In love with an image

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Jul 19, 2000 Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Submitted By: Therapist raps idol worship Therapists are saying, "Oops, we did it again," but teens are screaming, "Hit me, baby, one more time!" Many area teenagers are infatuated with hot young performers such as 'N Sync, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. So infatuated that parents, counselors and even some of the teens' peers are worried. "I think some kids have acceptance problems," says Lisa Eichkorn, a 16-year-old from Waukesha. "Maybe that's why they waste their lives swooning over some guys with good singing voices . . . it's just a phase." Brad Novak, a 17-year-old from Greenfield, disagrees, though. Of course, he's "in looooove" with Britney Spears. "It's amazing what she can do with her voice," he says. "Show me anyone else who could have made it to the top like she did." Brad admits it might be a little silly to form his life around Spears but says he "wouldn't mind marrying her." Laura Gray, a therapist who works primarily with adolescents and teens at the Lees Psychological Clinic in Waukesha, sees the obsession as a developmental issue, largely influenced by the media. "One of the goals of teens is to search and find identity," Gray says, "And when the media continually shows images of these stars, these impressionable young kids connect." If Gray's theory is correct that the media causes increased teen interest in pop icons, one Web page has found a way to help young adults talk back. www.Qtopics.com, a site designed in part to allow teenagers to exchange opinions and create polls on all sorts of issues, recently found that teens, aged 13-17, desire to speak their minds on the lives of singers their age. Fifty-eight percent of 14-year-olds, according to the survey, were curious as to whether Britney Spears' breasts were real, and 72% of girls surveyed asked if Nick of the Backstreet Boys would marry them. Gray's fear is that these results will continue if action isn't taken to restore family values. "I know EVERYTHING about them," exclaims Sarah Meeker, a 14-year-old from Muskego, who is very proud of her dedication to 'N Sync. "I like the way they use five-part harmony." Sarah hates it when people make fun of boy bands and admits to skipping school sometimes to watch MTV. "Some people say that they aren't real because they don't play their own instruments, but I consider your voice to be a wonderful instrument," Sarah reasons. Nikki Richards, a 15-year-old from Brookfield, "daydreams" about the Backstreet Boys. "AJ is my favorite! I would die just to meet him!" Nikki's room is covered with posters of the boys. She says she spends most of her time online, searching for pictures and looking for ways to chat with AJ. She even has her own backstreetboys.com e-mail address. Still, there'll always be some teens who think all the fuss is pointless. "These people are just no-talent trends that people get caught up in," says Dan Swinkel, a 17-year-old from Milwaukee. "They'll be forgotten in a year." Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on July 17, 2000. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: mia pron khalifa Ip1k9t You ave made some decent points there. I checked on the internet to find out more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site. Submitted by: JimmiXzS qASmun http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: chaba xvY9ml http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: cheap oem software VdiGAi I am amazed with the abundance of interesting articles on your site! The author - good luck and wish you the new interesting posts..!! Comment on this item. Next Item: Nsync or BSB? Prev Item: I like the Backstreet Boys