Sunday, August 24, 2003

By John Hayes, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

What's cool? That depends a lot on where you live, how many presidents you can remember and whether the bill of your ballcap faces the future or the past.

Of course, a working knowledge of what people think is seriously cool and terminally uncool is more important if you spend all day being stared at by the kids sitting behind you in class.

	Cool survey: Think you know what's cool? Go to the A&E page to participate in an online survey that allows you to vote on which movie, CD or concert will develop the biggest buzz.

Are these the right shoes? Is this last year's haircut? Should I hide my Britney CDs in my designer book bag and talk about the new "Survivor" series, or should I proudly wear my White Stripes T-shirt to the multiplex? Or am I just too cool to care?

With many schools set to open this week, it's time for a primer on this fall's cool quotient for Pittsburgh teenagers and their parents. Five teens, ages 16 to 18, reveal their take on what's in, what's out and what's too old-school to mention.

Movies

As one of the worst summers in the history of cinema comes to a close, moviegoers may look forward to some higher-quality films, but they'll have to look hard. Hot on the heels of "28 Days Later," horror flicks such as "Cabin Fever" and "Underworld," about a flesh-eating virus and a war between vampires and werewolves, respectively, should spook teen moviegoers enough to tide them over until Halloween season. Ridley Scott's "Matchstick Men," a Nicolas Cage vehicle, combines a great lead with a great story: An obsessive-compulsive con man gets thrown for a loop on his latest heist when he meets the daughter he never knew he had. -- Julian Cantella, 17, Ross, Penn State University

For as long as I can remember, the same genres of films have attracted American teenagers. I think the two most popular types of movies for teens are romantic comedies and horror films. Both varieties can be enjoyed with your significant other or just a group of friends. The most recent romantic comedy, "American Wedding," was a huge hit among teens, and I'm sure the new horror film "Cabin Fever" will be, too. -- Cassandra Quinn, 16, Bridgeville, South Fayette High School

Music

The hard-driving rock 'n' roll of punk music has faded faster on the charts than Good Charlotte's career. Apparently, teenagers have tired of hearing 30-year-olds singing about high school life. Pop records have not caught on among teens as they did a few years ago, but R&B and hip-hop are hip, with songs often dealing with "magic sticks" and "tailfeathers." They're usually rapped by a headliner with guest appearances by up to five guests, most notably Jay-Z and Ashanti. More young people are also starting to discover country music, with new CDs out from Brooks & Dunn and Brad Paisley. -- Nicholas Tolomeo, 17, Shaler, West Virginia University

Musical tastes are about as subjective as you can get. One person may think a song is super cool while another could consider it hell on earth. Recent popular music is especially difficult to pinpoint. MTV tells us that Xtina is the best thing ever, but are we really supposed to believe that she's an artist because her hair is a darker hue (than Britney & Co.)? -- Alaina Lamothe, 18, Baldwin, Point Park College

Concerts

Fall is a good time for smaller venues, because cooling temperatures keep crowds away from the outdoor amphitheaters. If you're not busy, you can still make the New Pornographers show at Rosebud tonight (18 and over). But if you're making long-term plans, Cursive is coming to Laga (Sept. 15), as are Death Cab for Cutie and Mates of State (Oct. 28). Also, the Essex Green at Rosebud (Sept. 18, 18 and over), Rebecca Gates and Ted Leo at the all-ages Quiet Storm (Sept. 15), and watch out for future announcements regarding the location of Sept. 19's Tom Tom Club show. Don't forget to check out low-profile venues like the Rex Theatre and Mr. Roboto Project for all-ages shows featuring local indie rock and punk bands. -- Emily Fear, 18, South Park, Chatham College

Club Laga remains the place to go for any underage fan of music in the reggae-ska-punk spectrum. Cool upcoming shows include Burning Spear (Sept. 30), The Pietasters (Oct. 3) and Avail (Oct. 4). Rosebud, usually a more low-key venue, will be crashed Sept. 16 by the hard-rocking Raveonettes, a garage-rock duo reminiscent of The White Stripes. -- Julian Cantella

TV

The fall TV lineup is starting soon, with brand new episodes of popular teen shows including "7th Heaven," "That '70s Show" and "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter." The reality of reality shows is that they are here to stay, especially "Survivor," "Amazing Race" and "American Idol." On cable, "Sex and the City" and World Wrestling Entertainment remain favorites. While MTV continues to serve up garbage such as "Punk'd," "The Real World," Good Charlotte music videos and anything involving Carson Daly's big head. -- Nicholas Tolomeo

TV Guide tells me there are too much sex and violence on prime-time television. I wouldn't know about that because I'm too busy looking forward to the next season of NBC's "American Dreams." This show has everything a person could ask for. I didn't expect to take the '60s throwback show seriously when I found it had current pop stars performing in place of those who actually appeared on "American Bandstand." Thankfully, the cameos take up little air time and merely serve as a garnish on a show that could do just as well without recognizable faces to capture new viewers. -- Alaina Lamothe

Web sites

Pro wrestling, so often an object of the cool kids' derision, is viewed on an appropriately campy level by the humor site www.wrestlecrap.com , which provides weekly entries on the countless shameful moments in the pseudo-sport's history. Its mailbag, meanwhile, features reflections on myriad pop culture oddities, from obscure "Simpsons" references to detailed dissections of the world's worst sandwich, the BK Veggie. -- Julian Cantella

Significant portions of a teenager's waking hours are spent on the Internet, whether it's chatting with friends or exploring the Web. Teenage girls tend to be drawn to their favorite clothing lines and fashion magazine Web sites. Guys, especially those who are addicted to video games, spend time looking for clues to their favorite games. But sites such as eBay.com and MTV.com bring in crowds from both sexes. -- Cassandra Quinn

Internet downloads

Music, games and pics have been routinely downloaded for years, so it was only a matter of time before compression technology became advanced enough to allow users to bring in movies. While plenty of illegal downloading is available (including some movies just entering theaters), sites such as The Animatrix () and The Hire (www.bmwfilms.com ) offer legal, free, high-quality movies for anyone with a fast enough connection. -- Julian Cantella

DVD/Video rental

If you don't feel like dropping $8 to sit in a theater and listen to people's cell phone conversations and pick Gobstoppers from between your shoe treads, rent a video or DVD. "Final Destination 2," "Daredevil" and "Old School" are among the top new releases geared toward young people. MTV has just released two DVDs dealing with hip-hop and rock (or at least what MTV tells us is hip-hop and rock). The best DVDs are box sets. Essentials include "The Godfather," "Lord of the Rings" and "The Simpsons: Complete First Season." -- Nicholas Tolomeo

A general rule when renting a new release is to stick to remembering Betty White as kind-hearted Rose of "The Golden Girls," not as the racial-epithet-spewing hag in "Bringing Down the House." -- Alaina Lamothe

Video games

With the temperatures dropping, the leaves changing and the unequaled beauty of fall soon to be upon us, the best thing to do is stay in your bedroom and play video games. You can't go wrong with "Grand Theft Auto 3." For Gameboy Advanced users, "Warioware," with its hundreds of mini-games, is a surefire way for you to ignore your responsibilities and ruin your eyesight. -- Emily Fear

Being a teenage girl, I'm not exactly a connoisseur of video games like some of the guys I know. However, after getting some input from teenagers of the opposite sex, I discovered just what is keeping pubescent boys glued to their televisions. Here are a few hot titles right now: "Madden NFL 2004," "Fifa Football 2004," "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," "Final Fantasy" and "V-Rally 3." -- Cassandra Quinn

Books

Most of the time, students' reading habits are shaped by what their English teachers assign to them. The only books read more than those that are assigned are the CliffsNotes to assigned reading. But with the fifth installment of Harry Potter out and movies turned books (and vice versa), including "Seabiscuit," "The Princess Diaries" and "A Walk to Remember," teens are also reading just for the fun of it. -- Nicholas Tolomeo

When school leaps into session, required reading tags along for the ride. Most mandatory assignments are so tired and treacherous that reading for pleasure is a foreign concept. But sometimes, a gal needs a break from schoolbooks. When magazines and newspapers fail to sate a literary craving, I know my first option is the childhood nostalgia route. Forget R.L. Stine. The real pre-adolescent attention-grabber was Christopher Pike. His chapter books have just enough insight to allow for a fulfilling read and just enough risque content to forget that the average reading level for his books is around sixth grade. -- Alaina Lamothe

Fast food

Upscale fast food wins the hearts (or rather, stomachs) of today's teens, with most preferring relatively healthy eateries such as Subway or Panera Bread to grease factories like McDonald's. Meanwhile, restaurants with quick service, low prices and, most importantly, late hours -- notably Eat'N Park -- are prime teen destinations. -- Julian Cantella

Fast food has always been an imperative part of a teenager's life. Whenever mom's home cooking isn't what you're craving, McDonald's and Wendy's tend to provide satisfaction. Fast-food crazes these days are a paradox in themselves. Take the two newest food addictions: Subway and Krispy Kreme. One offers sandwiches with less than 8 grams of fat, while the other makes enjoying a warm glazed doughnut even easier with a drive-through. -- Cassandra Quinn

Hot spots

Age usually determines the location of teenage hangouts. Teens with driver's licenses usually have more options open to them on a Saturday night. The mall, the movies and local diners are still pretty hot on weekend nights. But even more popular these days are the teen clubs around Pittsburgh. The Edge in Coraopolis and Rock Jungle at Station Square are the places to be. -- Cassandra Quinn

Hair

The closest most guys come to a hairstyle is deciding which way to wear their hats. The options range from the traditional down in the front to forward but tilted off center to the classic backwards cap. Bleaching blond, buzz cuts, Mohawks and spikes in any parts whatsoever are out. Longer, curly and out-of-control remain a popular choice among guys. And just remember: Chicks dig the mullet. Girls steal hairstyles more than they steal glances from guys. Girls get their ideas from movies, friends and magazines. The extra-short look requires an element of risk but can look good, although I would not recommend going to Cost Cutters and chopping off 6 inches. From what I am told, bangs are out, layered hair is in and dying multicolors was never in. -- Nicholas Tolomeo

I've found that guys take advantage of the fact that, for the most part, their hair requires little to no maintenance. Sadly, there are always the ungrateful who feel they need to fuss with nature. The truth? Boys, you rarely even need to cut your hair. That's right, forgo Supercuts this month because floppy "emo" hair is in vogue. The look works even more if you pout and pretend that you're too forlorn and anguished to do something as trivial as groom. Potential dates will flock like flies to honey. -- Alaina Lamothe

Clothes

Assessing last year's gypsy look revival, it seems that this fall's big trend (male or female) will be pirate garb. So stock up on scarves, gold jewelry, adjustable hooks, ruffled shirts and the always fashionable eye-patches. OK, that was sarcasm, but long overdue for a comeback, polyester is the perfect fall material. Thin but warm, this versatile fabric is the invisible glue that keeps fashion together. Remember: The brighter the color, the better the polyester. -- Emily Fear

For girls, polo shirts, newsboy caps and brightly colored sneakers are all in. On the guy side, corduroy pants, trucker hats and T-shirts with Oriental characters are all popular. And at long last, it's cool to wear clothes that fit. -- Julian Cantella

Athletic shoes

Any teenager today knows just how important the right pair of shoes can be when you walk through the halls of school. And it just so happens that this season's new fad is the "vintage shoe." Companies like Reebok, Saucony, Puma and Nike are partaking in the rebirth of '70s style in today's fashion world. And who could overlook the reissue of the famous Converse basketball shoes first released in 1977? -- Cassandra Quinn

It's always recommended to wear shoes. But make sure to buy two, a left one AND a right one. I have a pair of $4 Converses from Payless. Until those wear out, that's what I'm wearing. -- Emily Fear

Book bags

Book bag styles used to be limited to either wearing your bag on both shoulders or using just using one shoulder strap, which provided a more rebellious look. But in newer book bags the two shoulder straps have been replaced with one going diagonally across the chest. Also, the messenger bag, which resembles a large purse for guys, has emerged as another option in carrying your books in style. -- Nicholas Tolomeo

When it comes to book bags, one must immediately refer to Jennifer Lopez. Would J Lo wear a book bag? I can assure you that she most definitely would not. An object that takes away from anyone's "bootyliciousness" must be disregarded. Since lockers are prevalent in most schools, book bag usage is not entirely necessary during school hours. Besides, if you really need to lug books around, invest in a messenger bag. Sure, your shoulder will ache from the strain, but you'll be making the officious-looking Sir Mix-a-Lot proud! -- Alaina Lamothe

The writers of "Cool" are veterans of "Movies 'n' Music," an online section of post-gazette.com, where Pittsburgh-area teens review and critique movies, CDs, concerts and DVD/videos. For more information, go to www.post-gazette.com/mandm. Writers must be 13 to 19. To be considered, write a sample review, include name, age, town, phone number and e-mail address, and send it to mandm@post-gazette.com