Disclaimer: Mature themes and explicit language are found in the links on this page.
There’s two music videos that my youth have shown me in the past few months that require a mature appreciation and a willingness to allow secular society to engage religious themes. Are they appropriate for Sunday morning worship? Er, no. But for a smaller study or youth group, I think they both work well. And the fact that my youth found meaning in them enough to tell their pastor about them is impressive.
First, P!NK has a new music video out “F*ing Perfect” that traces a youth’s struggles with identity and self-worth in a world that doesn’t seem to allow her to express herself and thus she expresses herself in increasingly dangerous and self-destructive ways. She has a blog post about the themes and links to TWLOHA. The following is the CLEAN version of the video (the NSFW version has f*bombs, drugs, a truly unnecessary sex scene, and significantly more blood in the bathtub scene).
This video includes suicide, bullying, shoplifting, graffiti, parental conflict, and cutting. [video link]
Second, Katy Perry has a video “Firework” about finding the spark in individuals. It involves characters growing to see their self-worth as more than external but is internal as well. It is lighter than P!NK’s video but it does glorify the more risky parts of teenagerhood (partying, raves, etc) rather than critique them.
This video includes domestic violence, dancing bikini-clad teens, and drinking. It includes a same-sex relationship but that is not a “warning” just an FYI. [video link]
Are there problems with these videos? Absolutely. For one, P!NK places the woman’s value on her artistic ability. Perry does not deal with the consequences of the brother standing up to domestic violence. But if we shy away from culture then we do not engage the themes and allow only secular society to dictate what they mean.
It’s one thing to see these videos as affirmation of self-worth. But if that’s where we allow the lesson to stand and do not engage or watch the videos, we miss out on the opportunity to show that self-worth is a gift by God. There’s a second level that we can take secular lessons that both affirm the message but show a deeper reflection that one might have missed otherwise.
Both of these can resonate with many texts about self-worth, created in the image of God, finding one’s place in a community, and many other student-age themes. Themes that reach deeper than the secular ones and use the videos as a jumping-off point to the biblical narratives rather than as revelers of surface-level truth. With some preparations and thoughtful connections, I believe you can make a good lesson out of either or both of these videos.
Thoughts?
The second video wasn’t as impressive. Fireworks burn out, and only bring attention to themselves. Still, I can see where the song could help spark some great conversation (lame pun intended).
My allergies kicked in while watching the first video. The teddy bear in the bathroom did it! So many parents want what is best for their children. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that means following prescribed measures. Finding who God is creating us to be is a most rewarding task. We can get in the way of so many people finding that out. That applies to me as a parent, and even as a pastor.
Thanks for sharing the videos. Stay blessed…john
Neither video was really what I expected! Hm. I didn’t think Firework really glorified the partying; it was just there. Certainly you could have a discussion about whether the video is really saying it’s a great idea to strip down to your underwear and go swimming…or something else. 🙂
I’m not sure what I think about the Pink video. I felt like *that* one sort of glorified teenage rebellion stuff — it’s OK to do this stuff, you’re still perfect. I don’t know. For instance, we see the girl and her mom getting into it, and the implication in the video is that mom was being to harsh to her daughter — but daughter was yelling and shoving, too. We don’t see what precipitated that. So I have questions about that.
i’m a fan of the fireworks video. i think it connects with teen a WHOLE LOT
Thanks for pointing these out! The P!nk video will be perfect for next month when I speak to our MOPS (mothers of pre-schoolers) about “sculpting a better image – the art and science of mothering” – I also plan to use that Dove “evolution” video but I like that this goes beyond physical appearance and includes grades, etc.
I know the bit at the end is going to grab a few of them because they really want their kids to avoid the pain they felt with image, etc.
I admit I do hate that it wraps up so neatly that as soon as you figure out your own worth it will be recognized by the (art) world and suddenly a man appears to make your life complete (when it was so empty at the beginning by not having anyone in her bed) and then you have a little girl of your own. But, that is typically how the “happy ending” fairy tales go…
>>but it does glorify the more risky parts of teenagerhood (partying, raves, etc) rather than critique them.
Sure is a good thing there isn’t any dancing in scripture.
Does every “biblical” lesson have to be overtly Biblical?
For example, the group Superchick does an incredible job of celebrating God and biblical values and helping teens (and grownups) with life’s challenges, but in many of their songs, the references to God are limited or, in some, non-existent. (Listen to the song linker below – I believe it teaches Christian values and doesn’t mention Christ or God or theology once.)
I think that incessantly bringing up the “God part” in every breath can be counter-productive and that it can drive people away from Christianity and from even hearing the Christian message.
I like to paraphrase St Assissi: “Preach the Gospel at all times and only when necessary use words.”
I’m thinking perhaps we should teach the kids in our groups to show their inner light in the middle of the raves and dances and in everyday life without the Jesus billboard, folks will be naturally attracted to them and then they can start to show the doctrines that they adhere to.
The Perry vid didn’t show the consequences of the kid interceding in the abuse of his mother? Sorry, but B*D. To me, that looks like a complaint in search of something to complain about. (I do that too, and I’m not proud of that aspect of my life.)
It’s a music video, not a term paper or sermon or a “sit down – we’ve gotta have a talk” moment.* When we tell our kids to stand up to bullies and stand up for the bullied, do we tell ’em every time about the consequences?
Or do we teach the God value of being a hero?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbmoyjhGay4
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Did anyone ever, in the history of the world, feel open and receptive when told “sit down – we’ve gotta have a talk”?