Merchants of Cool

I previously watched this film in a class I took a couple years ago (SOC 25: Popular Culture) so it made a lot more sense watching it the second time around. It's quite insane how much power and influence the media has on the young generation when it comes to marketing what is seen as cool or popular. Various media outlets are constantly competing with one another nowadays to highlight their message, product, etc and almost brainwash their audience as much as possible. Teenagers are increasingly relying on the media to provide them with a ready made identity on what is cool so that they can fit in and be like everyone else (or better). However, it's sad and unfortunate that the media is always telling teenagers the wrong message such as they are not thin enough, they're not pretty enough, they don't have the right friends, they are losers unless they're cool, etc. Realistically, I don't think anybody really ever feels cool enough.