Listen Up!!

After looking around the website for quite a bit today in class, I was able to identify many common themes among the video clips. Many of the clips tackled big issues, such as teenage pregnancy, human rights, environmental awareness, family issues and important decision making, while others focus on smaller more personal issues, such as fears.

Among the videos, a few stood out to me as amazing examples. The video entitled, Babies, Bottles & Diapers: Reality of Teen Pregnancy, was a good example of a video that focused on the lives of teenage mothers and fathers. Overall, the video had a message that we as a society need to open up the discussion further about teen pregnancy, because as one young mother in the film put it, teens are definitely having sex! The clip also highlighted resources that are available to teenagers who are sexually active, or those who are teenage mothers and fathers. A community resource called "The Door" was showcased towards the end of the clip. At The Door, birth control is readily available to teens, as well as prenatal and parenting classes for teenage parents. The Door serves as a positive resource for teens who are sexually active, or teenage parents. As is discussed in the clip, the discussion about sex and teens needs to be happening more, if that happens, more places like The Door may be available for teens all over the country.


Also while looking around the website, I found a short "pamphlet" viedo entitled Juvenile Asylum. The video discusses teenagers rights if they are subjected to a search by faculty or school security. The video follows a male teenager who is targeted everyday at school when he walks through security. Even though searches are only supposed to be performed if the metal dectector beeps, this teen is targeted everyday, even though he never sets it off. The video uses him as an example of illegal targeted searches. According to the video, the law says that searches must be warranted and random, this is not the case everywhere, especially in inner city schools. The video did a great job of presenting basic rights that teens should be aware of, such as the right to remain silent.

Overall, Listen Up! seems like an interesting resource for teens, with a wide variety of topics being covered by the documentaries. The site also serves as a positive outlet for teens, I'm just curious about the process that is involved with being featured on the site. Is there a selection process? I'm sure with a little big of further looking I could get my answers!