Zoomers are getting excited to vote for Trump, young men are getting perms, and teens are working on their “aura points.” But first:
7 Minutes on Fanfiction
Fanfiction refers to writing where characters from established media are reimagined, and often combined, in new, original stories. (Think: Harry Potter showing up to discuss the fate of the universe over crudités with Captain America). This type of writing can empower teens to think creatively, connect with communities of like-minded fans, and unlock a lifelong love and marketable talent for writing. But many fanfics feature dark themes, including sexual content and descriptions of graphic violence. In our newest 7 Minute Video, we explore the pros, cons, and surprisingly spiritual aspects of teens writing fanfiction.
Three Big Conversations
1. Curled Up
What it is: The Zoomer male hairstyle du jour—closely cropped sides with a mop of curly hair brushed forward on top—is officially everywhere.
Why it’s going mainstream: David Corenswet, who has been cast as a young Clark Kent in the newest Superman reboot, was pictured on the movie’s set sporting the hairstyle. This marks the first example of the trendy moptop making the jump from TikTok feeds to the silver screen, which culture commentators were quick to observe. Over the past few years, the “wet mop,” “broccoli perm,” or “bird’s nest” cut has become the most popular hairstyle for high schoolers, and it’s not unusual for those who don’t have naturally curly locks to fork over hundreds of dollars and hours of time to get a chemical perm at the hair salon to achieve the look.
Continue the conversation: What’s the coolest hairstyle you can think of?
2. Auramaxxed
What it is: Teenagers are talking about “auras”—particularly how to improve theirs.
Why it’s taking off: An “aura” refers to the energy or distinctive atmosphere that is generated in the presence of a person or other living thing. Much like the term “vibe” took off to describe a feeling capable of being sensed, “aura” is now being used to talk about the experience you have in someone else’s presence. In Gen Z’s understanding, a person with a good aura radiates fun, positivity, and magnetic energy. Upgrades to your self-care routine, dancing like nobody’s watching, and being generous in your relationships are now a way to earn “aura points,” a completely subjective (and often tongue-in-cheek) system of ranking how your aura is looking these days. Talking about someone’s aura may seem harmless enough, but auras are not a biblical concept.
Continue the conversation: Have you heard people talking about their aura?
3. MAGA Zoomers
What it is: After Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Trump, some Gen Z icons like Jake Paul, FaZe Banks and Dave Portnoy are leading a groundswell of support for the Republican candidate.
Why it’s happening: Prior to last week, Pew Research showed that the GOP was leading in the under-30 demographic, and a recent New York Times poll showed Trump ahead of Biden by 8 points after the debate. And now, after the attempt on the former President’s life, even the most timid Trump fans might feel emboldened to express their support. Gen Z has grown up in a world of images, so when an image like Trump pumping his fist after an assassination attempt starts making the rounds, it’s bound to make an impact. As the photograph of a bloodied Trump raising his fist and vowing to “fight!” continues to circulate on social media, it is hard to imagine anything slowing the candidate’s momentum going into November.
Let’s go deeper on this one…
A Thousand Words
“I don’t think there’s very many people in this country that after they get shot, one inch from their brain, would be able to get up and essentially tell the country to fight,” 22-year-old Jordan Miller told The Free Press (language). “And I think that’s what he was mouthing while he had his fist up. And I was like, ‘Okay, I’m ready to fight for what I believe in. For what’s right.’”
Trump’s appeal among certain members of Gen Z could be described as post-political. The fact that he pumped his fist with blood on his cheek has nothing to do with his political policy—but to many who see it, the image represents something like courage in the face of adversity. In an age that’s been so often defined by cancel culture and anxiety, images that invite courage are hard to come by.
President Trump’s political legacy has been fraught with conflict, bombast, and polarization. This doesn’t change the fact that this one photo may come to define his legacy, whether we like it or not. As Neil Postman reminds us in Amusing Ourselves to Death, “There is no such thing as a photograph taken out of context, for a photograph does not require one… photography recreates the world as a series of idiosyncratic events.” Unlike, say, a sentence started halfway through, photographs work independently of context. Someone doesn’t have to contemplate the entirety of Trump’s life and career to see a photo like this and wonder, “If I’d just been shot, would I be able to stand up and raise my fist like that?” For a generation who has grown up with a dearth of heroes, the photograph may resonate more than anything over the course of a decade of political turmoil.
For a full “translation” of everything in this issue, check out our Monday Roundtable podcast. In the meantime, wherever you fall politically, it’s worth asking your teen what they think about the events of last Saturday. Here are some questions to help spark that conversation:
- What do you think about the assassination attempt on former President Trump?
- What effect do you believe the photos of the event will have?
- Do you feel like your generation is changing the way they feel about Trump? Why or why not?
Parenting together,
The Axis Team
PS: This week we (re)posted an interview with Dr. Dan Allender about shame-free parenting. Check it out here!