The Not-So-Secret Life of the American Teenager

I have of late been watching ABC Family's new ratings-grabber The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I didn't originally set out to see this show. A show about a pregnant teenager is about as far away from my radar as... well pregnant teenagers.

No, this show and I actually got started off on bad terms. My first experience with ABC Family was with the show Kyle XY, a show about a genetically engineered teenager who was trying to make it through life. To get the right feel for this show, consider the main ideas and themes behind Smallville (originally) including the superhero and coming-of-age themes, actors portraying the most amazingly awesome parents known to man, a little romance, and the idea of destiny and you kind of get the picture. The point is, this show had sci-fi, romance, and heart all wrapped into one. While I can't say that I agreed with every theme, this show was overwhelmingly family-oriented, which I found refreshing, and had just enough action to keep the viewer interested.

Enter Secret Life, ABC Family's new original hit series. Despite just ok critical reviews, this show met with great success among audiences. Because of this show's success and Kyle XY's declining ratings (at least partially due to an extremely competetive time-slot), the show was cancelled and unceremoniously replaced. I'm still a bit bitter.

And so, months after the fact, I decided to determine exactly what made this show a worthy successor. 26 episodes later, I've come away with a few observations.

The Secret Life is based on a premise that has and hasn't been explored in depth in pop culture. Reportedly, the show's creator originally wanted to call the show The Sex Life of the American Teenager, but she hated the idea that if searched on google, the show would undoubtedly be lost amid a sea of pornographic websites. As described, the show focuses a great deal on the sex lives--or lack thereof-- of the 6 main cast members. While most all of the themes are undoubtedly adult, they are in fact handled in a novel way. The teenagers generally talk to their parents about sex, and they sometimes get good advice.

This creates an interesting dynamic in the show. Unlike many TV shows, Smallville included, the cast members of this show tend to actually look young enough to be in high school! Rather than obviously being mid-20-somethings, generally the teenagers portrayed actually seem to be teenaged. This doesn't make it seem so awkward for them to have sex-talks with their parents because it actually seems like they're young enough to still be on the receiving end of said advice. While most shows in high school star casts made up of people who have obviously arrived at sexy, this show's cast is made up of individuals who still seem young, awkward, or both, and in a word, real.

In Juno-like fashion, Secret Life's first season mainly concerns a teenage mother-to-be named Amy as she struggles through issues related to her pregnancy. In my opinion, the portrayal far out-shines Juno in terms of authenticity, and sometimes even suffers for it. Real life is not always pretty.

The characters represent a variety of those people you might know from real life. Again, some of them are awkward, but at least lively in a novel way. Interestingly, two of the six main characters are Christians, even using the phrase "relationship with Jesus Christ" more than once within the show. I was pleased, but somewhat shocked to hear Jesus mentioned with connection to Christianity on TV, particularly when it is made very clear that the characters are discussing Him in the context that He matters to their everyday lives. Kudos for that, though as the season progresses, the characters don't exactly hold the moral line. Aside from them, we find the outcast, the normal band-geek girl, and interestingly, the slut. Both the slut and the outcast are shown to be damaged characters in one way or another, and are actually humanized by their problems. This makes them some of the more dynamic characters in the show. Also, we have the rich, geeky kid who looks alarmingly like a young Bob Sagat. See for yourself:

My nod for the best characters though, mostly do not concern the main cast. The wise-cracking father and the sister to the pregnant Amy Jurgens are by far my favorite. The father George Jurgens, played by Mark Derwin, is the right mix of one-liners, fun, energy, and genuine caring rolled into one character. The sister Ashley Jurgens is an odd character to be sure, but the deadpan delivery of sarcastic lines and common sense observation makes her a favorite in my book. John Schneider, playing a down-to-earth parental figure very similar to his character from Smallville is not treading new ground, but is perfect for in the role as the Christian father of the Bowman family.

The show is not perfect, however. Having watched the show in sequential order, I definitely noticed an improvement in the quality of acting as time passes. 'Wooden' is a word aptly describing the character interactions in the first few episodes. The show also seems to suffer from mixed messages. Each episode is ended with a message by a cast member stating that teenage pregancy can be prevented, encouraging teens and parents to talk about sex, leading one to infer the message that in the very least, pre-marital sex is not something to be taken lightly. However, adding it all up, 5 of the 6 main characters (including both Christians) are involved in some kind of sexual activity, and 3 of the 6 more than once. The same 3 have had different partners. So, while the consequences of sex before marriage are explored, few of the characters seem particularly inclined not to have sex, and treat it very casually. So, while this show promotes the healthy discussion of sex, it also ends up raising the bar for how casually the act can be taken... between teens and between their parents with other adults.

Casual sex and casual relationships sort of go hand-in-hand. The theme song of the show goes like this: "Falling in love/is such an easy thing to do/birds can do it, we can do it/let's stop talking, let's get to it/ Let's fall in love." While love doesn't precisely describe the tenor of the show, the song captures the general theme of it. These characters do in fact talk about love often and fast and sex just as often and fast, leaving the viewer to wonder if this is supposed to be considered irony or if quick love, quick sex, quick marriage, and quick divorce is really being promoted as ABC Family's "new kind of family."

And that brings me to my biggest qualm with the show. It seems that each and every character that is supposed to be a role model gets to be a role model works really hard not to be one, with some exceptions. Generally, the parents are the worst of the bunch, though some of the parents end up being the most likable characters. The Christians who make a point that they have a relationship with Jesus Christ don't seem to be particularly worried about what He says about sex, and the pastor even manages to blur the line with pre-marital sex. I found myself identifying more with the consistently snarky characters or with the "bad" characters who don't try to rationalize away the decisions they make. Some of this is perhaps due to the fact that teenagers are teenagers and they really do say one thing and do the opposite from moment to moment. I understand this. But that's really not giving teenagers much credit, and the parents don't show much more maturity. They tend to be just as whiny and good at rationalizing as their kids. Apparently there's not much hope for improvement.

That said, there are reasons that this show consistently draws me back in. First off, though there is the dumb drama, there are actually some storylines that are touching, heartwarming, meaningful, and even funny along the way. I think of the moment when a pregnant girl is escorted down the hall of the school surrounded by a crowd of girls, complete with marching band playing. I think of the episode where one character has to confront his sexually abusive father who has been in prison. I think of the montage of when the baby is finally born. And I think of characters such as the father, sister, and the guidance counselor who add enough sarcastic humor and good sense to the show to keep it from getting either too dumb or entirely too dramatic. And then there is the main thing: there is always the hope that these characters will learn and grow and become better. Every so often a character does the right thing; the unequivocal selfless, good, and right thing. These moments along with some of the humor are crafted to shine. I just wish it happened more often. Yet I think this is what keeps me returning to the show: the hope of growth and transformation.

So what is the conclusion then? Well, the show has it's problems, which I have covered in some detail. I am very concerned with the messages being presented and the modes of presenting them. However, even when the characters are whiny and selfish, the show offers enough moments of clarity-- of real depth-- to give the viewer hope that these people are redeemable characters and not always self-obsessed (and therefore, humanity is redeemable and not entirely, hopelessly self-obsessed) and it offers quirkiness and it's own brand of quirky humor in abundance, thanks mainly to a good supporting cast. I will keep watching and I will continue to enjoy it (I think).

Is it the best show out there? Not a chance. Would I watch it over Kyle XY if that show was still running? Again, that's a big nope. I will, however, watch the episodes when they're uploaded to abcfamily.com. On a scale of a big no to a resounding yes, the show gets the nod for a moderate yes. Come to it looking for the plentiful-enough good moments, but don't expect a home-run every episode.

An Unlikely Review?

A Brown University student blends in with the Liberty University crowd in the spring semester of 2007 with a mission to find out who they are and what they do. This “semester abroad” is spent taking notes and learning about a culture that was in his words “more foreign to me than any European capital.” Upon doing a little research and finding that 51% of Americans don’t know an evangelical Christian, his goal was set. With permission from Brown’s administration and some wary goodbyes from his parents, he set out for Lynchburg, Virginia.

The Unlikely Disciple overall is a fascinating read, written in a very candid and personable style that is in my mind somewhat reminiscent of Donald Miller’s works. Through Roose’s eyes the reader is introduced to a variety of characters—real people in fact—who make up the community of Liberty University. Though the names have been changed, it’s not particularly hard to identify the more familiar public faces of LU, but it is his experiences with the students surrounding him that are the source of his most colorful observations.

There are a few things that stand out about this work, particularly to those who know the world of Liberty University. First, while Roose obviously makes it clear that he does not agree with much of what Liberty is founded on (or at least the actions of those therein) he never resorts to the cheap shot to win a cheap victory. Throughout, Roose’s tone is respectable if disagreeing, and even in disagreement he often finds that his empathies and sympathies are provoked by those who he was at first terrified to meet.

Secondly, it is the respectable tone of the work that makes some of it all the more difficult to read. If he had set out to give Liberty University a black eye, it would be a simple matter to attribute most of the negative aspects of his LU experience to this goal. His criticisms, however, are so very often thoughtful, and observant; I found myself pained at some points because as an LU student I understand many of these criticisms. His account of cold-turkey evangelism on a missions trip to Daytona Beach an example that readily comes to mind. Whether it is an analysis of some of sins the LU community (and often evangelicals in general) like to make big, easy targets of, or whether is playful jabs at areas such as Christians lifestyle fads (the Quiverfull movement) many of his observations hit very, VERY close to home.

This is not to say that I necessarily agree with all of his observations. Though coming with an open mind, he has in fact been raised in a tradition exactly opposite of that of Liberty University and the other-worldness of his frame of reference contributes to a part of his point of view in the narrative. Also, the concept of some undercover observation is limited by the groups and activities the observer is involved with. To be fair, he does experience a variety of activities and meet a fair variety of people. However, his preferred crowd to hang out with is in fact a group he gently describes as the rebel crowd of dorm 22. Though these students are certainly genuine and colorful, I would not describe them as a sample of the “regular” students in the student body. And while I don’t necessarily consider these students a good sample of the student body, I did find myself enjoying their camaraderie and candor with one another. All things considered, it is expected though that a work of this nature will be written from a certain frame of reference, it while this is not a bad thing, the reader would do well to keep in mind the limitations of such a perspective.

Here I must announce a slight spoiler concerning the character himself: he does not convert to Christianity at the end of his experience at LU. At times he seems quite close to faith, but cannot quite bring himself to believe, sometimes because of what I would describe as a view of God not fully developed, and sometimes because of the attitudes and actions he notes around him. (I note here his conflicted thoughts concerning Dr. Falwell and his hallmates’ and roommates’ treatments of homosexuality, both joking and all too serious.) He even notes that in some cases he could very well begin to consider ideas such as the resurrection and Jesus’ claims but cannot reconcile them with some of his observations. I would have to agree here that whether the subject is the actions of Christians not matching their words or whether it is certain theological ideas that do not make sense from a human perspective, there are certain ideas within Christianity that are difficult to reconcile even speaking from within it. To an extent it is what it is, and to another extent the form of Christianity is what we have made it. Grasping this concept fully in my experience has taken years, rather than months.

I think the bottom line is, Roose did well to accomplish what he did here. I believe some of his conclusions may have continued to evolve had he continued to attend the university, for a single semester at LU is truly a short time. I wish he had taken a mix of upper level courses in particular areas of study as well as the freshman entry level courses, which may have given him a more complete picture of integration of faith and thought. Even so, I believe the conclusions to which Roose comes at the finish of his time at LU often ring true and are always informative. His even-handedness combined with a flair for good narrative and a sense of humor come together to create a work that I highly recommend for the LU population and for evangelical Christians generally. It is likely that they will see themselves in much of what is written.

From his appreciation for LU's particular brand of dating to his unexpected and complicated assessment of Dr. Falwell, The Unlikely Disciple is the story of one student's surprise at what he finds on the other side of the ideological gap.

For an excellent and insightful review, note LU's own Dr. Karen Pryor's review in Christianity Today. You can find it here:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/columns/bookoftheweek/090323.html?start=1

For more about the author himself and for more about the ridiculousness of getting the book on the shelves of LU's bookstore, visit:

http://www.kevinroose.com

Re: how it is

There have been few times in my academic career in which I have been horrified by things I have been learning. Oh for sure, the statistics are never good and the there's always some kind of crisis happening somewhere, but in the world of academia I have found it very easy to keep real issues just that... academic ones. Abuse, exploitation, loss, poverty... all of these things happen somewhere. Somewhere in the great expanse that is wherever I'm not.

Yet last Monday I was inundated with information that first sobered and then absolutely horrified me. The particular subject was elder abuse. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, 1 in 20 elderly Americans (as of 1991) experiences some form of abuse including financial exploitation, neglect, and emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. And this is taking into account only what is reported, only what is caught, and doesn't even count for the widespread lonliness that this population in particular suffers.

Perhaps these just sound like more statistics. When I heard this, however, I had the distinct image of a person who has probably worked 30-40-50 years of his or her life, sacrificed to raise a family, and seen countless friends and relatives die. Now this elderly individual may not have been the perfect husband, father, whatever, but chances are he probably wasn't the spawn of Hitler either. This person was once like you or me, struggling through financially difficult times, wondering what to do with his life, looking for purpose. Now his life is behind him, his kids are grown, many of his either dead or lay in nursing homes like he probably does. And if he has no family or at least no family that cares to see him more than twice a year what has he to look forward to? He probably doesn't have freedom of movement, good health, etc. He forgets things that he used to be able to remember or he realizes he no longer can do things he used to do. He is probably frustrated, and maybe even helpless. He probably wishes for the comfort of family and friends and probably will never receive that comfort. And this is the portrait of an elderly person not suffering abuse. Now consider that in the last few years of many of the elderly, they are subjected to their children and relatives fighting over the money they spent decades earning. Now consider that after these relatives steal their money or trick them out of it, these older people are placed into poor quality homes to be forgotten about. Consider that it is often workers in these nursing homes who physically, verbally, or sexually abuse these people.

A once-healthy individual robbed of health, purpose, love, and kindness... his last few years in life spent alone in a harsh world, watching the material things of his life being fought over but his own fate little cared for. Imagine this is you.

This is one crisis affecting a select group of people. Need I mention child abuse, failing marriages, disasters, bereavement, substance abuse, and so many other traumas that people struggle to deal with on a daily basis.

The world is not well. Yet we live like the economic and financial crisis this country is experiencing is the end of the world. Yet there are almost none of us who struggle to feed ourselves. If worse comes to worst, I can go sell plasma... and that's scraping the bottom of the options barrel.

We cannot live as though the world is not in crisis.

Speaking of which, the church I have been calling home, Brentwood Church, has partnered with a ministry to offer help and hope to one crisis of this world. The ministry is called freedom 4 24. You can check it out at http://www.freedom4-24.com/. The idea here is that for a $24 donation, you can buy 24 hours of freedom for a girl in Thailand who has been sold as a sexual slave into prostitution. During this 24 hours, she is given safety, the gospel, and the choice to stay at the safe house to receive and education and a ticket out of that life. In exchange for the donation of money, the donator receives a t-shirt with the ministry's logo to help create awareness of the cause.

This is one challenge facing us all. May we not fall into the trap of believing that the world is doing all-right.

I'm reminded of the words spoken by Morgan Freeman at the end of the movie Se7en. He says, "Ernest Hemingway once wrote, 'The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.' I agree with the second part. " The world is NOT fine. But it IS worth fighting for.

Re: eating dirt

I have been putting off the first post of this blog for a while.

It seems to me that the first of anything should be heralded and appreciated, worked extra hard upon, and generally be perhaps a step above other things of its kind.

It seems like that to me anyway.

Perfection at origin seems to be God's standard. Talk about setting the bar high.

With man, it's different though. To me it seems like the most worthwhile things that a man will ever do typically do not begin with a bang and resounding success but more with awkward movements and very little finesse. Learning and growing are the gifts man receives to be better. I suppose that this is why men are said to look more distinguished as they get older, why few writers' best works are their first, and why the first years of marriage aren't typically a couple's best.

Everyone hears the stories about those who succeed the first time and it seems fortune smiles upon them all of their days thereafter. We wish to be that person rather than the proverbial new kid at school, alone in lands dangerous and foreign. Yet the instant success typically gets his face in the tabloids and is sucked into a quagmire of rumor, the object of incessant gossip. It is the man whose face is planted in the ground often, who has lost enough to know not to take for granted what he has, it is this man who is the stuff of legend. Or at least, it it is this man who is looked upon with respect rather than the envy of the self-crazed.

I've been pondering danger and the chance of loss lately. It seems to me that there is truth to the adage that he who risks, is the one who gains. It is my tendancy to collect the facts and continue to do so, hoping that I won't have to fail, I won't have to look weak, before I succeed. Perhaps some of you can relate.

I think this works well on paper, but not in reality. Man has a poor track record when it concerns his best-laid plans and their outcomes (New Year's resolutions anyone?)

Nobody particularly likes to eat dirt, but given the choice of never being able to eat anything until I've swallowed some, I think I can choke down some soil.

I guess it's time to start trying.