Culture
What do British teenagers think about culture? Horizon magazine talked to some English teenagers to find out their views.
Horizon: What does the word “culture” mean to you?
Simon: Well, it’s reading, music, arts, and so on. Cinema…
Eric: Yes, something like that.
Horizon: Right. And do either of you take part in any cultural activities?
Simon: Yes… I watch quite a few cultural programs on telly. And I like drawing, too.
Eric: Well, I watch quite a lot of films, mainly on the box. That’s cultural, I suppose.
Simon: It depends on the film really, doesn’t it? I mean, some films are cultural, but there’s plenty that aren’t. I mean you couldn’t call Jurassic Park culture, could you?
Horizon: What about Titanic? Was it culture?
Eric: Oh, absolutely! It was really cool.
Simon: Yeah, I agree. I mean, it was a story really, wasn’t it? And it was history. It made you think about things. It wasn’t just action.
Horizon: And what about other forms of culture? Do you ever go to the theater, or to a concert?
Eric: I’ve only been to the theater once, and that was with school; I thought it was a waste of time.
Horizon: Your parents don’t go to the theater?
Eric: No, they never go out… except to the pub.
Simon: We usually go to the panto at Christmas; but I’ve only been to the theater once apart from that, as far as I can remember. That was to see mousetrap. It was great!
Clare: I love going to the theater. I wish I could go more often, but I really have to push my mum sometimes. What I like best are musicals… I saw Evita in London a couple of years ago. It was fabulous, and I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera too. That was absolutely fantastic.
Horizon: So do you enjoy music, then; do you play an instrument or anything?
Clare: No. Sometimes I wish I did. I played the recorder when I was little, but that’s all. But I love music very much. I like all kinds of music … well, most kinds. I can’t say I’m really into jazz that much.
Horizon: What about pop music? Is that culture? What do you think, Rebecca?
Rebecca: Yeah, why not? …I’m not sure you can call some kinds of Rap “culture”; but most of the time, pop is a kind of culture, isn’t it?
Simon: Oh, definitely. It’s just different.
Rebecca: Yes, I guess so; I mean something can be cultural for one person, but awful for someone else.
Eric: Like Rap …
Rebecca: Well, yes.
Horizon: And reading? Do any of you read books, for your own pleasure?
Clare: Oh, yes, I read a lot. I love reading.
Horizon: Eric?
Eric: Not much. I read Harry Potter, but not normally. I prefer playing on the computer. Books are too slow, normally.
Clare: Not really …
Eric: It depends what you mean by culture, doesn’t it? I think it would be better if they made it more interesting at school. But they make it boring.
Clare: Don’t be ridiculous! It’s you that think it’s boring, that’s all. It isn’t really! You just don’t try to enjoy it.