Ethan Annotation

“Young Forever.” Jay-Z.
YouTube. 2009.Web. 19 April 2011.

The music video “forever young” as preformed by Jay-Z is an excellent example of childhood innocence and purity portrayed in mainstream society today. The video released at the end of 2009 is a spinoff of the Alpaville original, and falls into line with my claims on childhood representation. The Music video is substantial in my argument in the way it represents the behavior typically associated with childhood. The video enhances my analysis by portraying the kids as innocent, and shows childhood as a purer time in one’s life. Lyrically this source ties in with the fact that it places the same implications on childhood and draws similar connections about the intention of the piece.

Some other possible source could possibly be a slogan or ad. The advertisements should be using this innocence in some way to market a particular product, for example the battery advertisement. This source could portray innocence in an unconventional way as to catch the eye of parents or just use the natural sympathetic attitude toward children to attract and grab ones attention. Children are commonly used in advertisements as a marketing tool, these representations differ in most instances but the innocence aspect appears to be a reoccurring factor. Another possible source could be a children’s book. The book would have to clearly show this reoccurring representation simply through its content. The vocabulary, setting, and simplistic morals are all directed toward children. By simply being a children’s book would demonstrate this idea we adults have about children.

The sources commented on above all have something major in common, and that is their ability to convey some message in regards to this purity or innocence I have mentioned before. These connections allow these sources to communicate a general message about childhood representation in mainstream media. The sources share a similar perspective on childhood behavior. Both sources portray children being carefree and simple minded. The sources give the impression that children don’t suffer from our problems, but that they are pure and the least corrupt, once again demonstrating this innocence aspect in children.