January 2004 WUGGIE'S MUSIC, MEDIA AND MORE!
Ratings System:
++ Christian - made specifically by Christians for Christians
+ Secular - but contains nothing offensive to most Christians, probably made by Christians trying to exert influence in secular media.
M Mature content. Not necessarily offensive, but parents should be careful before allowing exposure to children and pre-teens.
X Mature content. For mature teens, firm in their convictions and morals, who have received much parental guidance.
XX Contains very mature, problematic content. Parents should seriously consider restricting exposure to teens.
XXX Completely offensive. Not only should teens be restricted, but adults may want to question their own exposure.
Simple Plan / No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls / XX
Simple Plan is one of a new wave of Punk Bands with parent pleasing lyrics (on the surface) and yet a morally corrupt image. You won't find any bad words. You won't find any in your face lyrics. You won't find much deep meaning either. The simple plan seems to be very simple, childish innuendo, such as that in the title of the CD. Nothing is hidden behind innuendo in their image, however. The band advances free sexual morals in everything they do, from on stage to videos to their famous 'boob signings' after their set at summer concerts. Try Reliant K or MXPX as Christian alternatives. Both bands are way more talented than Simple Plan anyway.
Tony Hawk's Underground / Video Game / M
Maybe you bought this video game for Christmas, and thought it was ok for your kids because it was rated 'T for Teen'. Just so you know, I think all ratings systems, for movies, music, video games, whatever, are a sham. They are applied by the manufacturer or a trade group of manufacturers. That's like letting the convict decide the sentence. Let's just put it this way, no movie studio has ever asked me what they should rate their movie, and no video game manufacturer has ever asked me what to rate their video game. But since I have my own column in our lovely church newsletter, I get to rate this one anyway! And I gave it an M for Mature. I really wish the ESRB (the trade group that gives video game ratings) had given it an M. Actually, I just wish Activision (the manufacturer) had taken out the scenes with the pimps and topless pole dancers. Since when was this suitable for teens? The problem is that I love this game. The graphics are really amazing. It's loads of fun to play. Skateboarders find it authentic, and it provides some real innovations for gamers. It's based on a wholesome topic (skateboarding), and players simply control a skateboarder as he or she navigates around buildings, parks, and sidewalks. There is no violence, no destruction, it's good clean fun. So why did they have to put the pole dancers in? If your kid already has the game, I'm not suggesting you take it away. Try it! Of course you'll do poorly. Who cares? When you're done, your kid gets to brag how they beat you, and you can have a good conversation about the things you like about the game and the things you don't. If your kid isn't old enough yet for a conversation about 'pole dancers', then sadly, this game is off limits until they are. Look, I was in my 30's before I got to play a video game this cool. They can wait too.
Blink 182 / Blink 182 / XXX
Is it any wonder that an album that starts off with two songs in which raw sexual acts are described follows with 11 songs about despair, depression and angst? Profanity proliferates, parental warning sticker decorates, Christian sensibility regurgitates.
Britney Spears / In The Zone / XXX
This CD has a single message that is consistently told across every song: Your body was meant to be exploited for sexual pleasure, and your value as a person is determined by your ability to please the opposite sex sexually. This CD is not for kids. One of my teenage youth group members insisted that I review the CD because she said it was the worst piece of filth she had ever heard. I agree with her.
Fountains of Wayne / Welcome Interstate Managers / M
This band seems to be more interested in singing the perfect melody and playing the perfect riff than pushing the envelope. They just want to have fun. There is one song about a salesman, in which you'll hear the line, "I've gotta get my s*** together." That's the worst this band has to offer. Their image is nothing to worry about.
Finger Eleven / Finger Eleven / XX
Finger Eleven stays even farther away from any four letter words or songs about immoral behavior than does Fountains of Wayne, but their lyrics delve deep into the human psyche and deal with rejection, loss and ruined relationships in a very hopeless manner. Not fun stuff. The music is dark and surreal, which is also the way lead guitarist James Black describes his artwork, a hallmark of the band's image. The band's philosophy of life is summed by in their description of their name: "It's really about personal choice based on instinct, despite consequences or outside opinions." (from the band's web site) Their lyrics bear this out too. All moral decisions are made on the basis of instinct, without regard to even the consequences or feelings of others. If you ask me, this can be a whole lot more dangerous than four letter words.
Associated Press Article
I'd like to share with you an actual article I found last month published by the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES - Teenagers can get sex education as well as laughs by watching TV series such as "Friends," a new study found. Watching or discussing a show with an adult reinforces or clarifies the lessons carried by television, according to the study released Monday by Santa Monica-based Rand Corp., a nonprofit research group. "We've always known that teenagers get useful information about sex from factual reporting and advice-oriented media, but now we know they can get this information from entertainment television programs as well," said Rebecca Collins, lead author of the report. "That's important because entertainment programs, especially highly rated ones like 'Friends,' reach many more teens," Collins said in a Rand statement. -Associated Press, Nov. 3
Some may celebrate the fact that they can now both avoid the topic of sex with their kids and relax knowing that watching 'friends' can now be called 'educational TV'. I see it a little differently. I think it's a travesty that TV has raised this generation of our children. Parents have completely abdicated their role as teachers of morals, how to treat people who are different than you, and of course: sex education. If our kids are watching TV, then they are learning about sex. The one thing I really liked about the article I reprinted above is the line, 'Watching or discussing a show with an adult reinforces or clarifies the lessons carried by television'. I think it's silly that someone had to conduct a research study and write a report to come up with this conclusion, and I would suggest that often Christian parents have to 'negate' the lessons taught by television, not just reinforce or clarify. Does you family have limit on how many hours of TV can be watched in a day? Consider extending the amount as a reward for having a really good conversation with you about a show you both watched together. This idea can be applied to the Internet, CDs, or any other media you want to limit and or discuss.