To discuss how sex and violence in the media influence one's attitudes toward and social conditioning.

OVERVIEW

LEADER PREPARATION

• Record a popular song with violent, sexual lyrics. Edit scenes (from TV shows, music videos, or movies) containing violent scenes that also have sex appeal (such as the girl in a physically vulnerable position before she is gruesomely murdered in the typical slasher movie). Record a scene from a popular television program that depicts teenage sex. Gather sexually arousing magazine ads.
• Investigate the attitudes your kids have toward sex and violence. Find out the most popular music, TV shows, movies, and magazines with the kids in your group. Do you notice things they are not aware of? Do they see things in a different light than you do? Do background work so you can relate effectively to your particular group of kids.
• Set up necessary equipment for use with recorded material.

GROUP BUILDING

• Divide the group into smaller groups and have each come up with a skit that is a spin-off of a popular T.V. show (i.e., "Gloucester, Mass 01930" rather than "Beverly Hills 90210" or "Lifestyles of the Average Middle Class" in place of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous").
• In Christian youth groups, sing familiar worship songs that focus on God's holiness, mercy, and our need for purity, such as "Lord, Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary," and "Create in Me a Clean Heart." This will help put students in the mindset and establish the Scriptural context for the tapes and videos to be presented.

GROUP PRESENTATION

Show the recordings individually and discuss the following:

• For the music recording…
  • What values do the songs promote?
  • How do they compare or contrast to Christian values?
  • What effect do the lyrics and musical style have on the listener?
  • Overall, is the song hurtful to some groups of people? In what ways is it hurtful?
  • What motivation would different people have for listening to this music?

• For the television clip…
  • What values does the show promote?
  • How might a younger sibling be influenced by regularly watching this show?
  • In what ways does the program conflict with Christian values?
  • Can you relate to the characters? How would you feel role playing one of the parts?

• For the movie clip…
  • Is this the type of movie you and your friends enjoy seeing?
  • What has made this movie so popular among teenagers?
  • How are women portrayed in this film?
  • Would this movie have a detrimental effect on some individuals or groups of people?
  • How might the graphic violence influence a younger brother or sister?
  • How do you think Jesus would feel if we saw this type of movie once a week?

• What kinds of violence and sexual explicitness are acceptable in the sight of God? And from this list, how much of it would God appropriately depict on television, in movies, and in music?
• To what extent should one be exposed to or protected from the types of popular media we just listened to and watched?

WRAP-UP

• Note examples of sex and violence as presented in the Bible.
• Talk about the casual attitudes that popular culture has toward sex and violence.
• With the prevalence of sex and violence in the media, we become desensitized and conditioned to accept these behaviors.
• Discuss ways to become more influenced by God and less influenced by the media.

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

• Encourage the kids to keep track of how many hours they watch television and listen to music and compare this to the amount of time they spend alone with God, serving the community of believers, and reaching out to the lost.
• Help youth to better understand their culture by having them rate their favorite movies, television programs, and music according to God's standards. Have them track the amount of violence and sexual explicitness that is offered through media. Compare results and then discuss how the culture is a constructive or destructive influence.
• Do something about the really harmful material. Write letters to any shows or companies associated with objectional material.
• Get in touch with a national organization, such as the National Federation for Decency or the National Coalition on Television Violence, to find out what you can do to help them influence the mass media.
• Appeal to political leaders for specific obscenity laws.

IMPLICATIONS

• Sex and violence in the media are prevalent in youth culture today.
• Kids are influenced by their peers and their peers are influenced by the media. Therefore, the media is influential in socializing today's youth.
• Youth leaders and educators should teach kids values and socialize them to higher standards than those promoted in the media. Seek creative ways to teach important lessons and reinforce positive values.
• Ask questions about the values presented by the media, and help kids assess the influence of the media in their lives.

Janna L. Meyer cCYS