Merchants of Cool Reaction

Merchants of Cool

The Merchants of Cool was a very interesting insight into what drives most of the marketing to teens in present day America. There were many different techniques and some very edgy material displayed about how marketers seek to get the attention of teens. One such issue was the way that they often used rebellion as a marketing tool. It seemed to me throughout the entire show that all of the things and ideas that were presented were trying to make being a rebel, against almost anything, into something desirable.

1. While being rebellious may come from a natural feeling to be independent, in many ways teens can take that to the extreme and turn it into something bad. They may play it off as just trying to be different or finding themselves, but in the end I believe this comes mainly from a disrespect of authority.

A. Instead of trying to help teens become independent without taking it to far marketers have discovered this need and decided to prey on this desire. From the perspective of marketers there is lots of money to be made in a simple way, make things and come market to teens the idea that they are in control and that they answer to no one. Furthermore, they have further preached to teens the idea that being rebellious is a good, fun and popular thing to do. While the main thing that teens are often rebelling from is their parents, this also carries over to any other form of authority.

B. The way I believe I will be most adversely affected would be as a future parent, although also as a citizen in general. Because of the way that rebellion is being portrayed it can be very hard to raise your kids without them becoming resentful towards you. This is because it doesn't matter how well you raise them, rebellion doesn't care. Rebelling isn't towards a certain type of parenting, whether it be good or bad, it is against any form of authority, period. So this will present a very big issue in raising a teen in trying to keep them from being affected by this movement towards rebellion.

2. Romans 13:1-7 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your