Youth Culture Of Today

 

Youth Culture Of Today

 

             I am pessimistic about youth culture today. Todays youth have all the wrong values and their actions can speak louder than their words. Youth today careless about school and their education. I see many people  I use to go to high school with working full time jobs and not going to school. When I asked most of them why they didn't go back to school their answered shocked me. They told me they wanted to buy brand name clothing and electronics. If they went to school than they can't buy what they want to buy. That is what I was told by my ex classmates. Youth of today are materialistic and think that success in life is having these materialistic possessions. Expensive watches and brand brand name clothing will not be things society will remember when you are no longer in this world.

 

Youth would rather go to work  full time to buy nicer things than to go to school and  get an education that would open more doors for them. Youth not going to school is a big problem for society. Youth are the new generation and as such going to school is a good example for the next generations who see this in action. Not going to school means less job opportunities and less chances of higher earnings. Some countries don't even have a proper learning institution. Here, in Canada youth are lucky they have choices between private or public schools. Youth still choose to do other things than to go to school. I find this careless and irresponsible on the youths part.

I sometimes see on the bus teenagers listening to rap music and wanting to live through the lyrics they listen to. These rap lyrics talk about selling drugs and making more money. These rap lyrics talk about how its okay too have more than 1 girl and degrade woman. Teenagers listening to this kind of music and wanting to live through these lyrics is a very negative choice.  I do believe social media and social networks influence the minds of youths today. I also believe it is the choice of the youths to make a choice and they can easily block out the social media in their mind if they wanted to. Its all a question of choices. I believe youth have all the wrong values today. Being materialistic and trying to live through lyrics of songs is not going too get the youth of today anywhere progressive in life.

 

Another choice youth make that is really bad is drugs. I pass by my old high school sometimes and  I see high school kids smoking marijuana right outside the school.

 

They have no respect for authority and are in plain sight consuming these illegal narcotics. Drugs is like slowly killing yourself. Drugs kill your brain cells and allow to have slower brain activity. We have a life and we don't know how many years we have left but taking drugs and making that life even shorter is no positive value youth of today have. These drugs are illegal if caught by authorities even a minor can have a criminal record. 

I have no hope in the youth of today because of their negative choices. Negative choices will not get anyone anywhere in life. It is up to the Youth of today to make a good  example for the youth of the next generation.

 

                                                                                     By Veerpal Raina

 

Optimistic Observation

It was grade 10, and towards the end of the school year, my science teacher told me something that really made me open my eyes. He said to me "Elie, you're one of the few students I disliked at the beginning of the year with how much you disrupted the class, but I saw that you grew up and matured and I do believe you changed for the best." This for me was an optimistic view of the youth. How I changed from the loud kid with 60's and finished the course along the smart kids with 87% was enough proof for me. But that was my year and I surely am optimistic about the youth of today.  

Once in a while, I'll see some high school youngsters and I'll think to myself "what a bunch of idiots" and then start to think of myself at their age and to see whether I was as stupid or not. We all have this grand view of ourselves where we only see this good portrait of ourselves until we flip it the other side and see our true signature. And so I realized, "yeah I was as annoying as these kids in the bus, but I changed and I'm sure they will too." Since that moment in 10th grade, I've had a more optimistic view of the youth of today because everyone can change, I did and I was told I'm pretty stubborn. 

Another reason why I view the youth of today in an optimistic way is because of the new technology. Youth have a better grasp at technology then their parents did and with the way technology is going, it seems like we are going to need those skills. After all, it is the youth of today that shape up our tomorrow. 

With technology growing and knowing that youth can change for the best as they mature, I do feel optimistic about the youth of today. 

The Coming Of Angst

A feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general, is how the Oxford dictionary defines angst. In todays world, youth are facing more stressful situation then their parents did, mainly through the education system. With late highschool, college and university the main reasons, I do believe that angst is a defining feature in the coming of age process. 

During highschool, teenagers are growing and are starting to think of their future. With that comes the first step of angst. Teenagers are teenagers and their brain is basically like an omelet. The proper ingredient are in but everything is scrambled together and needs order. In an article written on May 6th 2013 on the Global News website, close to 20% of teens suffer from mental issues such as anxiety, stress and depression. when they finish highschool, many will move on to college and university.

During college and university, youth are starting to have a grasp of what they desire to do in their future, but now they need to battle it out. By battle it out I am talking about the large and strong competition of other students around them competing for the same job. This adds a layer of pressure and anxiety on youth. Not only do they have to worry about themselves, they need to worry about others. This can become a free-for-all or a Battle Royale if I may. To ensure that they can have their wanted position, youth will now cut off some of their regular activities, such as sports, video games, hanging out with friends and going out and place themselves in a little shell to study all they can.

Is angst a defining feature of coming of age, I do believe so. With school, social life and work, the youth of today do get overwhelmed. To conclude, as a student myself, I do feel anxious about my future and sometimes I stress out so much, I just go into this "limp mode" where as much work as I have, I will have no willing power to do any. 

google(lazy teens)

I am pessimistic about youth today because in todays youth there isn’t much hope, Youth today are to lazy and get influenced to easily making it seem impossible for them to accomplish big things in life. It seem to me that as the years moves on we see more and more sources of technology making this generation even more lazy than before the last generation. I don’t want to put the blame on the people inventing the items but mostly on the parents and who ever is getting influenced by those technological inventions causing them to get further away from the real world and making them even lazier to getting up and doing something consecutive with their lives. I also believe that most of the time, that todays youth today are just acting a certain way just because of what they see on television or what they see on social media for example where I live there is a young man that died due to racing, making me ask myself what was he thinking, how and who in the world would influence him to do such a reckless act and causing him his own death, with all do respect my heart goes out to his family, but i found it absolutely absurd, i have my own theory to why he did it and I truly believe that it was to seem cool and not chicken out in front of his friends.
I am going to go  against my own saying, to be honest I can understand a little bit why he would do such a thing, for the thrill of it !! I mean I would probably feel an adrenaline to act stupid and be reckless, it's perfectly normal, acting stupid and not giving a care in the word sometimes it's in our natural humain instincts, we do not always think one or two step ahead and say to ourselves "hey did you know , not only will you die,but  you will cause great grieve to people around you". Another reason to why I am pessimistic about this youth generation is because they take things for granted, like for instance when their parent buy them something, they aren't aware of the price or how many hours they had to work for it but still half the time end up recking it, this is the perfect example of my little cousin who had gotten a gift from her father (an ipod) and ended up getting annoyed since it wasn't the newest version, it is not being reckless but very ungrateful and I believe that unless they feel and see what the adult world has to bring they will still be ignorant and ungrateful. Maybe one day as I myself mature more I will have a different view about my generation but as to now i don't see a bright future ahead hence the fact that seem like they don’t even have any hope for their selfs they are sticking to the drake theory “YOLO” which will get them absolutely no where in life.

Todays' youth, tomorrow's generation.

First, second, third world problems, and all can change with a few steps. Our world has suffered throughout time, and now it fluxuates. Youth have always had the advantage to see diferently from their elders views. During the 60's, which was more than just peace and love movement, everything they've fought for has held to this day. They stood for what was right, and i truly believe that in the 21st century, its youth can, and will define the future. 

Student fee riot in 2012

With science and technology being more advanced than a few decades ago, it's easier to know what's happening, and where it's taking place. Let it be a rave in some abandoned warehouse, or a concert at your favourite club, following up on how the world is functionning is our starting point to create a better world. During the scholarship fee hike back in 2011-2012, youth has marched within downtown Montreal, in order to make a change, and stop the school expences from getting higher. Older people were found marching with them, but the majority were angered youth. The riots may or may not have made a difference, but we wanted education to stay accessible to everyone. It's already difficult enough for those who were living with their parents, not to mention the students who lived on their own and had a steady job to cover a good amount of school expences such as books, and supplies along with their own personal expences and living spaces. Just like the youth who protested vietnam and the race wars, todays' youth are activists because we stand up for what is right for everyone. Not just themselves, because i don't believe that youth are selfish. Materialistic, perhaps, but i see a lot of youth who are against animal crualty, are for a green, eco friendly space. They volunteer, and raise awareness for homeless people, it brings change, although very little in the aspect of the world's demograph, it only takes on day to make eveyrone around realize; although it's not happening directly to them, but it could be someone close to them. 

The first black president knows what's up!!

 Some might be seen mostly out having a good time in bars, a night out on the town, but those same people make a difference everyday. No matter how big or small the outcome is, it's the beginning of a revolution that will define our generation if studied half a century later. I'm pretty optimistic about todays' youth, they have every advances previous generations didn't own. When i put a smile on someones face, it makes a difference for both of us. When we all partake in something we all believe in and fight for it, we make a difference for tomorrow's generation.

Lullabies, Soundtracks and Moments

 

 

1.       Lullabies for Little Criminals – Baby reconciles with Jules (319)

        Louder than words

 

On page 319 in Lullabies for little criminals Baby and Jules rekindle their relationship. At the top of the page Jules admits to his shortcomings as a father and Baby admires him for it.  Relief is given to her because “being apart from him hadn’t been the worst thing; the worst thing had been not knowing if he cared of not”. I chose the song “”Louder Than Words” by Pink Flyod to represent this moment because the song is about the struggles the band went through and the love they will always have for each other  no matter what is said because what we do is louder than words.

 

2.       Lullabies for Little Criminals – Baby and Jules Leave Montreal (321-322)

              The Wolves

The moment Baby gets on the bus is a significant moment because she compares the city of Montreal to “a dirty aquarium”. For this moment I think “The Wolves” by Ben Howard describes the way she is feeling. She is fed up with this town and has been fighting a deadly fight for a long time. The tone of the song also matches well with this moment because it is sad but uplifting towards the end.

 

3.       Lullabies for Little Criminals – Alphonse’s death (307-308)

             My Michelle

“My Michelle” by Guns’N’Roses is about a girl who’s family were drug addicts and unable to look after her. After being on her own for a while, Michelle turns to prostitution and her life enters this downward spiral of unfortunate events. She is constantly looking for love but her circumstances don’t allow her to find it. I think the chaotic tone of this song represents the moment of Baby’s falling out with Xavier on page 307 and the moment of Alphonse’s death on page 308

4.       Lullabies for Little Criminals – “You know what I wish?”  (177)

              Sir Psycho Sexy

When Baby and Alphonse were watching a movie they decided to get stoned and had an interesting dialogue about the movie they were watching, women and family. Alphonse’s foolish happy-go-lucky demeanor about everything they spoke about reminds me of the song “Sir Psycho Sexy” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Especially the moment when he wishes he was “the only man left on the whole planet”.

5.       Lullabies for Little Criminals – Baby’s first kiss with Alphonse (181-182)

              Zealots of Stockholm

The moment Alphonse leaned in to kiss Baby for the first time was and intense one. She compares kissing him to playing Russian roulette and getting the cylinder with the bullet in it. The moment the base drops in “zealots of Stockholm” by Childish Gambino reminds me of the moment she is kissed by Alphonse.

6.       Just Kids –  “ In the spring of 1967 I assessed my life” (22)

              Walk

Patti reassesses her life after putting her child under the protection of a loving and educated family and realising that she can’t afford to continue her studies at the teacher’s college. In this moment Patti thinks about who she would like to become, where she wants to go and what to do next. I think the song “Walk” by the Foo Fighters  fits this moment because it is about learning to go forward after being forced to stop

7.       Just Kids –  “ A tennis player in mourning” (94)

             Bad Reputation

I have chosen “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett to describe the moment she enters the fancy dress ball hosted by Fernando Sánchez. She was offered an elegant dress to wear for the occasion but ends up wearing an all-black leather outfit. I can imagine this song playing the moment she walks through the door because she doesn’t give a damn about what it is she should have been wearing.

8.       Lullabies for Little Criminals – Baby talking about heroin (286-287)

             Golden Brown

When Baby talks about using heroin she describes it as an escape from her reality where things were lovely, new and meaningless. It’s as if she’s mentally teleported to an alternate dimension when her problems and life are irrelevant. The song “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers speaks about heroin in such a light and enjoyable dull fashion that reminds of the way she describes heroin.

9.         Just kids – “just kids” (47)

               Kids

The song “kids” by MGMT reminds of this moment because even though they were just kids, they were also artists in the making. This songs happy tone and its psychedelic vibe represents well this point and time in both their lives. This moment and this song also reminds me of the quote “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up”.

 

10.   The Pied Piper of Tucson –  “Now you’re in this as deep as I am” (9)

             Pyscho Killer

When I first read this excerpt “Psycho Killer” by The Talking Heads played in my mind because of its eerie tone, vibe and of course because the song is about a murderer going around town killing people.

 

 

 

Two Books, Ten Songs!

Photo by Zack Sokol 

1.     Mother – Pink Floyd.

It is heartbreaking to see to what point Baby needs a mother in her life. She lacks of love, care and everything that a mom provides to her child. The lines “Momma, do you think she's {he} good enough, for me? Momma, do you think she's dangerous, to me? Momma, will she tear your little boy apart? Mother, will she break my heart?” represents questions that Baby never could ask to anyone when she met Alphonse. It is sad to know that a mother could have answer all those questions and as the songs says “Mamma's going to check out all your girlfriends for you, and mamma won't let anyone dirty get through. Mamma's going to wait up until you get in” those are crucial things that mothers generally do. Baby did not have any of those. Baby met Alphonse, he pushes her into the world of prostitution and drugs. All these things could have been avoided with the presence of a mother in the house, but with the presence of a responsible father as well.

2.   Mad World  – Gary Jules

“I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take. When people run in circles it's a very mad world” I feel that these words clearly represents the way that Baby feels surrounded by all these negative people.  As readers, we can see that she is brilliant and very optimistic child, but the lack of attention and love is there. The loneliness and sadness is present. She feels helpless seeing the uncontrolled vicious circle of drugs of Jules. At the end of the day, she is too young to express how she feels about this situation or to even fight against this.

3.     Dumb – Nirvana

Taking drugs is a way of coping with the world around her. It is her way of escaping from the fear and uncertainty of her future. Taking drugs is her only way to forget that her body is being sold, and that she is touched by men’s dirty hands every day. She did not chose Alphonse, he chose her. She just accepted everything that came with him because she had no choice. My heart is broke, but I have some glue. Help me inhale, and mend it with you. We'll float around, and hang out on clouds” are the lines of this song that makes me think of Baby trying to cope with all her problems.

4.     NegativeCreep – Nirvana

The lyrics of this song make a global description of the situation of Baby. I associate the lines “This is out of our reach and it's grown. This is getting to be a drone. I'm a negative creep, I'm a negative and I'm stoned” with the situation of both, father and daughter throughout the story and their addiction to drug, the poverty and the unstable life that they got. There is also a part of the song that says “Daddy little girl aint a girl no more” this reminds me of the Baby first sexual encounter with Alphonse, her first time doing drugs and her first time prostituting herself. The song mainly describes the negative points of their life.

 5.     Just Breathe – Pearl Jam

I chose this song because I feel that it goes well with the end of “Lullabies for Little Criminals”.  The rhythm is slow and the tone of the music is pretty down. The line “Stay with me, let’s just breathe” and the chorus of the song “Did I say that I need you? Did I say that I want you? Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see, no one knows this more than me” bring me back to the page 313 of the book, where Baby and Jules meet up after a long while without seeing each other. Jules, not having the words to express his feelings to her daughter, tells her that he worried so much about her that “it’s taken a year off of my {his} life” and also whisper to her an “I love you” which is something that he rarely does. Things in general seem much better for both characters; they are moving away from a place that does not help them go forward in life. Jules also seems to be more aware about Baby’s need of parental figures and at the same time, he is a lot more caring and positive about their future.

6.     Seasonsin the Sun – Nirvana (Lyrics by Terry Jacks)

“Goodbye Michelle, my little one. You gave me love and helped me find the sun, and every time that I was down; you would always come around, and get my feet back on the ground” are the lines that represents for me, Robert’s goodbye to Patti in the book “Just Kids”. These words describe in a very clear but at the same time poetic way the support given by Patti to her trusted friend.  The lyrics of this song are definitely a very special way to say goodbye to a strong and intense friendship as Patti and Robert’s one.

7.     Something – The Beatles

This song makes me think about Robert’s unconditional love towards his life partner Patti. “Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover” are words that make me realize the immense love that he had for her. He was homosexual but there was only one woman who was able to attract him and make him happy as no one else, and that was Patti. Their love was so pure and unique that no one could ever change that. The rhythm and tone of the song go along with the romantic lyrics. The sound of the guitar and the piano makes the song very deep.

8.     Blackbird – The Beatles

Blackbird is for me Patti Smith saying goodbye to Robert. “Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise” the lyrics are powerful and I see it as a very appropriate song for saying goodbye to Robert after all the moment they spent together. It is a sad song but at the same time it shows that the death is something that we got to learn to accept.

 9.    Because the Night  – Patti Smith

“Because the night belongs to lovers, because the night belongs to lust, because the night belongs to lovers, because the night belongs to us” These lyrics make me think about the early days of Robert and Patti. It reminds me of the nights they spent together fooling around, loving each other and creating art. I see the lyrics as something positive and motivational; those are two characteristics they always had with them.

10.  Gravity –  Coldplay

This is a very romantic song and its main instrument is the piano which is accompanied by the singer’s voice. “And then I looked up at the sun and I could see, oh the way that gravity pulls on you and me” are the lines that represents this couple love and mutual support during their personal life and professional career.

Crossroads

This image represents Patti Smiths decision to leave home to go discover herself and become an artist. She realizes in order to be able to practice her artistry she must embark on her own a

Altar Boy

This image represents Robert Mapplethorpe, I feel it greatly captures the juxtaposition between his love for being an alter boy and his mischievous personality. It also shows Mapplethorpes inner turmoil between good and evil.





                                                                                                                                                                 

Joan of Arc

Not only representing the actual statue Patti Smith visits at the beginning of the book, but I feel this image greatly represents Patti as a person. Joan of Arc and Patti Smith both defied traditional norms of womanhood and sought out their own happiness through different mediums.

Bonnie and Clyde

Smith references them in her book, however I also feel these two greatly represent Patti and Robert. Perhaps not great bank robbers who die in a blaze of glory but still a couple with an unbreakable bond and unwavering ambitions.








                                                                                 

Hotel Chelsea

This image represents what I feel was the greatest defining moment in Patti Smiths artistry or even perhaps her life as a whole. Without all the experiences she had while staying at, and associating with the Hotel Chelsea Patti Smith`s life couldve been completely different.

So You Want to Be a Rock`N``Roll Star

This is the song that is shown to Patti Smith and unwakens something dorment inside her. At the time she`s not sure why and only knows she`s intrigued by the music. Subconciously her inner rock star has been awoken and just needs the nurturing that is Hotel Chelsea.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was a very influential figure for Patti Smith, although he does not make an appearance in the book he is mentioned multiple times. It`s evident that Patti draws insperation from him and it can be seen in her artistry throughout the book.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was another influential figure in Patti Smith`s life. Patti actually does get to speak with Jimi, which is mentioned in her book. Unfortunately he dies shortly after their conversation and is not able to create the universal language of music he wished too.

Homeless

  Patti Smith did briefly spend some time homeless, although it was never mentioned very negatively. Robert and Patti were minimalists which allowed them to be optimistic about their living conditions, however finance was still an issue and it certainly had an impact on their lives which is why I chose this image.

Finally a chose this last image of Patti Smith to contrast with what she says at the end of the Hotel Chelsea chapter about those who did not make it. Many fell to drug abuse or got caught up in the party life but Patti succeed. Through a difficult coming of age process of becoming an artist she was the one who prevailed and moved on to achieve many great things.