A Cyle of Outrage ~ Quotes

a) Name: A Cycle of Outrage : America’s Reaction to the Juvenile Delinquent in the 1950

Author: James Gilbert

b) I chose QUOTES

The first quote I have chosen is on top of page 12. “Look focused on this visual confusion, claiming that the new adolescent subculture of the 1950s looked aggressive, even if not all youngsters were on the way to becoming criminals. Interpreting their new habits required special insight and knowledge; for example, an understanding of the special new language.” As time goes on, the looks and attitudes of people change. This change may be different for each individual, and each individual may have a different experience depending on your race, class, and the time period and location of where you live.  Today we have an idea in our head of the looks of different people…. This includes “goth”. “prep”, “tom-boy”, etc. Each individual has a different vision of what look is “aggressive” or not. People are being judged and put into stereotypes just by the way they look/dress.  This whole topic of “looks” reminds me of Raby’s reading, and the five discourses that she went over.  Throughout our teenage years, we go through different changes and experiences, good and bad, and are risk taking and experimenting. We should not be judged by the way we look by peers and by the older generations, as seen in Gilbert’s reading. When Gilbert talks about the interpretation of new habits require special insight and knowledge such as an understanding of a new language, it makes me think of our generation. With social networking and other types of media, we learn a new form of language that we use in our day-to-day lives. For example, my grandpa would never text me and say “yolo” or use the abbreviations such as LOL, TTYL, LMAO, BRB, ETC. Do you think language is changing with time?

The second quote I have chosen is at the bottom of page 13. “On top of curiosity and worry came the increasing recognition that teenagers had a major impact on the shaping of American popular culture.” I believe this is pretty much talked about throughout the whole article by Raby, and even throughout the previous articles that we have read thus far in the course. It is clear that teenagers DO have a major impact on the shaping of American popular culture.  Changes occurred such as clothing, hair, music, dance, behaviors, etc., mentioned at the bottom of page 14 due to TEENS.  Teenagers have had a MAJOR impact on society and the world! 

The third and last ((LONG, SORRY!) quote I have chosen is in the middle of page 17. “From the middle of World War II into the 1960s, adolescent behavior changed abruptly and distinctly in several categories: sex and marital behavior, work habits, consumption, and attitudes to peer institutions. Much of this new behavior emerged from high schools, which, after World War II, became the universal mold of teenage culture. How to evaluate this institution, of course, depended upon the eye of the beholder. But to many observers, adolescents were creating their own world characterized by a premature adulthood.” Throughout the article, it talks about the changes teenagers were going through as time went on and as different events were happening throughout the media, such as Elvis Presley.  Due to teenagers rebelling against their parents, like many teens do today, high school authorities started banning certain clothing and haircuts. This is even present in some of today’s high schools. I remember girls in my school being sent home because of short skirts or short shorts, or if our shirts were too small or showing too much skin. Did anyone have similar experiences in school? As seen in the reading, adolescents were creating their own “premature adult culture”,(Gilbert, 22). They were creating their own new styles, new appearances, and new culture.

C.  ^^ I posted the questions(s) after quote one and three! :)