The 8 Mile DVD arrived on store shelves March 18, selling a record-breaking 2 million-plus copies in the first 24 hours (estimated gross of $40 million). Unless the people plunking down all that cash bought the version that contains "Censored Bonus Features" (an option unimaginable to most Eminem fans, and a luxury for which Amazon.com is charging an extra $2.75), they got more than just an R-rated movie. Bonus features include what Entertainment Weekly calls "Eminem’s adults-only video ‘Superman,’ in which the rapper frolics with a topless porn star and exposes his bare butt." Such pornography is to be expected from rap’s baddest bad boy and it hardly seems out of place next to such a vulgar movie, but why is Teen People giving 25 copies of this DVD away in a current contest targeting teens? Will those free copies be censored? Does it even matter if they are? Contest rules stipulate that no one under age 17 can win without the consent of a parent or guardian. But that’s like Time or Newsweek offering prizes for readers under age 12. [EW.com, 3/13/03; Teen People, 4/03; Hollywood Reporter, 3/20/03] rap/movie trends/porn

Quote: "I think we’re catching up with the sexiness of culture. I think it’s hard to say we’re more obsessed with sex than we’ve ever been. I would say sex is more a regular part of our life than it’s ever been. Back in 1953, when [Playboy] was created, it was a taboo, it was something talked about in dark corners and in alleyways. Now it’s something that’s talked about on network TV. And it’s talked about very openly, and we’re bombarded by visions of sex. Now, some of the taboos still exist, but those doors are being broken down one by one. And that’s a very good thing for this country." —James Kaminsky, former executive editor of Maxim and newly appointed editorial director of Playboy [Los Angeles Times, 10/20/02] porn

Quote: "My music—the language and the way it’s put together—is worse than me bein’ in a porn [film]. It’s all entertainment, man. Sex, money, and murder is what people love, and I’m just givin’ you a piece of my mind." —Snoop Dogg, insisting that it’s no big deal that he’s done porn flicks since his music’s just as bad [EW.com, 12/3/02] rap/porn

Quote: "Everybody who sold drugs in my ’hood [are] all in the music business now. If they’re not in the business, they’re protecting somebody in the business. People wanna portray things they haven’t lived. If you gonna run around and say you a murderer, and you don’t kill nobody, you need a killer in your vicinity." —50 Cent, on "keepin’ it real" in the rap world [Rolling Stone, 2/6/03] rap

Quote: "[Rap music] is not a thing that’s going to last as long as I have. First of all, you can’t understand what it is and it has no meaning. The lyrics are very disgusting because you are a person, and a person deserves respect. I have daughters, my mother was a woman, and I don’t like what I’m hearing." —74-year-old bluesman Bo Diddley [CNN.com, 3/3/03] rap

Quote: "I definitely believe that what you take in, especially music, regardless of what people say, it does affect culture and society, and it’s an influence whether you want it to be or not. If you’re being negative, you’re going to be a negative influence. Kids need to know that. There’s probably even Christian music, as horrible as that might sound, that might influence you in the wrong way." —CCM rapper John Reuben [Toledo Blade, 3/8/03] c&e:music

Quote: "There are other teenagers, some who aren’t straight, and they have lots of problems with parents and other people. We’re helping them not to be afraid. That’s what people like about us, I think. We’re not afraid of anything. We just do what we want to do." —t.A.T.u. singer Lena Katina, on why she and partner Julia Volkova express lesbian sensuality in their music and videos [USA Today, 3/6/03] gay

Quote: "[We] need a culture change in the marketing department and in the agencies, so there is no longer the feeling that the right thing to do is to see how close you can get to the edge. It’s to say this is a responsible industry, and we’re not interested in pushing limits, we’re interested in promoting responsible drinking." —Marcus Grant, president of the International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP), on a proposal he hopes will tone down raunchy, controversial beer ads. Though ICAP "is sponsored by major beverage alcohol producers," Culture Clips isn’t holding it’s breath to see if Coors and Miller fall in line [New York Times, 3/6/03; ICAP.org, 3/6/03] tv/drugs

Quote: "It was the ultimate reality moment." —ABC executive Andrea Wong, after a camera crew taping Roseanne ran into another camera crew shooting Ozzy Osbourne at the Barney’s New York store in Beverly Hills [Variety/Newsweek, 3/10/03] truman/tv

Quote: "We learn how to kiss, or to drink, talk to our buddies—all the things that you can’t really teach in social studies or history—we all learn them at the movies." —Jack Nicholson, on the ubiquitous teacher the big screen has become [LA Times/Reader’s Digest, 4/03] c&e:movies

Quote: "I don’t think God really cares how you do it, just that you’re willing to do it. [Life] is not ice skating. God wants you to amble toward the right spot on the horizon. You might f--- up, but the idea is that you’re willing to get up and keep moving toward that light." —spiritually enlightened Zwan singer Billy Corgan (formerly of Smashing Pumpkins) [RollingStone.com, 3/12/03]

Quote: "My New Year’s resolutions were to read the Bible and learn how to knit. I know I sound totally out of character." —Baywatch star Pamela Anderson [People, 2/17/03] celebs

Women who go under the knife to enlarge their breasts are more likely to commit suicide, a study conducted by Dutch and Swedish scientists states. Out of 3,521 women who had breast augmentation surgery between 1965 and 1993, 15 had killed themselves, a rate three times greater than that of the general population. Researchers noted that those who pursue the surgery might also have trouble with low self-esteem or poor body image, saying, "If women have a psychological problem and they are given breast implants they will still have that problem." [Reuters, 3/6/03] stats/body image

Culture Clips isn’t given to fits of giggling, but if it were, this certainly would inspire one: Monica Lewinsky (yes, that Monica Lewinsky) will soon be hosting a reality show on Fox. The 29-year-old former White House intern has landed a job as host of the hidden-identity dating show, Mr. Personality, slated to debut April 21. [Reuters, 3/20/03] truman/tv

Finally, a frivolous lawsuit that actually makes sense. Shock jock Howard Stern has sued ABC and the producers of the reality series Are You Hot? claiming the show is based on his ideas that aired on his radio program. [Associated Press, 3/14/03] truman/tv

Culture Clips Archive (View past issues of Culture Clips.)

Culture Clips is researched, compiled and written by Adam Holz with assistance from Bob Hoose, Paul Asay and Meredith Whitmore. It is edited by Steven Isaac.

Sources for #1s: Billboard, BPI Communications, SoundScan, Nielsen Media Research, Box Office Mojo, Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., Video Business, Video Software Dealers Assoc., Associated Press

Culture Clips is published weekly as an information service to those who are attempting to shape our culture for the better. Plugged In and Focus on the Family do not guarantee the accuracy of any featured story, nor do they even necessarily agree with its content. Hence, Culture Clips consistently credits the various news agencies from which stories are derived. When quoting from Culture Clips please credit both Plugged In Online and the news source responsible for the story.

If you wish to be removed from the Culture Clips e-mail distribution list, unsubscribe from Plugged In Online's eNewsletter here.

If you wish to be added to the Culture Clips list, subscribe to Plugged In Online's eNewsletter here.

Culture Clips and the Plugged In eNewsletter are currently complimentary services of Plugged In and Focus on the Family.