What’s Up: Opinion

WHAT’S UP // OPINION “When I Was Your Age...”

TEEN CULTURE IS AN ENDLESS CYCLE

By Brynna Gritter “W “When I was your age...” Every teen has heard these words, usually followed by scolding for spending too much time “on those darn phones.” Most of us just roll our eyes and carry on, chuckling to ourselves about the crazy teen years our parents reminisce about. All we know is the present, our own teen years well into the Age of the Internet, where online friendships have become commonplace, while many iconic experiences of older generations’ teen years seem to have faded into the past. Though much has changed, just as much has also lived on, with a present-day twist. Where teens once bonded over records and stayed up late to record their favorite songs off the radio, now music plays just as important a role in our teenage self-discovery, with new musical developments like Spotify and Apple Music allowing us to listen to hundreds of songs and giving small artists the chance to be heard like never before. Not only are we just as soundwave-obsessed as our parents’ generations were, but many of the classic songs we shout at football games and assemblies are the very same ones people bought records of and memorized the words to all those years ago. “Classic Rock” has become a genre of its own, and most teens know the words to a frightening number of songs years before our time. “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” anybody? You might laugh at the thought of your nerdy parents spending their allowance at the arcade, blasting aliens and dodging little pixelated

rocks, but look around in any class and you’ll be sure to catch a glimpse of a blocky, neon snake making its way across a screen. Many of us have grown up with our own arcade-like fun, just in the form of Papa’s Pizzeria and Fireboy and Watergirl. One of the most obvious lasting throwbacks in every era is the fashion. Flannels, high-waisted jeans, and leather jackets are back in style, trending as if they’d never gone away. Walking down a high school hallway today might look surprisingly similar to strolling down one in the 80’s. Our teenage years might seem incomparable to the teenhoods of last century’s generations, and in some ways, they are. A combination of COVID-19, climate change, political chaos, and general uncertainty has made for an unfairly scary future for us. It may seem—understandably so—that adults have no idea what our lives are like and couldn’t Art by Harvest Buchanan possibly relate. However, every generation has its struggles, uncertain times, social revelations, and past generations have had threats of war and chaos that made the future seem shaky before. Many parts of the teen experience are almost exactly the same in concept, even if the mechanics are a little different. While we are experiencing turmoil never seen before, much of our treasured teen culture is not so different from even 50 years ago. We thought we’d escaped the 80’s, but little did we know they were lurking around the corner, still existing in our current music, games, fashion, and culture. The past is always closer than you’d think.

Hot Takes:

Mothers’ Day Edition

Mothers’ Day; a holiday of flowers, tea, and scones to celebrate dear old mom. Sweet and all that, but how does it stack up with Fathers’ Day, creeping up only a little over a month away? What about a Child’s Day?

Hailey Wadlington Senior

“I think that Mother’s Day is not just about people who gave birth to and raiseed kids. It’s about people who help others.”

Ryen Goodman Sophomore

“My mom pushed me out of her vagina, so Mother’s Day is probably more important than Father’s Day.”

Victoria Kacouros-Perkins Junior

“Like all of the other holidays are specifically targeted towards children, So I feel like we get enough.”

Again and Again

REWATCHING FAVORITE TV SHOWS IS BENEFICIAL

By Mollie Brown

It is a psychological necessity for humans to feel in control of their lives. This is why children argue with their parents, and why people fear change or strive for perfection. It may also be the reason you’ve rewatched that one show five times. Uncertainty is scary—and making choices that are safe and familiar can be comforting. When life is a hectic mess filled with a lack of control that has only been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard for the brain to process more information. This is why over quarantine, many chose to rewatch their favorite shows, such as Friends, Grey’s Anatomy, or The Office. In fact, a 2020 study done by Billboard and MCR Data concluded that 54% of participants had recently rewatched episodes of an old favorite TV show. Rewatching a show that evokes positive emotions gives the viewer a sense of emotional control and normalcy. When stressful climates may seem unavoidable, this can improve moods and become a form of escapism from daily life, which can be an effective stress reliever — especially when conditions are emotionally and physically taxing. This is why it is so important for people to, at least occasionally, rewatch the things they love. It can provide a necessary break for the brain, without taking the time to pick a brand new show or focus on a complicated plot. Some may argue that rewatching shows is counterproductive, as many shows tend to romanticize past decades. For example, Krystine Batcho, PhD professor of psychology said, “One individual might be nostalgic for that time, but they’re not thinking about things like racism or discrimination or even conflict”. One might be nostalgic for the picture of the 50s painted by Leave it To Beaver, failing to recognize the blatant problems that should be associated with that decade. However, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology says that “nostalgia serves an existential function by bolstering a sense of meaning in life.” Turning back to old favorites can be nostalgic in a positive way, allowing people to recall a more hopeful time in their lives. It is key to remembering what is important, and watching a show that allows the viewer to reminisce over past experiences can be a reminder of these priorities. By reflecting on positive memories of the past, many individuals can be inspired to seek positive change in their lives, as they might rethink their motivations. Life is demanding, and finding a place of emotional security can be crucial. That is why everyone should take the time to rewatch a show that makes them feel safe, even if it may be for the fifth time.