Dialogue Post: Paramore as a Paragon or Renegade of Student Development Theory

This post is meant to open a (hopefully whimsical) dialogue about Student Development in popular culture:

Upon hearing "Ain't It Fun" by Paramore being played at a social program my supervisor remarked that "student development is all over this song." You can listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics below: 

"Ain't It Fun"

I don't mind letting you down easy
But just give it time
If it don't hurt now then just wait, just wait a while

You're not the big fish in the pond no more
You are what they're feeding on

So what are you gonna do when the world don't orbit around you?
So what are you gonna do when the world don't orbit around you?

Ain't it fun living in the real world
Ain't it good being all alone

Where you're from
You might be the one who's running things
Well, you can ring anybody's bell to get what you want

You see, it's easy to ignore a trouble
When you're living in a bubble

So what are you gonna do when the world don't orbit around you?
So what are you gonna do when nobody wants to fool with you?

Ain't it fun living in the real world
Ain't it good being all alone

Ain't it good to be on your own
Ain't it fun you can't count on no one
Ain't it good to be on your own
Ain't it fun you can't count on no one

Ain't it fun living in the real world

Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world

Ain't it fun
Ain't it fun
Baby, now you're one of us
Ain't it fun
Ain't it fun

Ain't it fun

Ain't it fun living in the real world
Ain't it good, ain't it good being all alone

Ain't it fun living in the real world
('Cause the world don't orbit around you)
Ain't it good, ain't it good being all alone (oh)

Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
(Down to your mama)
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
(Don't go crying to your mama)
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
(Oh, this is the real world)
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
(Don't go crying to your mama)
This is the real world
This is the real world

Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world
Don't go crying to your mama 'cause you're on your own in the real world

Here's my question:

Is this so an example of a good or bad way to prepare students for entrance into the "real world?" My first thought is that its a bit jaded (and dark) but as an example of Chickering's "Developing Competence," "Managing Emotions," and "Moving Through Autonomy to Interdependence" it might not be too bad. 

So what do you think? Should we pop in Paramore during one of our orientation sessions? 

Comment below.

....Extra points if you can drop Student Development Theory.

Social Media and Social Overload

I've been quick to adopt social media and tech apps. Most of the time this is in the interest of "keeping up with my students." I, rightly, figure that if I am going to be reaching students I should be aware and familiar with how they choose to communicate and represent their identities. 

This video gives me pause (if perhaps only briefly), it also happens to be pretty funny. Pop culture media has a way of capturing the Zeitgeist and in this instance the option to declare "social bankruptcy" might signal a greater unease with the expectations we heap on ourselves when we strap in with a new social media app. 

We aren't defined by our technology use...or at least, we don't want to be....I assume.

Editors Note (3/23/14 - 1:00pm)

So after having watched this recent episode of Community how could I NOT post it?! Dan Harmon's treatise on Generation Like and social capital with social media. Not to mention it mixes Hunger Games and Logan's Run.