatuated with the stars’ lifestyles, drawing in viewers. Although television networks’ motives may only be to gain popularity, shows also twist many peoples’ minds to make them believe that they should live like a reality television star, too. Out of 20 high school students aged between 16 and 17 years old, 85% felt that reality television gives America’s teens false information on how to live and act. This is because reality TV is our warped sense of reality, and in other words, what we want our reality to be. Not only do shows like “The Hills” and the “Real Housewives” series set a bad example, morally and ethically, but it is not even reality to a lot of the “cast” because a large portion of the show is scripted. Reality shows also glorify lifestyles that aren’t necessarily as they appear. For example, “NYC Prep” has a cast of a few very wealthy 16-year-old girls living in New York. Some of them live alone in an apartment with no parents, and others have credit cards with no limits. The question is, is this reality to a vast majority of teens in America today? No. In fact, people that know the cast of “NYC Prep” said that the producers of the show make the cast appear greedier, and ask them to lie to the camera to make “better” television. If the people that are supposed to be “reality television stars” aren’t even living their own reality, how are viewers supposed to justify that? These television programs are polluting thoughts and making it seem that going clubbing with your friends every single night is perfectly normal, or spending thousands of dollars on clothes in one shopping trip is the standard. But is there a solution to stop people from watching reality TV? Could producers cancel these shows as a whole? Although I do not think that is an option, maybe the youth of America could learn early on that what you see on TV is not what your life may be like. And when it comes down to it all, I guess that the “reality” of the “reality” is that it’s not even “reality” after all.
 * Guiding Activities 2 -**

To help our group to determine the answer to our essential question, we had to do some investigating first. We decided, in relation to music, that no one could help to answer this question better than teenagers themselves. The results really helped to explain to us a lot about the current appropriateness, or lack there of, with music today. First, we asked them if they would feel uncomfortable listening to the music on their iPods with their parents or grandparents. The answer to this question proved to be an even 50/50 with ten kids answering yes and ten answering no. In response to this, we asked our fellow teens if they had anything on their iPod that they considered provocative or inappropriate. Astoundingly, 95% of the class agreed with each other, with nineteen kids answering yes and only one answering no. These results really helped us to find out facts about music today. One could surely infer from this information that "inappropriate" music has become more mainstream and more acceptable in public situations. It is causing teens all over to change their views about what would be certainly vulgar to listen to and what is simply just "cool".
 * Guiding Activities 3-**

In order to get an accurate answer to our questions, it is important to do further research than just the interview from class. Here are some very helpful and informative websites we used to help draw our conclusions and form our solution. [] [] [] [] http://www.at40.com/rest_chart.html?format=chr&
 * Guiding Resources 3-**

As pop culture continues to take over or generation, one question remains: Is there anything we can do to stop it? Unfortunately, all we can do, as individuals, is start to change the way we personally view mixed media. Though entertainment industries put sexuality, violence, and unrealistic situations in a positive light, it is important to educate our peers that this is not the norm. The real problem is the way we have learned to perceive these movies, shows, and songs, not that they are broadcasted at all, contrary to popular belief. Violent movies provide a sense of empowerment to those who watch them by giving them a feeling that they can do anything and will always overcome it. Reality television provides an escape for those who feel they don't have enough and music can provide therapy when life is not going your way. Without these factors, the entertainment business would not survive.
 * Solution/Action** -