Evolving Culture

I’ve recently started noticing commercials on television warning parents and children against the consequences of “sexting.” At first I was shocked that there is a need for these types of warnings, but after thinking about the culture kids are exposed to daily it’s no surprise “sexting” has turned into an issue. Popular culture today has evolved into a high sexualized culture. Compare 1950's celebrities to our celebrities and it's easy to see how far culture has gone. Whether this is good, bad or irrelevant is a personal opinion.

Disney channel starlets have started appearing in tabloids and gossip sites around the country. The teenage actors that young children look up to can be found on the cover of US Weekly scantily clad and dancing on stripper poles. Yes, I am talking about Miley Cyrus. The young Ms. Cyrus recently got a new tattoo and has a much older boyfriend. Another example is Disney Channel’s Vanessa Hudgens, who was the female lead in High School Music. She has had not just one, but two pornographic photo scandals. Photos she took of herself posing nude were leaked onto the internet months later. Lindsay Lohan is a former Disney Channel star, as well as a tabloid favorite. Whether it’s her lack of sobriety, sexual promiscuity or her newest relationship drama, there is undoubtedly a scandal occurring at some point in her life.

Has our culture become so desensitized to sex that even our children are no longer innocent? And who should be responsible for sensoring children from sexualized culture? These are questions that can be argued from both perspectives. Celebrities will argue that it is the parents’ duty to shield their children from the evils of the world and parents will argue that it is almost impossible to do that when information is so widely available.

Throughout the past few weeks we have discussed American culture’s obsession with celebrities. By becoming a celebrity and placing yourself into the cultural spotlight, one should be prepared to be held up to a higher standard. Children look up to their favorite actress, singer or sports star and always have. What has changed is the increase in celebrities behaving badly. Compare Annette Funicello, an original mouseketeer who’s most outrageous move was wearing a two-piece bathing suit in a beach film, to exhibitionist Vanessa Hudgens. Compare Joe DiMaggio to gun enthusiast Gilbert Arenas. Look at Hayley Mills, the original star of The Parent Trap, next to Lindsay Lohan. Popular culture will continue to evolve, and the children exposed to that popular culture will evolve with that popular culture. Should parents allow their children to be desensitized or try to shield their innocence for as long as possible?