N I o s v s 2 e u newsletter 0 1 m e 2

6 b 0 e Youth Culture r Handling Transitions at ever greater speeds. You Why They Quit must instantly discern the One of the most challenging According to several surveys, a differences between knives, aspects of modern adolescence high percentage of youth who food, bullets, gold, books, cow is handling change. were active members of a dung and true love, and handle Christian youth group and went Of course handling change has them all correctly. Keeping from to church on Sundays stop at- always been a problem. Even being overwhelmed when life is tending church altogether in the Aristotle had to go through fast paced, disconnected, and first few weeks of college. Why? puberty, and I doubt he would ever changing, is not easy. have wanted to do that twice. The main reason they discontinue A stable set of relationships with involvement in their faith is not a But as a young man he didn't family and friends is an immense have to handle as much change. change of beliefs. It is failing to help for young adults – so is a handle the transition well. He didn't need to learn to drive, stable moral culture. They are write checks, handle the media ballast for the "youth ship" as it At home they probably went to or deal with many conflicting crosses the turbulent sea of church with their family. They attended youth group with their world views as modern teens do. growing up in the postmodern friends. They experienced Today change happens to young world. belonging – belonging to the people repeatedly and rapidly. It is another reason for building body of Christ. Drop a bunch of dinner, cleaning the bathroom, Life resembles a Tetris-like video long term, transgenerational, individuals onto a college exercise, as well as church and game that throws things at you, Christian communities. campus and the odds are that youth group attendance. Many of they won't land in a network of these things simply don't get people at all like the one they built back into their schedule. left. This is often unintentional – it You can't Most youth are won At home they certainly knew just happens. It happens because jump a ten where their church was. the former supportive systems or lost during Suddenly, they don't, or if they foot chasm in and relationships are taken transitions on their do, they may not have ride. away. two jumps of way to adult five feet! At home youth group night was The ceasing of church attend- Christianity. built into their schedule. Going ance is unquestionably an issue to college clears the slate of among college students, but the scheduled activities. Many things reality is that teens leave church that had been built into life just when they leave home, not drop away: family chats over when they arrive on campus. Second, the language issue has changed. World Number One Music has always been an international What is number one (#1) pop song in the language. This is not the first time people world this week? It has reached the top spot have said, "I can't understand the lyrics." in 33 countries including: Australia, New What has changed is that video makes Zealand, Austria, France, Belgium, Czech understanding the lyrics less necessary than Republic, Germany, Norway, the U.K. and ever. Meaning is visual. And now via the Canada. (It is currently #2 in the U.S.) internet, YouTube, makes the visual viral. What famous name is behind it? Hint: it's not an American or English musician. What is the song? 강남스타일. The title in English is Oppa Gangnam Style (but it sounds more like: opa kongnam sty.) The song has a catchy disco beat and mixes Korean with a few English phrases. Gangnam Style is sung and the video is performed by South Korean rapper PSY. The phrase – Gangnam Style – refers to a lifestyle associated with the miss A Gangnam district of Seoul. miss A The song was released on July 15, 2012. It Why is this significant for youth culture? debuted at number one on the national First, the song became an international hit music chart of South Korea. only because The music video features PSY's seemingly of YouTube. awkward dance moves. It began going viral The main path- Third, viral video could threaten the British/ in August 2012. It now has over one half- way to #1 sta- American domination over pop music. The billion plays on YouTube making it the third tus is no longer Korean pop music scene (K-pop) is one to the number of most popular video ever. watch. miss A (backed by JYP Entertainment) plays on radio Gangnam Style is now a nominee for best is trying to become a breakthrough group. stations. Youth video at MTV's European Music Awards. On get their music Their song, I Don't Need a Man, debuted at #4 September 20, 2012, Gangnam Style became online – in Korea this week. The lyrics are also an the most "liked" video in YouTube history. especially from English/Korean mash-up. The music video has spawned parodies all YouTube. The point? Technological media are once over the internet. Several of them have millions of hits themselves, including the (The first You- again changing the way youth culture is parodies by the University of Oregon's Tube launched delivered. The transistor radio made it mascot (a duck), the midshipmen from the music career possible to get music cheap. YouTube is U.S. Naval Academy, and the North Korean was Justin making youth music and youth culture free, government. Bieber's.) international and viral. Change happens!