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Differences in Culture
By: Bailey Susic
Posted July 2007

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Bailey Susic Differences in Culture Elvis MaryElise

"Children and young adults are constantly being plagued with messages of social edict. Yet, these messages are not ones of positive social reinforcement. "

Often times you may hear people complain about the Culture
“now-a-days.” If you are anything like me, you may roll your eyes and think that person is being a little over dramatic. However, when you stop to think about it, all those people are precisely correct. I was watching television recently and a group of four men were suppose to represent the Rat Pack. As they sung “Luck be a Lady”, I thought how different our music has become, better yet how different our culture has become. Elvis was a deviant for rolling his hips but 57 years later the men and women rapping about b*tches and hoes are idealized.

This manifestation can be considered quite disconcerting when you think about how our generations are affected by its presence. Children and young adults are constantly being plagued with messages of social edict. Yet, these messages are not ones of positive social reinforcement. Young women are being over sexualized and taught that emaciation is the new south beach diet. Young men are given role models of sport players but then told to stop snitching to the police.

I’m sure in every generation there is a new battle to fight and an original fracas to encounter but it seems different now. I once learned in biology class why it is so hard for scientists to find a cure for the common cold. Apparently, the strain is able to mutate so quickly so as soon as a treatment is composed, the virus has changed its make-up. I feel Culture has the same composition. Once our social scientists start to peel back the layers on why a social phenomenon is occurring, we seem to be onto the next one. When I was growing up, obsessive-compulsive disorder was front-page news. Then in high school it appeared like most of my classmates were suffering from depression (because growing up in homogeneous middle class suburbia was tough), and as I was finishing college any child with a couple ounces of energy had to be medicated for attention deficient hyperactive disorder.

The question is what is next? Our society is filled with drugs, crime, sex, and innovative new ailments (seriously, restless leg syndrome?). How could it possibly be worse, but isn’t that what each generation says? “I believe we have seen it all.” And what do we do about it? It's as though we need drugs, crime, sex, and disease. Our society is fueled off of drugs and crime. Think of how many jobs would be in jeopardy if Martin O’Malley (Current Governor of Maryland) actually succeeded in bringing down the violent crime statistics in Baltimore. Sex funds almost our entire entertainment and commercial industry. I’m not sure how a woman with noticeably large breasts has anything to do with selling a Ford. Nevertheless, the advertising crews have done their jobs as this article is discussing their efforts. As for disease and whatever category restless leg syndrome would fall under, a large portion of our government and private industries specialize in just that product.

Despite all the serious issues mentioned above, we are also entertained by our Culture and everything that comes with it. In college it use to make me laugh that President Bush was unable to pronounce nuclear. It's interesting that anyone would allow 80’s fashion to re-surface freely. Let’s face it; stretch pants do not look good on most people.

Thankfully, Culture has progressed throughout the decades. In the past fifty years we have seen a much-needed change in racist and prejudice attitudes towards the black culture. Although it took until 1993 to allow women into the Citadel, it still happened. There are many unpleasant cultural evolutions people have to endure but positive ones will come as well. If it wasn't for that 80's fashion flashback, I wouldn't be sporting my cute, comfortable flats, adios stilettos!