Tuesday, September 15, 1998

More on MTV

MTV, which was (and still is) very popular among young people serves as a vehicle for singers and artists to launch and advertise their songs through visual imagery loosely based on the lyrics of the song. Madonna and Michael Jackson are well known for their multi-million productions of MTV.

Fr. James Reuter, SJ shared with us once how he worried so much about the kids who are vulnerably exposed to sexual undertones and violent images of many music videos shown on television. And they are shown everywhere – in the mall, in the airport lounge, in the privacy of one’s home, - where kids can view them unrestrictedly.

I guess the old man has really a point in worrying about the effects of these sexually suggestive music videos. I have seen just recently the music video of one of the latest releases of Billie Myers entitled “Tell Me.” The words are very suggestive and smack of sexual innuendoes. Equally offensive are the imageries that visualize the lyrics of the song. Even without the lyrics, the viewer can easily understand what the song is all about.

Such kind of music video can create unhealthy perceptions of human sexuality in the minds of some teenagers, especially among those who have not received positive education on sexual values but rather learned about human sexuality through their indiscriminate exposure to media.

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