Emo Subculture free essay sample

This lasted until the early essays when the bases turned to (some say) over-the-top emphasis on self expression and negative annotations were implied; emotion and sadness thus stereotyping the word we so often hear today. With this derogatory, implications followed. Memos began to be marginality due to their style and beliefs. As certain fashion trends and attitudes began to be associated with Memo, heavy criticism fell upon those who followed the music genre and now confusion exists between those who follow the Memo music genre or the Memo sub-culture.The first text piece titled The Memo Subculture broadcasted on Today Tonight warns parents about the phenomenon which is causing depression, self- mutilation and suicide. It asks parents to look out for common signs of Memo and seek help, pressing upon the ideology that this group is a sinister addition to teenage subculture, and should be shunned upon. Psychologist Evelyn Field states Memo is really about being emotionally depressed and talking about your depression and showing your depression, even using the black eyeliner. Its really about life is not worth living. She warns that parents keep a close eye on their teenagers. Watching Internet use, looking at sites they visit as many sites have been established to support and show teenagers how to become Memo. This positions the viewers (generally adults/parents) to see view negatively upon their childrens lifestyle and provoking intrusion into their personal lifes. Chris Simons quotes They need to look at the clothes theyre wearing; they need to look at who they associate with.Are they associating with kids who enjoy life and doing the nice things young people do? Or are they associating with young people who say life is bad and I cant handle it? She also suggests looking at the way their children dress and act for possible signs. Her ideology towards this is negative. The way the article dresses the issue is more focused towards parents. Suggesting they watch their teenager and look out for signs of Memo requesting them to seek counseling or help if their children show these signs.The views against this sub-culture position the reader to see this group negatively. This report on Today Tonight heavily positions readers against Memos, Are they happy or sour, depressed, miserable, feeling hopeless, life is not worth living? This then shows up in our teenage society. The shuns put out by media affect the way we look at Memos and have gradually changed peoples opinions from oversees of a music genre to depressed self-mutilating teenagers. This is a common misconception between the two types.But this media article heavily mineralizes teenagers leaving gaps and silences. Lindsay Tanner a Labor finance spokesman and federal member for Melbourne also writes about the ongoing popularity of this subculture. Evidently Lindsay shares the same opinions and beliefs as the Today Tonight article. The text begins with YOU might not have heard of Memos. Neither had until two teenage girls from Melbourne outer east committed suicide, which immediately positions the deader against Memos and creates a negative ideology into the readers mind.Further into the text Lindsay Tanner compares the generation gap between her and teens of today stating that her generation of peace, love and universal happiness is much different to the generation of today where she connects Memos and the darker side: Suicide. The article focuses mainly on the links be;men Memos and bullying. Bullied kids tend to choose this odd subculture and exclude them self from others. The article remains bias throughout, again marginality the views of teenagers, people who are Memo, and the parents. Lindsay states in the text piece If youre beautiful, brainy, wealthy or sporty, youre probably K.If youre just an Ordinary kid, not outstanding at anything, the world can be a pretty unpleasant place. Putting in place the ideology that if your not beautiful, brainy, wealth or sporty then you dont have a place in society or are more acceptable to become memo. She backs this up with further statements such as In the old world, teenagers who werent academic stars were already in the workforce and earning respect Kids who feel inadequate can become bullies, or get lulled. For those who are bullied, their feelings of inadequacy are entrenched by regular humiliation. Portraying Memos as generally bullied, non academic teenagers who seek to individualism and remove them self from contemporary society. Written text 1 The Memo subculture ; Reporter: Chris Simons ; Broadcast Date: April 23, 2007 Parents are being warned of a subculture called Memo that may be linked with depression and even talk of suicide. Counseling is available for children. Recent news stories have drawn accusatory attention to a subculture known as Memo. The movement can involve talking about self doubt and issues of being in pain and not understanding the way the world is.Self-hurt and self- mutilation is part of an understanding that this is going to lead maybe at the extreme level to suicide. Short for emotional, the term Memo was first used to describe a genre Of rock music. Later, it became a slang term applying to a fashion style, consisting of tight black jeans, black t-shirts, jet black hair and eyeliner. But recently, Memos have gained a more sinister reputation, with depression, self-mutilation and suicide all associated with the group. John Swartz is a pop culture expert from Sinecure University. Theyre not extroverts, theyre introverted people, Mr. .Swartz said. Certainly, I think theres a certain amount of pain they do feel and sometimes that does manifest with cutting themselves, burning themselves. A bit of self-pain infliction is what happens with these people that this is the way they cope with it all While he says teenage Memos are often struggling to deal with the pressures of growing up, blaming the subculture for deaths is going too far. l think it is an overreaction, I dont think you can put any blame on a event, on a particular kind of music or style, or even fashion statement, Mr.. Swartz said. These musical styles and fashion statements have been going on for decades. Psychologist Evelyn Field is so concerned about the rise of the Memo subculture, she urges parents to seek professional help if their child falls into it. It seems to me that the Memo culture is about blackness and doom and gloom and sadness and not feeling good, not feeling accepted and feeling down about life, Ms Field said. Memo is really about being emotionally depressed and talking about your depression and showing your oppression, even using the black eyeliner. Its really about life is not worth living. Evelyn said it was particularly important parents kept a close eye on their teenagers Internet use, considering websites have been established to teach teens how to become Memos. Parents need to look at how their children are presenting, Ms Field said. Are they happy or sour, depressed, miserable, feeling hopeless, life is not worth living? They need to look at the clothes theyre wearing; they need to look at who they associate with. Are they do? Or are they associating with young people who say life is bad and I cant Andre it? Source: http://AU. Dayton eight. Yahoo. Com/article/39113/epistyle/memo- subculture Written text 2 BY Lindsay Tanneries 12, 2007 oh:moa YOU might not have heard of Memos. Neither had I until two teenage girls from Melbourne outer east committed suicide. Some people blamed the Memo culture. Memos belong to a distinct youth subculture that emerged from the music and fashion of the Goth and punk culture in the asses. Memo is short for emotional. It now seems to reflect quite a bit more than just particular music and fashion styles. Memos are supposedly sensitive, introverted and alienated.Some claim that the Memo subculture celebrates self-harm and glorifies suicide. Certainly a casual wander through an Memo website can be a little confronting. Youll find plenty of comments like l hate everything and people suck. How worried should we be about this? Frankly, Im not sure. Weve seen plenty of strange youth subcultures come and go over the years. My generation got off on flower power, peace, love and universal happiness and we seem to have survived. Im reluctant to get too agitated about a particular subculture, even if some connect it with teenage suicides.Its hard o know whether that link exists anyway. Theres another angle to this issue that does trouble me though. Memos sound a lot like kids who typically get bullied and excluded by other kids. And bullying is something I do feel strongly about. Kids choosing an odd subculture just to be different is one thing, but if its an escape from an unhappy world of bullying and humiliation its an entirely different matter. Im not really in a position to know, but I cant help wondering. Theres nothing new about bullying. But the social context in which todays kids grow up is very different from when went to school.If youre beautiful, brainy, wealthy or sporty, youre probably K. If youre just an ordinary kid, not outstanding at anything, the world can be a pretty unpleasant place. We all need to be needed. Recognition of the contribution We each make is a crucial part Of our individual wellbeing. In the old world, teenagers who werent academic stars were already in the workforce and earning respect. Childhood lasts a lot longer these days. Without the innate dignity that attaches to adult things, such as full-time work and raising a family, it can be pretty lonely for many teenagers.The exaggerated value our society places on individual success can have a demoralizing effect on many young people. Kids who feel inadequate can become bullies, or get bullied. For those who are bullied, their feelings of inadequacy are entrenched by regular humiliation. Some cope, some adjust, some recover. But for some kids the results can be permanent, even fatal. To counteract their own insecurities, bullies home in on the weaknesses of their victims. Schools try harder to stamp out bullying now, but its very hard to police. Im in favor of zero tolerance, but I realize schools cant do everything.Parents should take more responsibility for their kids behavior. We all need to pay more attention to kids, to protect them from bullying and prevent them from becoming bullies. They all deserve a reasonable start in life. Lindsay Tanner is Labor finance spokesman and federal member for Melbourne.