Product Details

• Directors: A&E Discovery Channel
• Producers: PBS Frontline
• Format: Limited Edition
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B0006SJTYY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,898 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Teenagers today have more money and independence than ever before. Their lives have become the object of obsessive focus by corporate America. Their tastes, attitudes and aspirations are sampled and resampled by marketers wielding the latest scientific tools to determine exactly who they are and what they want. From this surging stream of data, the dream-weavers of Hollywood and Madison Avenue tell a version of teenage life in movies, television, music and advertising that is meant to appeal to their deepest sensibilities. FRONTLINE explores the culture in which today's American teenager is growing up and how they've come to view themselves and their parents. Teachers are advised to preview the film prior to showing it to students as it includes some adult language and sexual content.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars something your eigth grader should see., May 1, 2005

By 

M. agnew - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frontline: The Merchants of Cool (PBS Educational Video Series) (VHS Tape)

Mtv, the worst thing to happed to rock and roll since the ideals and moralistic views of the 1950's, has found a new way of capitalizing off teens. Youth dread conforming(as if theres something wrong with doing what you find enjoyable even if someone else happens to do the same thing). As a result many attempt to be as radical as possible in an effort to be set apart by the rest of society(as if wearing all black with clothes pins from hot topic is expressing themselves). Mtv and other corperations' response has been to shovel out merchandise to supply this demand for social unacceptability be it clothing, violent music, or a new carson daily with fingernails painted black. The youth have stupidly done exactly what they set out not to do-conform. They have conformed by conforming to a subculture. Now, lets not see any dumb-a goths posting responses trying to bash me cause im not some fifty year old that hasnt got a clue. I'm a senior in high school, im smart, and i can see that if you choose to dress like the grim reaper's second cousin your a complete idiot. TEACHERS-BUY THIS FOR YOUR CLASS. you will save more students' lives than if you were to show thim a video on why not to do meth. its that good.