Summary: Youth Radio's Pendarvis Harshaw says that for a lot of his friends, the transition from having sex with a condom to sex without, is seen as a symbolic "engagement."
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.
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.
This 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.
Comments for Sex Without Condoms is the New Engagement Ring
This piece belongs to the series "Youth Radio's the Best of "What's the New What?""
Produced by Youth Radio and Pendarvis Harshaw
Other pieces by Youth Radio
Rating Summary
3 comments
Eming Piansay
Posted on December 24, 2008 at 08:12 PM | Permalink
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.
Sandra Chen
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.
Fernanda Sanchez
Posted on June 17, 2009 at 06:30 PM | Permalink
Review on Sex Without Condoms
This 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.