Response to Jim
Jim’s comments on “Merchants of Cool” and the failure of adults to protect kids from the producers highlighted an interesting aspect of marketing predominantly to youth culture…. it glorifies youth culture as the biggest or best in society. Even though a massive amount of the add market is devoted to the Boomers, it doesn’t glorify that culture. I mean is the need for Viagra really a high water mark in a persons life, is erectile dysfunction a “cool” aspect of getting older?
Why don’t adults protect youths from the destructive targeting of the producers? Is it because adults, secretly or openly, want to be young again? Does the youth oriented marketing and its glorification of the young distract adults from their responsibility to grow older and wiser, more confident of their own identity, and willing to share their knowledge with those who come after them? I honestly don’t have a clue. My guess is that adults have their own stuff to deal with and just don’t recognize the assault that is taking place.
Can the church even respond to the producers without coming across as old fashioned and judgmental? My guess is that the church’s only relevant response is in supporting and enabling the youth, one at a time.
