[journalismtwo]

Music... The Greatest Influence

Music in today’s pop culture is one of the most influential things for millennials. Many of the artists use vulgar language, excessive sexuality and violence to create a persona that kids and teens in our generation want to be.

Is this a positive thing for the teens of this generation? Well, yes and no. The message in most (key word most) of the musicians songs is to never stop following your dreams so you can live a lifestyle like they are living. But while they are trying to convey this persona to the rest of the world, they are also showing their listeners that they use drugs excessively and promote how great it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbEoRnaOIbs

The type of music I am talking about is typically hip-hop though it is the same issue in other types of music as well. With the entire Miley Cyrus fiasco that happened in 2013 further showed how musicians can influence an entire culture. She turned from child star sweetheart to a sex and drug symbol in 15 seconds.

The youth of this generation is so easily influenced by what they see in the news and by what their favorite celebrities do and that is leading them down the path of drugs, alcohol, violence and unsafe sex.

7 out of 10 parents say that they don’t know what type of music their kids listen to and they are unaware of the substance of the lyrics in the songs the kids listen two. Artist like Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and ScHoolboy Q all have an extremely large presence in pop culture today and all three of them talk about frequent drug use in each of their songs.

“All my weed from Cali, so you know I’m smokin flavour; Ain't fuckin with blunts, you know we only smokin’ paper” ~ Wiz Khalifa - Taylor Gang

“And I got Xanax, percocet, promethazine with codeine; Call me Mr. Sandman, I'm sellin' all these hoes dreams” ~ Lil Wayne - Rich As F***

Lyrics like these shown above are used in a large quantity in todays music. Myself being a fan of artist who use language like this sometimes hear some of the lyrics and think, Did he really just say that. The true problem is, kids don’t even realize that the language they use in completely inappropriate and is not something they should look up to or want to do.

Logan Bell, a junior student at St. Joes high school shared his thoughts, “Yeah I think that music has an impact on the way we as teens react to things, but I don’t think that if we see them doing drugs or killing people that we are going to turn around and do the same.” He went on to say that teens are more influenced by the people actually around them than a celebrity that they put on a pedestal.

After talking to Logan, I went on to talk to his younger brother to see if he shared similar views on the topic. Well, I was wrong. “I have tons of friends that tried smoking weed because they have seen an interview of Wiz Khalifa talking about weed or a video of Snoop lighting a blunt at a club.” Zach Bell a freshman at St. Joes said. “They think that they are some how cooler now that they smoke weed and get drunk and I do believe it has a lot to do with the celebrities we all see on TV.”

Overall, music does have a major impact on todays society. 90s children have experienced a new type of role model that the world really hasn’t seen before. Sex, drugs, alcohol and violence has always been around but it has never been as influential as it is today.

[journalismtwo]

The Benefits of a Television Class

The sound of the slowing plane propellers was all that Chris could hear as he sat in the seat looking at the familiar switchboard. The flight instructor was shocked about how much he knew about the technology in the small plane. Chris smiled because he knew that if he shared where he learned this information, people would never believe him.

“People don’t believe me when I say that I began learning tech basics back in my televison classes in high school,” he said.

Once he went over his safety checklist with his instructor, he left the plane where it was and continued on his way. At RVCC, Chris was ahead of all of his tech classes by what seemed an entire grade. His grades were far above average, compared to most people getting B’s, he was maintaining a perfect grade.

“The fact that I spent a lot of time in television class with switchboards and wires and all the basic forms of technology, I was much more prepared to work with the advanced things we use in college like soundboards and mixers,” he said.

Chris has had the goal to be a pilot for most of his life. He knew back in highschool he would need something to help him get ahead in his field, for he knew he wouldn't be getting head in his math classes. His counselor suggested computer sciences and tech classes, but Chris had noticed a class that he found to be interesting. A television course, teaching the basics of tv programs and tech.

He enrolled in the course but was very wary about taking it for he knew it would a whole different world than the one he knew. Mr.Anastasio, or Mr. A, is the teacher of this class, and his teaching style a little unorthodox.

Mr. A gives kids freedom to do what they please and film what they please, for he believes the concept of film is freedom of expression.

(Insert quote from Mr.A here, interview is tomorrow)

Chris had been shy coming into the class, being a sophomore in a class full of seniors and juniors, but quickly he noticed a change. The class became very family like. They helped each other and taught each other. The class itself was a collation of the goal of understanding technologies.

Although Chris knew not everything he learned in TV would be relevant with his airplane flying, he was learning how to communicate with and about technology. He was learning what utensil was what and how it worked and helped others.

Mr.A was thrilled to hear about this when I brought it to his attention, saying that he was very proud of Chris. He agrees that the TV program helps people with careers that one wouldn’t believe.

“Its wonderful, you’re dealing with technology whether you’re in a television studio or not, its a tool for you to use and if you’re comfortable with it thats power in your hands,” he says, “I flew, in fact i took variations of spaces tech in college, the most highly tech area, flying is very tech intense.”

The class is something that many freshmen never even heard about when picking classes. After polling about one hundred freshmen, I discovered that only twenty-three had heard about the class.

However, Mr.A does not feel worried about this for when I told him about freshmen who wanted to take the class he responded with “Wait until you’re a sophomore,” and a deep laugh.  

“I would say its a great way to get integrated,” he continued, “ to get known by other students, its a good way to come out of your shell, gives you something you can have a great deal of fun with, something you can use in other classes. The skills can be used [to do projects] instead of handing in an essay.”

Although Chris said he hasn’t yet used the knowledge from the class to produce a video essay, he has used the skills to get ahead socially. He believes that his basic knowledge is what earned him the respect of his peers helping him make new friends in college.

“The class had some unexpected benefits I guess,” he said laughing, “I guess a lot more than I thought it would.”

Mr. A continued about his class when I asked about the skills you learn, saying “Television involves the ability to plan and knowing how important it is to plan... creative, writing skills are improved, public speaking skills are improved, technical knowledge about how the equipment works, history of media, how television and film are related, also sections about graphics and design, introduced to the idea of balance, proportion and colour. The learn about light so theres some science involved, electromagnetism.”

He finished off this by calling it a “broad spectrum” obviously making a pun. Although the class doesn’t count as a science course, it does have some of the same benefits.

“Nothing is really one hundred percent ‘new’ to me in my tech courses” say Chris, “everything seems like a continuation on what I’ve already learned.

Sample Video of a project done in the class: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqmWdN5dHJg

[journalismtwo]

Do The Actions of Leaders and Role Models Effect Those of Teens?

By Tre Butts

Students at Hunterdon Central and other high schools are taught from a young age to be honest, fair and respectful. All of these values are expected to be followed and acted like by parents, teachers and other adults.

But with this being said, how can the teenagers expect to follow those guidelines when the most powerful people in New Jersey are breaking those very values. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has set a terrible example for the youth of this state and this nation.

Governor Christie allegedly forced lane closures on the George Washington Bridge in early September 2013. He supposedly did this because his opponent Barbara Buono supporters lived in the area close to the bridge. The incident cause many major issues for children that were going to school and in one case, a woman died in an emt vehicle on her way to the hospital. Christie claimed that he knew nothing of this entire incident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWZMPwfP_aw

When asked about the Governor dishonest actions, Jordan Ray, a junior student at Somerville High School shared her dispraised opinions. “I think it is absolutely ridiculous how a man like Chris Christie is allowed to remain in office after doing such terrible dishonest things,” she said. “A woman ended up dying because he wanted to close off a bridge for political gain. Thank is just terrible.”

Students throughout New Jersey and the country are aware of Governor Christie’s actions. Not only are they disappointed by the leadership, but they find his actions hypocritical. Amanda Diacount, a senior at Hunterdon Central was a supporter of Governor Christie and even voted for him in the most recent election. “It is hard for me to continue to support someone who acted in such childish ways,” she said. “What type of example does that set for the rest of the youth in the state of New Jersey.” Amanda went on to say that she would be open to the idea of Governor Christie’s removal.

Since the GW Bridge scandal, Governor Christie’s approval rating has dropped 9 points. As of February 22nd, 50% of New Jerseyans support the Governor. In February of 2013, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Governor Christie’s ratings reached its peak at 70% of all New Jerseyans. Compared to now, 20 points lower than the high point in his administration, the Governor and his workers seem to be in shambles.

Some parents to high school students don’t believe that Christie’s actions should affect the actions and the way their own teens should behave. Christopher Smith, a father of two Hillsborough students, a sophomore and an eighth grader says that a parent should always be the people that instill the values and behaviors in their children. “I truly believe that parents should be the ones that teach students core values instead of public figures,” he said. “I do not approve of Governor Christie’s actions at all but they should not be a reason for kids to not believe in basic values.”

Pastor Mark Chapman of the Hollis Presbyterian Church in New York City shared his opinions on the issue. “Governor Christie hasn’t been proven guilty yet but it is still a sin to lie and just wrong,” he said. “I believe that he should realize his importance throughout his home state of New Jersey and throughout the nation.” He continued to say how his role in the community is to serve as a leader and a role model and the fact that he lied about the Bridge Scandal was shameful. Pastor Chapman doesn’t believe that the nations youth should question how they act now and they need to continue to use the values that their parents instilled in them.

Even after Chris Christie was caught in this massive lie, he still has many of his republican voters on his side. After talking to twenty adults who voted for Governor Christie in the most recent election, the consensus was that 18 out of the 20 adults polled still supported Christie entirely. They were disappointed in the actions by the Governor but they thought that this scandal would not be affect his ability to serve the state of New Jersey.

Timeline of Scandal

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Timeline-George-Washington-Bridge-Scandal-Chris-Christie-Fort-Lee-Bridgegate-239431091.html

[journalismtwo]

Its a Mans World, But It's Getting Better.

The world is run by more people who identify as men than people who do not. This is not an unknown fact, rather I’d be forward enough to say everyone with access to a TV knows it.

Unfortunately, this causes a large inequality between the genders. People who identify as female are often given less rights or treated less fairly than people who identify as men.

The effects of these issues are felt on may scales. Specifically for our small town of Flemington, our school has the club Third Wave.

Bria Wade, one of the leaders of Third Wave, is confident that women’s rights are headed in the correct direction, but not moving near fast enough.

“More often you’ll hear positive things like women's rights bills or new ways women are getting ahead, but these little achievements are taking a long while to build up to the full equality we deserve,” says Wade.

When asked about whether or not she felt men were still in control of the world, she simply shook her head. Nothing more needed to be said.

Despite this, it was still acknowledged that there are some very significant advancements for women occurring now.

Advancements For Women Still Going On

Malala, an amazing female rights activist, is still going strong in the fight years later.    http://abcnews.go.com/International/exclusive-malala-yousafzai-continues-fight-education-year/story?id=20547267

International Woman's Day is starting up again in 2014 in hopes of bringing more awareness to the world of the lack of female rights.  http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp#.Uxi5j_ldWSo