Teen subcultures and the Columbine school shootings

Internet Teen Subculture

INTERNET SOCIOLOGY: A STUDY of SUBCULTURE

AND TODAY'S YOUTH

The objective of this work is to research via an Internet search engine the subject of 'subculture' these concepts are at play in sites available through this research engine. This work seeks to answer the question of "What kind of "subculture" did the perpetrators of the Columbine shootings belong to?" Finally, this work will describe the information found on the internet about these and similar teen subcultures.

This study chose to research on the Google search engine available online at: www.google.com.It is extremely interesting when one conducts a search with the key phrases of "teen subculture" and "teen subculture, Columbine" to note several very distinct subjects displayed in the results are those of: (1) gothic; (2) satan-worshippers; (3) violence; and (4) music. Revealed upon deeper research has much to say about the state of affairs in today's home, communities and schools.

II. COLUMBINE KILLERS

However, the writings of Eric Harris, one of the perpetrators at the Columbine school reveal something very dark and sinister. In Eric's diary, he begins by stating: "If you recall your history...the Nazis came up with a 'final solution' to the Jewish problem: Kill them all. Well in case you haven't figured it out yet, I say 'Kill mankind.' No one should survive." (Cullen, 1999) the report goes on to relate that Eric fantasized about many areas but settled on Columbine school with the intent to kill all of the school's occupants that day and left behind Eric was a paper trail on his computer and in his diary. Eric wrote: "After I mow down a whole area full of you snotty ass rich mother-*****er high strung God-like-attitude-having worthless pieces of ***** whores, I don't care if I live or die..." (Cullen, 1999) Harris was also noted to hate: (1) fitness nuts; (2) Star Wars fans; (3) slow drivers in the fast lane." (Cullen, 1999) an investigator said that while this is "typical teenage" behavior, Eric went much further and "acted on this indiscriminate hate." (Cullen, 1999) the writer of this work reflects at this point in the research that while previous generations of teens upset parents and schools through listening to the revolutionary music of the Beatles and different illicit drugs have come and gone from use, the acts of Eric Harris and the other perpetrators far surpassed mere teenage rebellion. From all appearances, Eric Harris and his young friends had a deep-seated hate for everything and everyone around them and in the process became loose cannons that did go off and tragically so. At this juncture of the research posed, is the question of what indeed is to blame for the prominence of such acts in today's world and specifically those committed by those in the teenage years? Secondly the question of "what element" is either missing or present in today's homes, communities and schools that wasn't 'missing or present' in previous generations of teenagers? Reports reveal that Harris and his friend were members of a trench coat mafia group but that they had not assimilated to the group completely and were still 'outsiders' of even the 'outside' group. Both of the boys were good students called "brilliant" by their peers and referred to as "really nice." (Cullen, 1999; paraphrased)

III. MEDIA STUDY SPONSORED NATIONAL ONLINE TEEN OUTREACH

The Techtalk website reported in March 2000 that a "national outreach program to encourage conversations among teenagers and leading educators about popular culture and media convergence" took place. This program rose spurred by the Columbine High School event in 1999 and is an educational outreach "intended to solicit communication from a new generation of cultural participants." (Techtalk, 2000)

DISCUSSION

While no empirical findings may come of what is a very brief scope within this work as to precisely what element in today's world most contributed to the incident at Columbine school it can however, be readily discerned that something was missing in the lives of Eric Harris and his cohort. It appears that these two boys sought to fill that emptiness with first the 'Trench Coat Mafia' however, they were still 'outsiders'. In addition, while both of these boys held by their peers to be academically 'brilliant' yet something went integrally wrong in their lives. In the course of this short review more questions have arisen than could possibly be answered however, what is certain is that these two boys had effectively been abandoned and left on the fringes without a proper role to fulfill in their community as well as their school. The development of a 'Trench Coat Mafia' in any community and school should indicate to educators, parents and other members in the community that there is a sad lacking in elements for participation so that all teens have a positive and productive place in the community and school in which they feel they belong. Had these two boys had different opportunities or options or perhaps even a forum in which to voice then perhaps they would not have felt the need to gain attention and express themselves in the tragic manner that history relates. Whether it be civic activities or other activities it is clear that today's parents, educators and communities must establish a dialogue with today's teens so that such 'brilliant' and 'very nice' students might instead of killing their classmates find a place to positively contribute and effectively voice themselves and simultaneously feel as if they 'belong.'