The Chainlink

Does Rebecca Black's "Friday" video send the wrong message to teens about Car Culture?

Folks,

I've just spent the evening learning the song "Friday" by 13-year-old Internet sensation Rebecca Black: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0

I'll be performing "Friday" this Friday, 4/1, at 7:30 pm at a benefit for Darwin Elementary School at Quencher's Saloon, 2401 N. Western, with fellow Chainlinker Aaron Busse joining me on vocals.

While I applaud the themes of friendship, inclusiveness and positivity expressed in Ms. Black's lyrics and video, I'm troubled by strong pro-car, anti-safety images in the video:

- At the beginning of the video Black is waiting for the school bus. When a convertible, dangerously overcrowded with teens, pulls up, she eschews public transit for the private automobile. The tacit message is the car is a "cooler" way to get to school.

- In the second verse Black is now standing on the back seat of another moving convertible, flanked by two female friends. We now see the driver, a teenage girl who is obviously not old enough to drive legally.

- During the rap interlude, the rapper, who pilots yet another convertible while he raps (at least he seems to be much older than 16), expresses road rage about being passed by a school bus.

- Finally, in the climactic party scene the notion that we are at a swinging party is indicated by a row of four convertibles parked in front of the mansion with headlights blazing. Certainly not my idea of "fun, fun, fun, fun."

In this song, Ms. Black's musical dilemma is not whether to get into a car but how: "Kickin' in the front seat / Sittin' in the back seat / Gotta make my mind up/ Which seat can I take?" The seat she should have taken is a bicycle seat.

What are your thoughts on this? No cyber-bullying, please.

- John Greenfield

 

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Permalink Reply by Glenn on March 29, 2011 at 3:27am

Hmmmm. I remember that age. I personally would have hands down picked the car filled with my friends then the school bus, which was usually less then pleasant for me and a few others I knew. I dont think it was saying the car was cooler then the bus but a private vehicle for you and your friends then the school bus.

As for their idea of fun though not yours and not mine, I can see how kids would associate that with fun. No ok I lie; Id love to hang out at a mansion. Darn you mother culture, I blame you! ;-)

 

I think a good solution is to think of a positive and "fun" alternative and make a youtube music video about it. Can we say viral :D I do know how ever that its usually not a great move to argue with teens about anything. better to persuade them by showing them something cooler.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on March 29, 2011 at 7:23am

That video is the least of the problem; pop culture is full of the exact same images and sends that exact same messages you are worried about in that video, and have for years.

 

Culturally we are auto-centric and our media and culture broadcast that fact which helps to ingrain that part of the culture into kids creating a never ending cycle.  It's not just cars, we are addicted to having more than the previous generation and it is only going to get worse.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 29, 2011 at 7:48am

It's a music video in the "cut your own record" venue.  It doesn't have a message.

 

It is a product of the culture that created it.  The issues you pointed out are not the message but merely the commonly held beliefs of the soceity it exists within.  

 

Sit and wait forever for the stinking diesel smoke-belching bouncy noisy bus with a bunch of poorly-supervised bullies holding court amongst the piss-smelling interior -or hop a quick and convenient ride with her friends in a stylish convertible?

 

It's not a hard decision...

Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on March 29, 2011 at 9:40am

Glen, you're right. The best response would be to fight fire with fire by creating a bike-centric version of the video that shows kids how much cooler it is to get to school and parties on two wheels. "Bike Friday," if you will. If anyone wants to offer their videography skillz, perhaps we could tape this at Saturday's Kidical Mass. I'd be glad to sing it and play guitar. I can just imagine myself singing "Partyin', partyin'" with a crowd of super-cool tweens behind me on bikes responding "Yeah!"

The ride leaves this Saturday at 11 am from Clarendon Park, 4501 N. Clarendon in Lincoln Square. If anyone wants to film this, I think I'll ask the organizers about performing the song there. I'll post the video on YouTube and maybe it will go viral!

Let me know if you have a video camera.

"Gotta make my mind up, which bike should I ride?"

- John Greenfield

 

 

Permalink Reply by Davo on March 29, 2011 at 10:06am

Why wont anyone let this "song" die! I think that is the real problem here. I heard it on NPR, I saw it on TV, who knows how many people posted it on Facebook, I even read a really shitty article about it in a newspaper. Maybe the real problem is that people are paying attention to it. Remember that Simpsons episode where all the billboards came to life and the only way to "kill" them was to ignore them. This is what we should do about the "Friday" video. If you want to promote bike culture, great. Putting any energy into fighting teen car culture based on a crappy song and video is a massive waste of time. PLEASE LET THIS DIE.

 

just don't look

just don't look 

Permalink Reply by Davo on March 29, 2011 at 10:08am
Oh and yes please everyone add more views to the you-tube video. That sure is helping the cause. If you have seen it, once is all you need. If you haven't, DONT!
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on March 29, 2011 at 10:08am

I'm pretty sure the only people watching this video are snarky hipsters who can't believe this girl's parents allowed this to happen. I like the original Dylan version, though.

Permalink Reply by Davo on March 29, 2011 at 10:18am

Thanks Dr Doom:

I guess you've found one good thing in a parody of a crappy song. Im not as angry now

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 29, 2011 at 10:28am
Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on March 29, 2011 at 10:36am

James,

 

Nice graphic design work, but that image is a little disturbing.

Could you do a version replacing the saddles with bicycles, the most prominent

one being a Bike Friday?

 

Thanks!

 

John Greenfield

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 29, 2011 at 11:07am

Any graphic with Reba Black on it is disturbing.  But I purposely made it kind of creepy with the bike seat thief angle somewhat of an undercurrent to juxtapose against the home-spun tweeniebopper whitebread Rebecca Black straightlaced image.

 

It makes me laugh on many levels -which all good macros should do.

Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on March 29, 2011 at 11:15am

Be sure to include an anthropomorphic dog wearing sunglasses and a motorcycle jacket.

 

John Greenfield said:

Glen, you're right. The best response would be to fight fire with fire by creating a bike-centric version of the video that shows kids how much cooler it is to get to school and parties on two wheels.

 

 

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