"I know that whatever I do in the future, the web's gonna be a part of it," says one teen in the latest episode of the PBS-aired award-winning In the Mix, and--unless you're Neil Postman or Sven Birkerts--that probably goes for just about everybody, teen and not-so-teen. At its worst (the beginning), Computers--Get Plugged In! plays more like a teen model shoot (one teen girl with a Winona Ryder cut twirls, blows kisses at the camera, and does precious little else) than a useful guide for techno-shy teens. But, when the program guides stop showboating and let the interviewees talk, viewers will learn some cool things about the Internet: They no longer need to drop a few bucks on the latest copy of Tiger Beat, "free" posters of celebs abound on the web; colleges are accepting online applications; the fashion and music industries rely heavily on computer skills; and some teens are making serious money (for the important things in life, such as fast food and rap CD's) by designing web pages for paying customers. Teen viewers will also learn where to find free Internet access (at the library, and the program can't pass up the opportunity to do the tired "Shhh! It's a library" joke), where to apply for student financial aid (and how to visit college home pages), and (ahem) how to find Jeff Goldblum fan pages (saying this, in print, is tantamount to voluntarily submitting to torture, since my wife, Anne, will surely put emery boards underneath my fingernails until I divulge the actual URL's for these sites). These minor quibbles aside, the program definitely accomplishes it main goal: to convince teens that computer literacy is not only fun, but crucial to their futures. Highly recommended. Aud: I, J, H, P. (R. Pitman)
In the Mix: Computers--Get Plugged In!
(1997) 29 min. $59.95. In the Mix. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 13, Issue 4
In the Mix: Computers--Get Plugged In!
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