Sex Without Condoms is the New Engagement Ring
Series: Youth Radio's the Best of "What's the New What?"
From: Youth Radio
Length: 00:03:02
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Piece Description
Provocative yes, but balanced and interesting, this story commanded the top of NPR's most viewed list for the better part of a week and it sparked hundreds of online comments when it first aired. While many listeners were angry and shocked, just as many were in agreement with Pendarvis' premise and thankful for real and honest youth reporting.
This story is part of Youth Radio's Best of What's the New What? series, which asks what new trends in youth culture are replacing old trends. In short: What's the New What?
3 Comments
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Review on Sex Without CondomsThis is a honest and relaxed piece about a very concerning but true theme. The narrator's voice as well as the flow of the piece are good. The intro does a really good job in getting the listener's attention and the rest of the piece keeps it that way. I liked the use of the music which I think creates a somewhat humorous atmosphere. The engineering of all the sounds, music, etc. are good. I really like the "real" feeling that the piece has, and the fact that it is a guy's voice is interesting because because most times it seems that only girls think about this theme. I think the narrator's opinion on the theme (if it is ok or not) would make the piece more interesting, maybe that would have created a little more discussion making the listener think about which side she/he would take. |
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Review of 'Sex Without Condoms is the New Engagement Ring'Well produced. Nice use of music. I especially enjoyed the "here comes the bride" song attached to it. However, I think the music could have been less of a focus of the piece. Granted, I realize you could have listened to the varying versions of that piece with or without music but at a first listen I think there could have been a lot more discussion after the music, leading into a lot of other topics regarding the issue at hand. The piece holds a lot of interesting points. However, I wish there had been more discussion from the narrator as well as the people interviewed. The piece brings a lot of different ideas to light, but leaves it in a way that it doesn't give the listener much to work with after the fact. I think the piece could have been improved with a lot more commentary from the narrator. Expanding more on the idea of the condom being a wedding ring and people who think it is or isn't true. Overall, it was a great piece. But I wish there had been more. |
Broadcast History
7/24/08 - Broadcast on NPR's Day To Day
Transcript
With LONG Music Tail Version
Sex Without a Condom sex is the New Engagement Ring…
Pendarvis Harshaw, Youth Radio
What’s the new what? Sex without a condom is the new engagement ring.
My generation has known the threat of HIV/AIDS our entire lives, and sex without a condom isn’t something we enter into lightly.
For a lot of my friends, the transition from having sex WITH to sex WITHOUT a condom, is seen as a symbolic “engagement.” It shows trust, commitment, and the prospect of a shared future; an engagement more practical than spending money on a piece of jewelry for a marriage that might not pass the test of time.
Now close your eyes and envision that classic love story…
AX: fade up on traditional wedding march…
Ahhh, it sounds a bit like this right
AX: Halting record scratch sound…
Engagement two point O goes something more like this…first a couple has an intense sit down, during which they decide...
Read the full transcript
With SHORT Music Tail Version
Sex Without a Condom sex is the New Engagement Ring…
Pendarvis Harshaw, Youth Radio
What’s the new what? Sex without a condom is the new engagement ring.
My generation has known the threat of HIV/AIDS our entire lives, and sex without a condom isn’t something we enter into lightly.
For a lot of my friends, the transition from having sex WITH to sex WITHOUT a condom, is seen as a symbolic “engagement.” It shows trust, commitment, and the prospect of a shared future; an engagement more practical than spending money on a piece of jewelry for a marriage that might not pass the test of time.
Now close your eyes and envision that classic love story…
AX: fade up on traditional wedding march…
Ahhh, it sounds a bit like this right
AX: Halting record scratch sound…
Engagement two point O goes something more like this…first a couple has an intense sit down, during which they decide...
Read the full transcript
Without Music Tail Version
Sex Without a Condom sex is the New Engagement Ring…
Pendarvis Harshaw, Youth Radio
What’s the new what? Sex without a condom is the new engagement ring.
My generation has known the threat of HIV/AIDS our entire lives, and sex without a condom isn’t something we enter into lightly.
For a lot of my friends, the transition from having sex WITH to sex WITHOUT a condom, is seen as a symbolic “engagement.” It shows trust, commitment, and the prospect of a shared future; an engagement more practical than spending money on a piece of jewelry for a marriage that might not pass the test of time.
Now close your eyes and envision that classic love story…
AX: fade up on traditional wedding march…
Ahhh, it sounds a bit like this right
AX: Halting record scratch sound…
Engagement two point O goes something more like this…first a couple has an intense sit down, during which they decide...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
With LONG Music Tail Version
0:00 - 2:03 Commentary
2:03 Music tail begins
3:02 Music fades out
With SHORT Music Tail Version
0:00 - 2:03 Commentary
:03 Music tail begins
2:19 Music fades out
Without Music Tail Version
0:00 - 2:03 Commentary
Intro and Outro
INTRO:The Best of What’s the New What is a series produced by Youth Radio looking back at the most interesting and provocative trends of 2008. Commentator Pendarvis Harshaw says that for young people in their early 20’s, sex without condoms is replacing a different right of passage…the engagement ring. Youth Radio produced this story.
OUTRO:Pendarvis Harshaw’s story was produced by Youth Radio.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Here Comes the Bride | The Sequence | The Sugar Hill Records Story. | Sugar Hill | 1982 | 06:18 |
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Posted on September 28, 2009 at 10:51 PM | Permalink
YEB review of Sex Without Condoms is the New Engagement Ring
I secretly want to be Dan Savage. So when I found this piece, I was excited. And I was not let down. This piece explores, not only this new concept of love and trust beyond the confinement of a ring, but the weaknesses in the "bonds" of marriage. The piece was very well-put together. It was humourous for such a loaded topic. The juxtaposition of wedding vows and walking down the aisles of a health clinic are remarkably clever and true. If you aren't comfortable with your body and another person, it is as big of a step as walking down the aisle. The narration was witty and cativative. The beginning of the piece was very serious, discussing the threat of AIDs and other STIs. It then transitioned to a lighter tone. We hear the input of other teens on this topic and why they believe sex without a condom is more permanent than a wedding vow. While I really enjoyed this piece, I wish it was more complex. What do more conservative people say about this? What about a medical prosective? A diversity in opinion would have completed this, otherwise, interesting radio piece.