Vanity Fair magazine is concerned that the youth of today is apathetic, especially compared to the baby-boomer editors who lived during the 1960’s.
"More than 30 years ago, young people across the country staged sit-ins for civil rights, got up and protested against a misguided, undeclared war, and actually gave a damn if a president lied to them. Today it seems as if the younger generation of Americans are content to watch their MTV, fiddle with their game players, [and] follow the love lives of Brad, Jen, Jessica and Paris. What has changed? What is going on inside the minds of American youth today?"
To rectify the problem, Vanity Fair (in association with Montblanc fountain pens) is running an essay competition titled, "What’s on the minds of America’s youth today?" The prize: $15,000, a trip to the the Santa Maddalena writers’ colony, and a Montblanc fountain pen.
So, I figured — hell, if I can write erotica, I can certainly write a short essay on this topic.
My Essay for Vanity Fair:
What’s the Matter with Kids Today?
In the 1960’s young people had meaning in their lives. They were politically aware and cared about what happened in this country and in the world. Young people today are more technologically sophisticated, but have lost much of their "soul." How did this happen? What made America’s youth go off track? I’d like to thank Vanity Fair for the opportunity to address this important issue.
Rather than caring about war and poverty, today’s young people only care about celebrity culture (Jennifer Aniston, Vanity Fair cover, September 2005; Scarlett Johansson photoshoot, Vanity Fair, August 2005) and scandal (Martha Stewart, Vanity Fair cover, August 2005). In the 1960’s, young people looked up to heroes like Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy. Who do they look up to today? (Tom Cruise story, Vanity Fair, August 2005; Porn Star Memoirs, Vanity Fair, September 2005). In the 1960’s, women were at the forefront of a political movement, pushing for equal rights for all women. Why have today’s women lost interest in politics? (Jimmy Choo shoes article, August 2005; Elle Macpherson’s lingerie debut article, August 2005). In the 1960’s, young people were fighting the establishment. Today’s youth are complacent, caring more about consumerism and material objects than changing the world. (Adrienne Vittadini ad, Polo ad, Ralph Lauren ad, Movado ad, Calvin Klein ad, Bacardi ad, DKNY ad, Audi ad, countless other ads, in all Vanity Fair issues).
So, who is the culprit in the dreadful attitudes of our misguided youth? The answer is clear.
The editors of Vanity Fair.
