'Gres' talks up a storm about matters of youth
By Sri Ramadani
JAKARTA (JP): A group of teenagers prowled around a mall, their hair a rainbow of colors. Some wore nose rings, others sported piercings in their lips, eyebrows or navels, which were exposed by skimpy T-shirts. Their jeans were torn at fashionably strategic areas; some of them had body tattoos.
They have tapped into the funky fashion and lifestyle trends for adolescents who are interested in experimenting and testing the boundaries of their growing freedom. But what is the motivation for adopting the style?
That was the question asked last week to students from two Jakarta high schools by singers Opie Andaresta and Dik Doank, hosts of the talk show Gres, the acronym for gaya remaja sekarang, or "the style of youth today" (TPI, Sunday, 5:30 p.m.)
At the outset Opie told the group she was not interested in following trends but simply wanted to be herself. Dik said he was interested in coloring his hair if it would be easy to remove before he went to pray!
The discussion got going as a student offered his thoughts about the new fashion style. He said it was acceptable if it was appropriate for the occasion, such as a birthday part or a performance by a band.
However, he drew the line at having tattoos or men with earrings. He said it was against God's will.
A friend of his interjected that the environment was conducive to students experimenting with unusual trends even thought their parents were against it.
Matters became more serious when another student said that she had a friend who became blind in one eye after he removed his eyebrow ring.
In the middle of the talk there was a fashion show with models wearing some of the funky fashion styles. It led to more comments and debate. As usual, there were also video clips of public figures giving their opinions on the subject.
Gres, with its weekly exploration of teenagers' knowledge, attitudes, efforts and opinions on topical issues, is not only interesting for adolescents, but also for parents and other adults. It may provide them with a better understanding of youth and the challenges they face today.
The show's production house, Indigo Productions, provides a script to the hosts to guide the show, but most of the discussion ensues from the comments of participants and the responses of their peers. It is up to the host to keep the discussion flowing (Opie is leaving the show, citing time constraints).
Although there is no deep analysis of the problems, the show leaves it up to teenagers to form their own opinions and take what they want from the different views.
The general conclusion from the show on funky fashion was that followers should be careful not to violate norms of culture and religion.
Planned for this Sunday is a show about teenagers taking the plunge into marriage. Artist Adam and swimmer Kevin are scheduled to talk about their experience and opinion on why they married at a young age. Two groups of students will present their views on the subject, looking at the positive and negative aspects and their parents' expectations for the future.
Upcoming themes will include crime, children from broken homes, pocket money, graffiti, study abroad, students dating teachers and culture.