Final Reflection
This is the last piece that I am writing for my blog assignment in Pop Culture in America. It has been unlike anything that I have ever done before. I know that I am a freshmen here at Ohio University, but writing in this blog has really made me the teacher. Sure we had a Professor Medina, but we would only talk for about 4 hours a week. When I walked out of class every Tuesday and Thursday, I would have a sheet of paper with a couple of themes and some slight notes about the theme. When I got home though, that’s when I really started to learn why it was important.
I work out of class all the time, studying and writing papers. I am forced to read a text book that tells me what the difference between the frontal lobe and the hippocampus is. With this assignment, I knew it would be time consuming but I never thought it would be so eye opening. Everyday things, from the shoes I am wearing on my feat to why I am attracted to women of power, were all doings of my generation’s popular culture. It takes me about forty five minutes to write a decent blog, but it doesn’t end there. I am still stuck on the subject, for even the next couple days. When I wrote a blog about consumerism, all that I could do while watching the television is dissect it into microscopic themes and marketing techniques.
While writing my blogs, I fully understand the influence that pop culture has on us. How reality television will be a thing of the past, when today it is larger than life. That our common ideal’s of what a man should be, is really just sharing the characteristics of Tim Tebow. How expecting mothers should take a page out of Lois Griffen’s book. Pop Culture is so much more than we give credit to.
Though I learned how to pick up on the simple messages that pop culture delivers us, there is one thing that I really am glad I found out. What is pop culture? It was the first thing that we talked about in class and the subject had the most writings regarding it. Yet i could not answer the question. Only through thinking about other themes and the subjects I would convey these themes through, it all became clear to me. Pop Culture is what we are exposed to everyday in the most simple ways. From our haircuts to the youtube.
This assignment has made me realize the influence around me and what to think about them. I now understand what Popular Culture is and I will always be quick to pick out its different aspects as I mature. Blogging has made me a more critical thinker, because I know that I have a good opinions and I want everybody to understand what I am saying and maybe make other readers think a bit too. I also enjoyed being able, to think about other people’s opinions dealing with or culture.
Overall it has been worthwhile in many different ways. I am glad to have been able to share my ideas about how i look at Popular Culture for both myself and my classmates
In the great closing statement of Billy Madison….. Peace I’m outta here!
(re) Jesus Hates Pop Culture
This is a comment on Thomas’ post “Jesus Hates Pop Culture“
Its hard to say whether I agree or disagree with Thomas’ on this one. I do think that it is crazy that these people are out on the streets protesting this. Seriously? Do they really think that people are going to walk by on the streets and go “Oh yea, they make sense… I think I am going to grab my bible and run under a rock.” No they are not and it just seems dumb to protest a culture.
At the same time though I think Jesus really doesn’t like pop culture too much either. I am not religious by any means, but I really think that my generations culture has become more accepting of people not believing in God. Back in the days of my father, even if you were a person who didn’t think that God existed, you still went to church and prayed just because believing in God was a must. Now that we live in a world where people openly make fun of Christians more than they praise them, Jesus has really lost his meaning.
I have no meaning for Jesus, maybe it is because of my culture. I don’t really know the answer to that one. All I know is that when something is taken off its pedestal than less people seem to care about it at all. I have a hard time believing that Jesus is going to ruin our culture, but its not even arguable that the openness of my culture has made it acceptable to not follow Jesus.
References
http://howgoodisthat.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/jesus-thumps-up1.jpg
(re) Could a Viral Video Lead to Successful Political Campaign?
This is a comment on Anthony’s blog.
http://iceman1190.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/could-a-viral-video-lead-to-a-successful-political-campaign/
I agree with Anthony, that viral videos are definitely a new frontier when it comes to sending a message and having it heard. Why not in politics as well? Politicians these days would be more than idiotic to not utilize viral videos. Like it or not that is what is in now. Back in the day people thought it was asinine to use the television instead of having a live debate or getting press coverage in the newspaper. Communication should be the number one focus on a politicians mind. They should wish to reach out to every citizen in order to have their voice heard. Why not stay ahead of the curve or at least go with it.
Megan McCain’s account is very non-biased. She is a republican but still can see how the GOP is starting to slow down with technology. Just take a look at the typical republican. A republican is the best example of a group that doesn’t want to evolve. The whole party does not want to evolve politically, they want to stay out of the way and keep it simple. Same way with the technology.
I am really not so decided on my political views, simply because I have lots of peer pressure coming from different angles. When watching television with my father I have to listen to Hanity and Limbaugh. When just going to school or surfing the web I get the pressure to be a democrat. The democrats, through their use of the internet have made the republicans look like the PC guy and democrats as trendy cool individuals like the Mac. I think it is working. For the same reasons that Macs have spike in sales is the reason Obama won the 2008 race by such a margin.
Politics are not exempt from changing. Everything has to change or else it gets lost in the dust. Republicans must change their ways and realize that they are in for a bad couple of decades if they do not start trying harder.
I have included a video that demonstrates the image that the democrats are giving the republicans, and if the republicans do not evolve will start being thought of that way for many years to come.
American Idol is strangely intriguing
Millions of viewers in the United States give up their evenings to watch one show in the spring season. That show is American Idol. Everybody has seen it and everybody remembers at least one performer that really impressed them. I myself would watch the show with my obsessed parents on occasion. My favorite part is the beginning episodes, which you get to see Simon destroy any sliver of confidence some really awful singers had. I enjoyed it, my parents sure as hell enjoy it, and it seems like the rest of my great nation is right there with us.
American Idol has been on television for nine seasons and it doesn’t seem as if they are going to drop it anytime soon. The show is currently the number one show on television and has been in the top three for the past five years. My question is why is this though? We can hear many talented people sing just by turning on the closest radio. We can watch more important things, like a viscous alligator jumping out of the water and eating a gazelle. American Idol has been the answer to what television audiences like, im not saying that it is a good show, but it is the affect of good timing and differential formatting.
Americans have grown attached to their television sets in the past couple decades, sort of like a family member. The most enjoyable part of having a family member is to be able to interact with it. The idea of American Idol is that regular people’s career fates, actually rely on us. We can be the Supreme Court of the music industry. I found myself actually casting a vote for Micheal Johns after he sang Bohemian Rhapsody.
Amercian Idol is a reality show at its greatest. It makes the consumer part of the show and creates a sense of loyalty. Loyalty is what brings the show consistent ratings. Producers love the show because of the contracts and fans love the show because they feel a sense of closeness. Everybody wins.
references
Jenkins, Henry. “Buying into American Idol.” Print.
“American Idol History.” Buddy TV. Web. 9 Nov. 2009. <http://www.buddytv.com/american-idol.aspx>
(re)Racism in Disney? No..
This is a comment on Stefan’s post Racism in Disney? No..
Disney movies are somewhat racist. I am saying this because after watching some of them in my adult years, its pretty apparent if your looking for it. In the Jungle Book everyone in the film speaks with a good English accent accept for the monkeys who happen to speak jive. One could say that the depiction is that the monkeys represent black people. I really would not doubt it at all. The crab with a Jamaican accent in The Little Mermaid talks about how life under the sea is so good just because they don’t have to work. Looking at it now its pretty ridiculous. (Joesph)
I do not agree though that its bad for children to watch these things. As a child, I grew up in a household that owned every Disney movie you could think of. I can honestly say that I am not a racist person. Two of my best friends are Jewish and Chinese. To top it off my roommate is black and we get down. Yes this is not the best argument but we have to think about who is actually watching these movies. Children do not watch a movie for the symbolism in characters and plot points. They like to watch movies with beautiful colors and happy endings. Sure if Disney ended a movie with Aladin killing all the Jews then maybe there would be a problem.
Disney Movies are a good thing for the children. They teach good morals and remind kids of exactly what they are supposed to being doing, using their imagination. Disney movies may be racist if you look so deep into the symbolism, but what isn’t these days?
references
http://www.cracked.com/article_15677_9-most-racist-disney-characters.html
At what point do sports fans resemble trekkies?
A couple years ago my brother Brian and I watched a movie called Trekkies. It was an interesting view of the Star Trek fan base as a whole, along with examples of really gung-ho fans. That being said, all we could do is just laugh hysterically at these people. I mean we laughed rudely at the entire culture and that was a good night to us. There are a couple admirable traits in these people, though few, but they do exist. Trekies have unbelievable loyalty to what they truly love, they have perseverance to not change even though they get made fun of, and that’s about all I can conclude. As much as I think trekies are not the coolest of the bunch, what makes them worse than giant sports fans?
In my life I have met many people who enjoy watching sports, I myself am loyal to a couple teams. I also know sports fans that I consider to be trekkies that just like sports more than Captain Kirk. The author of Pathology Henry Jenkins describes the trekkies in several steps. I will sum these steps up.
1. they are brainless consumers, 2. they cultivate useless knowledge about the subject, 3. they place inappropriate importance on cultural material, 4. they are emotionally and intellectually immature, 5. they are de-sexualized through their contact with mass culture, 6.they are unable to separate fantasy with reality. 7. They become so obsessed that it takes away from their social lives.
Let me attempt to connect sports fans with these traits. We have all seen somebody who has created a room in their house completely filled with memorabilia picturing their favorite teams logo on it. Sports fans have trivial knowledge about statistics, injuries, and past players on their team’s who have done amazing things. They will plan their day around watching the game on television or spending lots of money on season tickets. For the fans that happen to have a bad game they will be salty all day. Many husbands would rather spend their day of rest watching football instead of making love to their wives. The optimistic fans will have a serious argument about how their team will be much better next year, when all signs point the other way. I can not tie Jenkin’s last description in with sports fans, but hey six of seven is good.
My point is just because sports are liked by more people, we tend to look at the big supporters of the team as just enthusiastic. Sports fans can be just as lame as the trekkies we can so easily point our finger and laugh at.
References.
http://popcultural.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/fandom/
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEVdca9U9LM>
(Re) uncelebrity kate
This is a comment on Olivia’s post Uncelebrity Kate
http://olivia1022.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/uncelebrity-kate/
Olivia makes a fine point that even though Kate Gosselin says that all she wants is some peace and quiet with her family, she is unable to for too many reasons. The first reason she is unable to do this is because she is lying. Like anybody she wants money. I have no reason to blame her because her life doesn’t seem to fit the mold of anybody’s future plans, so she might as well get rich while she can. I mean she has written two books since 2007. Novelists hardly are able to accomplish this feat and they sure as hell do not have eight children.
The second reason is that when she is finally out of the spotlight in a couple years (not by choice) she will actually have to mother these children. She will have to go back to work in order to give them a decent life. Sure Jon will be there taking care of the kids as much as he can and providing, but not as much as book royalties and TLC are right now.
The third and final reason is just playing the part of the celebrity. It is crazy to not think that she is loving every minute of seeing herself on bookshelves, magazine stands, and television. Some people would kill to have that kind of exposure and they actually have some talent. Kate’s talent is her superwoman fertility and the ability to just be a raging maniac when provoked. She knows that for no other reason than that people do not care about her. She is caught up in the scene and is riding it for all its worth. I do not throw any blame her way because it feels good to be noticed.
Kate doesn’t want to settle down with her family until she absolutely must, because when she does that her status as a celebrity will not exist.
If you missed the hyperlink it is in the first sentence of the first paragraph.
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2351450/kate_gosselin_interview_with_natalie.html?cat=7>
Flying Spaghetti Monster
Just recently I changed my religious views on Facebook as being a member of the church of the flying spaghetti monster. It seemed so easy for me to do but looking back on it, why did i do it? The truth is that when a serious question comes up, the easiest thing to do is try to turn it around with humor. It seems that millions of others like me choose to not be so serious with there ‘public’ religious views.
Before I changed my religion to pastafarian, it read agnostic for about two years. I didn’t know what to do really. For the last couple years I have came to terms that I do not believe in God but I couldn’t put atheist. Also in those years I have been a member of the Presbyterian church but I couldn’t put christian. I found myself in a real question of what do I really think of myself? What do I want others to think of me? Luckily for confused people that are not too decisive there is the word agnostic. Agnostic is the religious equivalent to I don’t know.
The problem though was that I did know. I know that I do not believe in god but I didn’t want to put it out there for people to judge. Yes, all my friends know of my beliefs, but thats because I can actually have a conversation with them and say what I think. Lets say I am applying for a job and the public relations person looking me up is highly religious? Yet I cant just put Christian and lie about it.
Religion is a touchy subject and I think it is too touchy a subject to just throw out on a social networking site. I am protesting by joining the church of the flying spaghetti monster.
refrences
<http://poosk.com/wp-content/themes/poosk/images/iGod-FSM.jpg>
Wan, William. “Soul-Searching on Facebok.” The Washington Post [Washington] 30 Aug. 2009. Print.
(Re) Internet=Connection
This is a comment on Erika’s post Internet= Connection.
http://amerikinidit.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/internet-connection/
I agree with Erika that the internet is great for connecting people. Social networking is a great thing that is able to keep me and my friends far away in a state where we really don’t feel that far apart. The great thing about the internet is that it has so many different aspects. I believe that the internets contribution is the connection of people.
Most people think that if you only go onto facebook and myspace once a day and thats it, that you are in the category of people who use the internet only for connecting with people. I think connecting with people might be to descriptive. When I go onto GQ magazine online and read editorials, I am connecting. The author is connecting his or hers ideals within me. The advertising people are connecting me with their product. Facebook is connecting me with friends. Statistical websites are connecting me with research that I didn’t already know. Lastly we cant forget Limewire, which connects every poor child together to download music illegally.
Critics of the internet lack one important factor within their personality, optimism. Yes the internet might not give you a life experience that you remember for years to come but its much more than just a time waster. People made the internet and in every aspect they are connecting. For more examples I am including a video about the history of the internet.
What really makes us want things?
As the society continues to change the products that are consumed evolve greatly. Most contribute how we perceive things as being cool is from the Media. Advertising in basically everything we set our eyes upon. Billboards, Internet, Television, Magazines, etc. These mediums control the amount of exposure a particular product gets but does it necessarily bring the product into our homes? Just because we see it on the television, do we have to have it? I believe the answer is no. Advertising does not create consumptionism, yet acts as a catalyst. A catalyst that evolves our perception of what might be a necessity that normal people didn’t know about yet.
About five years ago Global Positioning systems existed but were not really needed unless you were a scientist. In 2009 though, it seems that for every family there is at least one GPS for driving directions. From 2005 to 2006 the sales of GPS systems virtually doubled (Moskalyuk). Advertising spiked in those years of course but only for the reason that people were buying them more. The idea of having a GPS in 2006 was much less obscure than in 2005. Society was beginning to adopt the use of this product as a part of everyday life. Advertising made most of this possible, but thats only what type of brand to buy. You can buy the new Garmin or the exclusive Tom Tom. The reason society wanted the GPS in the first place, was because somebody they knew had one and liked it.
The reason why the adult market is buying the GPS systems is the same reason children buy Jordan high tops. People buy what is cool. The more hip adults had the GPS first and they were considered trend makers. American society’s consumption of products is a science. It does not rely solely on one aspect of the business. Americans wants things not because their cool neighbor has one, nor because they see it on television. Yet when these products are being spotlighted in society so much, that it seems obscure not too have it, Americans must buy it.
refrences
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ITFacts/?p=11523
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL3ccJDplzs>
