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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