The Mean World Syndrome

Mean World Syndrome is a phenomenon where the violence-related content of mass media convinces viewers that the world is more dangerous than it actually is, and prompts a desire for more protection than is warranted by any actual threat. Mean World Syndrome is one of the main conclusions of cultivation theory. The term "Mean World Syndrome" was coined by George Gerbner, a pioneer researcher on the effects of television on society, when he noted that people who watched a lot of TV tended to think of the world as an unforgiving and scary place.

Media Magazine: Culture Online (Ideas)

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Charlie Brooker explains the 'phenomenon' of Invisible Children video Kony 2012

The Kony 2012 video, released online last week, has been watched nearly 76m times on YouTube, prompting not only a media sensation but speculation over the organisation’s background and profile.

Your Teen’s Search for Identity

They try to strengthen their own identities by excluding those who are not like themselves. Their bodies kick into overdrive. They find themselves disoriented, scared and alone. They become moody, secretive and sarcastic. You don’t recognize your own child. What happened to the child you used to know? The answer: adolescence.

In the teenage years, young people begin their quests for identity. To help you understand your child’s adolescence, Les Parrott, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, offers the five most common ways in which teens demonstrate their struggles with identity:

Through status symbols. Adolescents try to establish themselves through prestige — wearing the right clothes, having the right possessions, from stereos to sunglasses. These symbols help form teen identities by expressing affiliation with specific groups.

Through forbidden behaviors. Teens often feel that appearing mature will bring recognition and acceptance. They begin engaging in practices they associate with adulthood — tabooed pleasures — such as smoking, drinking, drugs and sexual activity.

Through rebellion. Rebellion demonstrates separation. Teens can show that they differentiate themselves from parents and authority figures, while maintaining the acceptance of their peers.

Through idols. Celebrities may become “models” for teens who are looking for a way of experimenting with different roles. They may identify with a known figure, trying to become like that person, and in effect, losing hold of their own identities. This identification with a well known personality gives teens a sense of belonging.

Through cliquish exclusion. Teens often can be intolerant in their exclusion of their peers. Since they are constantly trying to define and redefine themselves in relation to others, they do not want to be associated with anyone having unacceptable or unattractive characteristics.

By AMY BELLOWS, PH.D.

Lauren Laverne: 'I take a no-brow approach to culture'

Indie girl turned cultural bigshot Lauren Laverne talks to John Harris in the latest of his National Conversations series of interviews. In a wide-ranging and candid conversation, they discuss sexism on TV, the break-up of her band Kenickie, nostalgia, and her once calling the Spice Girls 'Tory scum'.

Back in her native north-east, Lauren Laverne's father's an academic and her mother's a Labour councillor. While still in her teens, she moved south to launch her band Kenickie at the tail-end of the Britpop era.

When Kenickie fizzled out, she deftly moved into television presenting, and then writing. She's now got her own radio show on BBC 6Music; she's the face of the BBC's Glastonbury coverage; she's a published novelist; she has a column in Grazia magazine; as well as two small children.

In a wide-ranging and candid conversation, John and Lauren unpick no end of issues: sexism on TV, whether radio is also one big boys' club, what to do when you realise your pop career is over, whether or not you should go public with your politics, and much, much more.

The Culture Show

Architecture, art, TV, films, theatre, music and much more are featured on The Culture Show on BBC2. It's back on for the next few weeks, so catch it on iplayer. You can also look at clips from the last few years by visiting the archive (see 'Useful Blogs and Websites')

'Mad Men' and body image

Lynne Featherstone, the Equalities Minister, stated that Christina Hendricks from 'Mad Men' was a better role model for women than the fashion industries preferred skinny young girls. In this article from The Guardian, Susie Orbach declares her support for the minister's views.

You can also see a fashion shoot that Christina Hendricks did for The Guardian magazine at this link.