G 7-Univ
Cost of Cool (VHS or DVD)
Youth, Consumption & The Environment
Michael Tobias • 2001 • 27 min
Sale $95.00

American teenagers alone spend 150 billion dollars annually. Hosted by Baywatch star Alexandra Paul, The Cost of Cool: Youth Consumption and the Environment shows teenagers discussing what it takes to be "cool", the pressures of consumerism, and the environmental price we pay to have the latest, "coolest" stuff.

The video offers an in-depth examination of the problem of over-consumption and its effects on the earth. The Cost of Cool looks at everyday items from t-shirts to sneakers and tracks the effect of their manufacture on the world's resources. Teenagers grapple with their learned buying patterns, recognizing that they don't need much of the stuff that they acquire.

Reviews

"The message to help the earth by getting along with less and enjoying one's own uniqueness is an important one that can lead to discussions in social studies, science, and home living classes."
- School Library Journal

"A terrific wake-up call for young adults, this is highly recommended."
- Video Librarian

"The Cost of Cool is a call for teenagers (and all Americans) to STOP and look more deeply at the consumer feeding frenzy that grips us all, even the most environmentally conscious. Its message is clear and timely... what each person does, or does not do, determines the future health of this planet."
- Erik Mollenhauer, Supervisor, EIRC Science and Social Studies Programs

"An engaging film that should capture the interest of our students. It clearly introduces a critical concept to our teens."
- Dr. Charles Khoury, Principal, Paramus High School

"This video does in fact make an impact on teenagers, and may be useful for starting class discussions in such areas as Environmental Studies. It may also be used as a starting point to make students evaluate how and why they use their purchasing powers."
- MC Journal: The Journal of Academic Media Librarianship

Awards

-Winner Cine Golden Eagle Award 2001
-Finalist, Excellence in Educational Publishing Competion

Subjects

ITEM # 722 VHS NTSC Sale $95.00