Social Activism & Television Culture

As Discussed Yesterday…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG6oy46qKE4

The most popular music video of the 1980s from the World’s biggest selling album of all time:

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THRILLER!

When you think of a rock star…

What comes to mind?

SOCIAL ACTIVISMCriticized for being promoters of drugs, alcohol, and negative behavior, celebrities began to help others/support causes

LIVE AID: Famous musicians put on a yearly concert to help those in 3rd world countries (Paul McCartney, Madonna, The Who, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger, Queen, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, U2…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRS6R9QZDsY

FARM AID: Organized by Willie Nelson to help strugglingAmerican Farmers

COLLABORATIONS: “We Are the World” – benefits went to starving children and lesser developed countries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoDY8ce_3zk

We Are the World

Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Jackie Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Bob Geldoff, Darryl Hall, John Oates, Quincy Jones, Dan Aykroyd, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler…

SOCIAL ACTIVISMOther groups became politically/socially active

Senior citizens made their presence known in voting against cuts to:

1) Social Security2) Medicare

Major lobbying organization was the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)

So long as we outnumber young people at the polls, we’ll always have more benefits than our children and grandchildren…and they’ll be left paying our bills!

SOCIAL ACTIVISMIssues that plagued the 1980s made their way into mainstream media.

TV shows, music, movies, and even theater reflected the triumphs and struggles faced by people of various classes, ethnicities, genders, and age groups.

What was T.V. like in the 80s!?

• THE COSBY SHOW!• What are some of your favorite T.V. shows now?• “I’m In with the In Crowd”• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCk17I1skZc