It's time for the weekly Culture Translator Podcast - we know you’ve been anxiously awaiting!

 

This week...3 things to know:

 

1. Teens love to be challenged. Not in necessarily in school but rather through social media. See the next internet sensation challenge - The Deodorant Challenge.  This is just the latest hit in the long string of popular challenges (Tide Pod, Kylie Jenner Lip, Ice Bucket, Mannequin, etc.). This challenge involves spraying aerosol deodorant on someone else for as long as they can stand it. Sound weird? Try a bit dangerous. People are walking away from this challenge with severe burns and maybe a bit of pride. What’s at the root of this and why would students want to participate in something that is hurtful? The reason is not all the shocking or uncommon - peer pressure and FOMO. Teens want to be a part of what their friends are involved in. They don’t want to look like they can’t hang and so will do something that to others may look idiotic just to belong. That’s a driving force that will lead all of us to do things that we wouldn’t typically do. It is necessary to acknowledge the reality of peer pressure and the need to belong. Let’s not minimize that but rather call it out for what it is. This is a good starting point for conversation with your student- acknowledge the appeal of the challenge and how real peer pressure is. Topics to dive into from there include consequences of this challenge and where we get our identity and belonging from. Dive into their culture and then dive deep into conversation.

 

Wanna dive in deeper? Check out the links below:

Deodrant Challenge Breakdown

 

Parents, How You Can Help

 

1. Apparently, this is America according to Childish Gambino - if you haven’t heard already, Childish Gambino (aka. Donald Glover) released a new song and music video that overnight became a cultural phenomenon. Celebrities were tweeting about the genius of it, fans were raving about the intentionality of it, and due to the nature of the content there were many others who didn’t feel positively about it. Regardless, there was talk. In the music video, Childish Gambino represents America herself taking a stance on the violent culture that we live in and the ways we utilize media and entertainment and internet fads as rose-colored glasses. Warning...this is a violent and fairly graphic music video. So know that if you watch it, which we encourage you to. Why? We encourage you to because it is a form of art that comments on the world we live in. GenZ is known to be culturally aware and socially sensitive - the issues Childish Gambino addresses (race, gun violence, and other taboo topics) are ones that your teens most likely care about and have opinions about.

Here’s a great opportunity to Culture Translate [what we do with every piece of media we encounter]. Ask these questions about the song and music video:

1. What was good?
2. What was missing?
3. What was confusing?

When we start with these questions we are acknowledging all sides of the art. First ask these questions to your teen and then you answer!

Keep diving:

Watch the Music Video Here

 

This Is America Hidden Meanings Explained!

 

Hidden Messages You May Have Missed

 

Why This Is So Popular

 

1.  All Night is a new Hulu show that is pulling at high schooler’s heart strings. Not because it is so heartwarming though, because it walks with high school seniors as they are about to graduate. The impending end of their high school career drives them to live it up and try everything they always wanted to. They are really buying into that passé phrase, “Yolo.” All Night isn’t all that unique with the storyline but grabs at the experience of many teens - that desire to fully live and the urgency to do so. The characters live as if their lives will end after high school pushing them to do things they would typically never have had the courage to do. Although the show doesn’t offer much depth or substance, the conversation we find stemming from it does! Is this the message being taught to teens? Is there an example be modeled for students that this moment is all that life is about? It is not new for teenagers to be living for the here and now without so much as a nod to the future or consequences. However, where do we move from there? We encourage disciplers to paint a different vision as to what life is about. We rarely find lasting fulfillment from momentary pleasure, from the here and now, from a split second. Help them to identify consequences and to take a longer view than just this moment and just high school. There is a difference between being present and yolo-ing. Watch an episode if your teen is watching it. Then chat about it.

 

To the depths:

All Night Official Trailer

 

BONUS TRANSLATION

 

Ninja vs. LeBron is essentially begging the question sports or esports. The virtual world at times seems to be becoming more of a reality to teens than reality itself. There are careers in which teens can play video games. There are scholarships now for gamers to go to university. Thirteen year olds are even being signed to professional esport teams. Yup, this is reality for gamers out there now. Here’s where it breaks down for us. We need to know and learn about the things that our students care about. What an act of love to meet them in the things that they love. This act goes past words and demonstrates care! At the same time, healthy boundaries are still okay and needed. The reality is, too, that if you are meeting them in their space and they know you care - there is a greater chance of them respecting the boundaries.

 

Last links, we promise:

The Argument Heats Up

Esports takes the lead

 

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It's been a while, but we're back with a new direction for the Axis podcast!  You'll be seeing one episode a week of The Culture Translator Podcast starting now plus the occasional "in-betweenisode!"

 

This week...there are, as always, 3 things to know:

1. The Boy Scouts are dropping the gendered title to simply be called "The Scouts." Their statement says, simply that this is because the character development emphasized by The Scouts is relatable and necessary for anyone, regardless of gender. They began admitting girls last year, so this should come as no surprise. It has ignited a fierce debate politically and socially, though, as you can imagine. With such a controversial change, this is a great opportunity to enter into conversation with your teen! It could open up topics such as inclusivity and gender. No matter where the conversation goes, try inviting your teen to share their thoughts first. Some of the trademarks of GenZ include acceptance and openness to other idea. “Scout Me In” reveals a glimpse into the world GenZ-ers often find themselves in!

 

Wanna dive in deeper? Check out the links below:

https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/scout-me-in/

 

https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/07/opinions/girls-boy-scouts-surbaugh-opinion/index.html

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/05/02/boy-scouts-scouts-bsa-girls-joining-cub-scouts/572036002/

 

1. 13 Reasons Why is on its way back with a new season full of new issues and more drama. Netflix released the date, May 18th, of Season 2 along with a new promo video. The video is already filling fans heads with intrigue and preparing them for the episodes to come. If you missed the first season, the show follows the story of a girl named Hannah Baker who died by suicide. It was a widely popular show as well as one that is extremely graphic as it unapologetically depicts the struggles many high schoolers face including suicide, rape, abuse, drinking, drugs, loneliness, etc. Many people who followed the series praised it highlighting real issues. Teens found themselves identifying with certain characters and seeing some of their stories played out on a screen, albeit a bit magnified, hopefully. However, it wasn’t adored by all - many spoke out against the ways they talked about these all too prevalent issues.

Netflix listened. For season 2 they are adding warning videos and extra precautions to help eliminate negative effects while still maintaining the riskiness of the show. So do your research! If your student has seen season 1 - discuss it! Who did they identifiy with? What parts of the show did they agree with and feel encouraged by? And if they want to watch season 2, maybe watch it with them. You can then monitor the graphicness while engaging in their world! The show talks about issues that are one way or another in the world of your teen (maybe not directly) but we encourage that you enter that conversation!

 

Keep diving:

https://virtual.axis.org/suicide

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/13-reasons-why-season-2-address-suicide-controversy-warning-video-1096070

 

https://13reasonsresearch.soc.northwestern.edu/index.html

 

1.  A new app was released and is gaining popularity: Discord. It is a free multi-platform app that lives in the gamer world. It is a voice and text-chat app designed to bring gamers together in community. The designers were inspired by the ways video games used to build community and saw a need for connection and created one! We are excited about the ways this encourages teens to not just live in a reality they created by themselves but rather to build connections in the real world. Win! But with any kind of app where you can chat and text, there is the possibility of inappropriate material to be shared. So - check out the app. See what you think and if you teen has it you can find solutions for the dangers. Encourage them to utilize Discord only when you are present or have access to it so you can be aware of what is being shared! As always, we desire for connection and relationships to be built out of these cultural happenings.

 

To the depths:

https://axis.org/guides

 

https://discordapp.com/

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discord_(software)

 

https://discordapp.com/features?

 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/discord-chat-for-gamers/user-reviews/adult

 

BONUS TRANSLATION

 

Avengers: Infinity War came out April 27. People were jazzed and flooded the theaters and sold out the seats. The long awaited build up of this film [ahem - 18 Marvel films later] did not disappoint. The movie achieved over a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has remained extremely popular.  Yet throughout the fight scenes and the uniting of all of your favorite characters (no spoilers, don’t worry) - there was an intriguing depiction of the Gospel woven throughout. Or perhaps a better way to explain the message in this movie are through the words ‘mercy’ and ‘sacrifice.’ The main “villain” Thanos exemplifies a certain definition of these two words that lives in contrast to how the Avengers live those out. And honestly different from the way Christ lived these out in His own life. What a great place to start a conversation with your teen while meeting them in what they love! Sounds like Culture Translation to me :)

 

Last links, we promise:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154756/

 

https://factsandtrends.net/2018/04/27/avengers-infinity-war-packs-a-punch-hits-on-spiritual-themes/

>>>If you want to get this sent directly to your email to get you this info as soon as we do - check out the link below. All we need is your name and email and BOOM. Free. Goodness.

 

FOLLOW ---> https://axis.org/ct/

Every week, we offer The Culture Translator Podcast. Subscribe so you don't miss any cultural updated (always through the lens of faith, media, and culture) into your teen's world at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-ideas/id1167709389?mt=2 

This is a new project that will keep expanding and and improving in the future - if you want to see any special features, guests, or changes -- let us know by email at [email protected] 

Enjoy - and thanks for diving into teen culture with us in order to help build lifelong faith through discipleship! 

Drew and Kaitlin dive into College Masculinity, the trending app Friendo, and Rites of Passage for Teenage Girls, and welcome a special guest to discuss the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and what Dr. King's nonviolent activism can mean for today's world.

1. Redefining College Manhood
Male university students enroll less, misbehave more, and graduate at a slower pace than their female counterparts due in large part to distorted cultural notions of masculinity.

2. FriendO
“Sure, you’re a ‘friend’, but are you a true Friendo?” A new app testing the depths of your friendship

3. A Voice Becoming
Moms, what if there was a framework for creating rites of passage for our daughters that draw them into deeper, purposeful, life-changing faith in Christ as they become women? As of this month, there is!

http://amzn.to/2mGTvUm

Dr. King's Dream:
In his book The Stride Toward Freedom, Dr. King lays out the six principles for resisting evil nonviolently.
1. Nonviolence is resistance not passivity.
2. Nonviolence seeks an end to hostilities by winning a friend.
3. Nonviolence attacks injustice not people.
4. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
5. Nonviolence believes suffering is redemptive and transformative.
6. Nonviolence believes the universe is on the side of justice.

Want more? Check out axis.org/ct

Allison and Bryan take a tour of the new Axis Offices while discussing the Rose Bowl, End of the F***ing World, Looking forward to 2018, and Black Mirror!

1. Roses are Georgia Red
What it is: The Georgia Bulldogs won the Rose Bowl in an historic come-from-behind win against the Oklahoma Sooners on New Year’s Day.

2. The End of the F**ing World
What it is: I’m James. I’m 17. And I’m pretty sure I’m a psychopath.” That’s the opening line from Netflix’s new series that reviewers are calling “a violent, un-nostalgic look at teens on the run” (warning: graphic language).

3. What to Expect in 2018
What it is: Last year, our community of “CT” readers grew from 19,000 subscribers to 38,000! And, thanks to your financial partnership, we were able to keep the “CT” free. Thank you!

Season 4 of the controversial show Black Mirror released to Netflix recently, bringing with it more disturbing-yet-not-unrealistic portrayals of what might lie in our not-so-distant future. Episode 2, titled “Arkangel,” is no exception.

Want more? Check out axis.org/ct 

 

Parent's Guide to Thanksgiving and Black Friday - Culture Translator Podcast - 11.24.17 by Axis Ideas

Binge Worthy Books - Culture Translator Podcast - 11.24.17 by Axis Ideas

Teens Redeeming Teens - Culture Translator Podcast - 11.10.17 by Axis Ideas

As you've seen and heard if you're a follower, we often talk about balancing the scary in culture and the life of teens with the hopeful.

This week is a good week of that balance.

1) There's good to be said for Gen-Z in their astuteness of academic prioritization as well as other areas of life, frugality included, and it's pretty cool!

All of these links are worth checking out if you want to understand Gen-Z:

- http://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Kids-Are-Still-Alright/241603

- http://defymedia.com/2017/03/20/separates-gen-z-generations/

- http://axis.org/guides

- https://studentloanhero.com/featured/gen-z-5-important-money-lessons/

- http://www.chronicle.com/article/Small-Changes-in-Teaching-The/234869

2) There's also a new app on college campus that we can see jumping to the high school pool in a year or less. It's called "Islands." The goal: Integrate all your social media into one place and push you into new real-life social groups you're not part of.

What they're trying to do is remove anonymity from their social media (although, they have an anonymous option that currently 1/3 of their users are utilizing) to avoid the cyber-bullying that Yik-Yak and After School fell into and create new connections for people in different real-life social groups. Whereas Facebook, Twitter, etc. show you people you're similar to or Snapchat showing you people in your contacts already, these guys at Islands want to expand circles into new circles.

3)Taylor Swift cannot possibibly new name to you. She's been dropping song after song from her upcoming album recently, and we're seeing a theme: "Old Taylor can't come to the phone right now. Why? Because she's dead."

Whatever part of Taylor is "dead" in music and public image right now is not necessarily the bad part - we're not going to draw a hard line on that and judge her public persona. However, in her music there is a long history of vindictiveness/revenge being taken. For someone with such a strong platform to speak to, particularly, young girls and form their vision for what love and relationships look, like we have have to ask whether or not the darker response to suffering is the best message to proliferate.

Isn't forgiveness an option? https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/forgive Yes, that's right. I just sent you to a quote site.

4) Punisher (aka Nick Castle) was a character in Netflix's "Daredevil" series that inspired his own spin-off show by them. I'm going to let you read the Culture Translator article for this one: https://axis.org/vol-3-issue-44/

Pro tip: After that, add the question, "Does it translate?" to your pop culture vocabulary.

Find the podcast and subscribe: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-ideas/id1167709389?mt=2

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Get an introduction to serious topics for teens: https://axis.org/guides

Yes, it's Stranger Things. If you're not sure what that is, get on Netflix or do that free trial they offer. Basically, your teens will know about this happening and very likely watch it - so I would encourage you to do that as well. We have an upcoming Parent Guide on "Stranger Things", and we just released our new one to help teens who struggle with suicide. Check it out! https://axis.org/guides

1) #NoPornovember: Raising awareness for the harm of pornography is always important, and this month we can join the movement on social media by using the hashtag #NoPornovember.

2)Instagram Butlers: Oddly enough, you can now purchase a butler to take photos of you on your vacation to post to instagram. What does this say about the culture we live in? It's a real thing! http://news.conradhotels.com/index.cfm/news/conrad-maldives-rangali-island-introduces-instagram-trail

3) Einstein's Theory of Happiness: Although he was an influential genius, are a few of his scribbles about happiness worth $1.56 million? Apparently someone thinks so! As Christians, should we have a different view of happiness? https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/are-you-chasing-happiness-or-holiness

4) Stranger Things season 2 is out on Netflix and millions of people will be watching over this next while. It takes a darker turn, but may have some redeeming qualities that can start conversations on being a conscious consumer.