How to Become a Media Expert | Part 3

Now that I (hopefully) made the case in Part 2 for the importance of being informed and up-to-date about pop culture, time for the practical stuff! 

Let’s face it: We’re all ridiculously busy. The last thing any of us want to add to our already crazy days is “Fill my mind with filth.” I get it. As I said before, I don’t enjoy being well-informed about this . . . well . . . junk. But no matter where we live or what sub-cultures we’re part of, we must be informed, for the sake of those who can’t (or won’t or don’t) yet translate a well-made, flashy music video into the dangerous ideas it espouses.

So where in the world do we start?! Luckily for us, the same technologies and platforms that make it easy for students to keep up-to-date with the latest trends are also available to us. Work = done. Someone’s already done it for us! Even for those who aren’t very technologically savvy, it’s a piece of cake. If you know how to use a web browser and iTunes, you’re set. (If you don’t, that’s ok, too. They’re easy to use. I will help. Anyone born after the year 1980 can help as well.)

Also, I believe that to get started, you only need to get acquainted with two categories: Movies/TV and Music. Yep, I said only two categories. Sure, pop culture has many more parts besides just those two, but in my experience, movies/TV and music are the most influential. (If you have a gamer in the family, then you’ll need to check three categories.) So let’s start with Movies/TV.

I grouped the two together because they are experienced through screens, story-based, and lengthy. Watching an entire season of a TV show requires way more time than listening to a three-minute song. Even though they’re longer, it doesn’t take as much time as you’d think to know what ideas are in a show or a movie. Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Ask Your Kids/Grandkids* (Middle School/Junior High and Older)

This step is so obvious, yet intimidating. “Ask my kids about pop culture?! Are you nuts?!!” Maybe, but that’s neither here nor there. Don’t worry, this is just for research, so no teaching or “lecturing” involved (yet). Just ask what movies and TV shows they watch, want to watch, or have heard all their friends talk about. Make sure to write them down so you don’t forget. If your kids do mention specific shows/movies they wish they could see, those will be the first ones to research.

Total time: No more than 10 minutes

*If you really don’t like the idea of asking your kids, no problem. Just proceed to Step 2!

Step 2: Check All the Charts

I love charts! They make my job—and yours—super easy. Once or twice a week, take some time to check them and get a pulse on what’s trending. Here’s a list of the best websites to check: 

1. Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (CPYU)—The CPYU is all about helping parents understand youth culture. I highly recommend CPYU. Their page of Top 10 Lists covers everything from TV shows and movies to video games and Google searches. Easy peasy. You can also sign up for their e-Updates so you don’t even have to remember to check the lists; they remind you! Lists are updated once a week or so.
2. Nielson—These are the people best known for their “Nielson Ratings.” They’ve been doing market research for over 60 years, so you know their weekly Top 10 Lists are gold. (They research more than just TV, too.) And if you’ve got an Android or iPhone, there’s an app for checking on the go or while waiting for the orthodontist to tighten your kids’ braces.
3. Fandango—Yep, the place where you check movie times is also the place to check which movies are the most popular in theaters. Just go to their Top Box Office page to see the top 50 highest grossing movies of the week. Results are updated every Monday.
4. iTunes Store—If you don’t have iTunes on your computer, get it! Their store has handy dandy lists on the right side. Just scroll down until you find Top Movies and Top TV Shows. Keep in mind: these lists only account for sales on iTunes, which is why it’s a good supplement to other charts.
5. YouTube Channels—Since YouTube has started offering movies for sale, they have a channel that reports the top selling movies. Just move your mouse over the icon that looks like a movie reel and click “Subscribe.” Now, anytime time you go to your YouTube Homepage, it will be in the column on the left side for easy access.

Total time: No more than 10 minutes, especially if you bookmark these websites for quick access

Step 3: Watch Trailers, Episodes, Clips

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of which shows and movies are popular, it’s time to find out what’s in them. Nope, you don’t have to watch an entire TV series or go see a movie to know what it’s all about (case in point: this trailer for a movie called Rapturepalooza tells you everything you need to know). One or two episodes will usually give you the gist, although with some of them, you might only need to watch for a few minutes to discover what lies beneath. Here are the best places to find clips and trailers:

1. YouTube—Every trailer of every movie made within in the past 5 years (at least) is on YouTube. Just type in the name of the movie, hit “enter,” and click on the trailer. Note: If a movie has a “red band trailer,” that means it’s too vulgar to show on TV or in theaters. Take that as a hint.
2. Hulu—Hulu is a site that allows you to watch many TV shows for free. In addition, they post lots of clips. Check Hulu to see if the show is available.
3. The Website of the Show/Movie—Clips, trailers, and full episodes are often available. Just type in the name of the show/movie on Google, and the website is usually one of the first results.
4. Television—If you have TV at home, many times the best thing to do is watch an episode when it airs.

Total time: Depends on the number of movies/shows you’re looking up. Anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.

Step 4: Determine the Value

This is where your discernment as a parent becomes irreplaceable. Only you can know what your children are ready for. And only you have the ability to disciple them in the area of media. So once you’ve collected all the data you need, it’s time to analyze. Using these categories may be helpful:

• Filth: It has no redeeming qualities, just sex/drugs/violence/humor/scandal/nudity in order to make a buck. Examples: The Pineapple Express, The Fast and The Furious (all of them), Superbad, The Big Bang Theory, Rapturepalooza
• Mindless Entertainment: There’s nothing horribly wrong with it, but there’s nothing great about it either. Watching it can be a nice way to unwind . . . or just another mindless thing that distracts us from life. Comedies tend to fall in this category. Example: Fantastic Mr. Fox 
• Teaching Moment: There may be some violence/drug use/etc, but it’s not gratuitous, and it’s all in there to make a larger point, to show real life, or to show redemption. Examples: Amistad, Lincoln, The Hunger Games, The Blindside, Gran Torino
• Worth Watching: These are rare, but they do exist. They are well-written, well-produced, beautiful, and ask good questions. Examples: Tree of Life, The Lord of the Rings (series), Inception
• On the Fence: These are pieces of media that you’re just not sure your kids are ready for; you may be able to teach them something from it, but certain aspects may be too much too soon. Examples: The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings (series), The Blindside, The Bling Ring, Gran Torino

Total time: Depends on you. Take some time to think about it, but don’t dwell on it. Talk to your spouse and other adults you trust if you’re unsure. Ask God for wisdom and discernment.

Whew! Long post. I’m sorry. But I hope you find it all useful. If you’re already a media expert, let us know in the comments the sources you use to stay up-to-date or the criteria you use to determine whether your kids should watch something or not.

In Part 4, coming Wednesday, I will give you practical, easy ways to stay up-to-date with music.

This series of blogs was written by Melanie, our Associate Director of Research.