Monday, November 26, 2007
Journal Analysis Reference
Ruin, L. C. (2006). Psychotropia: Medicine, media, and the virtual asylum. The Journal of Popular Culture, 39, 260-271. Retrieved November 17, 2007 from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=4&sid=97ce13c8-ccd2-450b-b55d-107510f605e6%40sessionmgr3.
Assignment 4-1: Weekly Analysis
Within the last few years, there has been an increasing trend with celebrities to adopt children from foreign countries such as Africa. Two of the biggest names involved in this fad are Angelina Jolie and Madonna. There has been a lot of interest in the celebrity circle with charity work and helping others. However, many people are suspicious. While some celebrities do have the right intentions, others have been accused of making their philanthropy work into a publicity stunt.
Jolie was one of the first to initiate the adoption fad. In 2002, she adopted Maddox from Cambodia, followed by Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005, and finally Pax from Vietnam in 2007. Jolie and Brad Pitt, who acts as a father for these children, are not done with their adoption spree yet. Ellen Charles, 2007, author of “A Star is Adopted,” reports that Pitt has “been looking at Chad and the Czech Republic” for another child to adopt (p. 55). Jolie has been applauded for her generosity, but some still wonder if this could be a way to gain attention and recognition.
Madonna jumped on the bandwagon in 2006 when she adopted David from Malawi. There was a lot of controversy over this adoption. It has been reported that Madonna used here iconic status to illegally adopt David. Marc Lamont Hill, 2006, author of “It’s Official: Africa is Now a Hollywood Fad,” explains that Madonna “essentially paid off the Malawi government and scooped a young child from his unsuspecting poor single father” (p. 13). The father claims he did not know his rights or understand the adoption procedures. Madonna has received a lot of attention from this scandal because if she really wanted to do a good thing, she could have adopted a parentless child.
While Angelina Jolie and Madonna are two of the more recognizable names when discussing celebrity adoptions, there are many more who have also adopted children from around the world. Among these starts are Meg Ryan, Ewan McGregor, Steven Spielberg and Mia Farrow.
References
Charles, E. (2007). A Star Is Adopted. Mother Jones, 32, 55. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from http://0web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=7&sid=2a0ff687-27cd-425a-a487-1832861b91fa%40SRCSM2.
Hill, M. L. (2006). It's official: Africa is now a Hollywood fad. New York Amsterdam News, 97, 13. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from http://0web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=7&sid=2a0ff687-27cd-425a-a487-1832861b91fa%40SRCSM2.
Jolie was one of the first to initiate the adoption fad. In 2002, she adopted Maddox from Cambodia, followed by Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005, and finally Pax from Vietnam in 2007. Jolie and Brad Pitt, who acts as a father for these children, are not done with their adoption spree yet. Ellen Charles, 2007, author of “A Star is Adopted,” reports that Pitt has “been looking at Chad and the Czech Republic” for another child to adopt (p. 55). Jolie has been applauded for her generosity, but some still wonder if this could be a way to gain attention and recognition.
Madonna jumped on the bandwagon in 2006 when she adopted David from Malawi. There was a lot of controversy over this adoption. It has been reported that Madonna used here iconic status to illegally adopt David. Marc Lamont Hill, 2006, author of “It’s Official: Africa is Now a Hollywood Fad,” explains that Madonna “essentially paid off the Malawi government and scooped a young child from his unsuspecting poor single father” (p. 13). The father claims he did not know his rights or understand the adoption procedures. Madonna has received a lot of attention from this scandal because if she really wanted to do a good thing, she could have adopted a parentless child.
While Angelina Jolie and Madonna are two of the more recognizable names when discussing celebrity adoptions, there are many more who have also adopted children from around the world. Among these starts are Meg Ryan, Ewan McGregor, Steven Spielberg and Mia Farrow.
References
Charles, E. (2007). A Star Is Adopted. Mother Jones, 32, 55. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from http://0web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=7&sid=2a0ff687-27cd-425a-a487-1832861b91fa%40SRCSM2.
Hill, M. L. (2006). It's official: Africa is now a Hollywood fad. New York Amsterdam News, 97, 13. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from http://0web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=7&sid=2a0ff687-27cd-425a-a487-1832861b91fa%40SRCSM2.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Asst 3-1
A pop culture topic that I find interesting is the anonymity of the Internet. People can go online and be anyone they want to be. They can learn new trades, get degrees, play games, and talk to strangers, all without having to show their faces to anyone. Behind the computer screen, anyone has the ability to do whatever he or she wants, whether it be as innocent as sharing recipes, or as harmful as an online predator in a chat room.
One online phenomenon is online poker. By the early 2000’s, Justin Peters, 2007, author of “Jack of Smarts,” says that “dozens of online casinos had sprung up, allowing the Internet to tap its full potential as a 24-hour gaining paradise” (469). This type of gambling is allowed over the Internet because there are no laws governing this space. People can bet their life savings away without anyone being able to see their face as they do it.
On the other hand, people can go online and show their face to the whole world. The Internet can be as exposing as it can be anonymous. With sites like “MySpace” or “Facebook,” teenagers are making themselves known to the entire world. Anyone can go online and see what these kids are doing and where they are. This much exposure is much more dangerous than most people realize. Fortunately, according to Janet Kornblum, 2007, author of “The Net: a Circuit of Safety Concerns,” “several state attorneys general recently have called on social-networking sites MySpace and Facebook to ban registered sex offenders and make their sites safer” (p. 09d).
The Internet can be made into what you want it to be. It can be a place where you hide yourself and pretend you are someone else altogether, or a place where you flaunt and expose yourself to outsiders. It is an interesting concept, and I know there will soon be more regulations on what people can and can not do on the Internet.
References
Kornblum, J. (2007). The net: A circuit of safety concerns. USA Today, Life, 09d. Retrieved November 18, 2007, from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=17&sid=3b381cf9-1b07-40ad-a882-fe3d5576623f%40sessionmgr9.
Peters, J. (2007). Jack of smarts. In M. Petracca, & M. Sorapure (Eds.) Common culture (p. 469) Upper Sadle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
One online phenomenon is online poker. By the early 2000’s, Justin Peters, 2007, author of “Jack of Smarts,” says that “dozens of online casinos had sprung up, allowing the Internet to tap its full potential as a 24-hour gaining paradise” (469). This type of gambling is allowed over the Internet because there are no laws governing this space. People can bet their life savings away without anyone being able to see their face as they do it.
On the other hand, people can go online and show their face to the whole world. The Internet can be as exposing as it can be anonymous. With sites like “MySpace” or “Facebook,” teenagers are making themselves known to the entire world. Anyone can go online and see what these kids are doing and where they are. This much exposure is much more dangerous than most people realize. Fortunately, according to Janet Kornblum, 2007, author of “The Net: a Circuit of Safety Concerns,” “several state attorneys general recently have called on social-networking sites MySpace and Facebook to ban registered sex offenders and make their sites safer” (p. 09d).
The Internet can be made into what you want it to be. It can be a place where you hide yourself and pretend you are someone else altogether, or a place where you flaunt and expose yourself to outsiders. It is an interesting concept, and I know there will soon be more regulations on what people can and can not do on the Internet.
References
Kornblum, J. (2007). The net: A circuit of safety concerns. USA Today, Life, 09d. Retrieved November 18, 2007, from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=17&sid=3b381cf9-1b07-40ad-a882-fe3d5576623f%40sessionmgr9.
Peters, J. (2007). Jack of smarts. In M. Petracca, & M. Sorapure (Eds.) Common culture (p. 469) Upper Sadle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Assignment 3-2: Ritual Development
A ritual is something that someone or a group of people do over and over. Rituals can be linked to ceremonies, religion, or behaviors, but are always done faithfully. There are many rituals easily found in our society. One ritual in the Columbus area is watching The Ohio State Buckeyes play football every Saturday during their season. For the people of Columbus who are fans, which is just about everyone, watching the Ohio State football game is something that you must do on Saturdays. Bruce Hooley, 2003, author of “Buckeye’s Bask in Glory,” explains the importance of the Buckeye football ritual, saying that the players are part of history for winning the football game (288). Of course there are many other rituals in society, from celebrating holidays to eating dinner at 7:00 every night.
One ritual in my family came every year at New Years Eve. When I was a child, every year, my mom would make me eat a piece of pickled herring before midnight. She said it would bring me good luck for the following year. This was a ritual that was passed down in her family, but I don’t know where it came from. For the past few years, since being out of my parent’s house, I have stopped the ritual, but I know my mom still does it every year, and my brother claims to as well, so the ritual still lives on with them.
There are many rituals that are prevalent today. Ray B. Brown, (2005), editor of Profiles of Popular Culture, identifies secular rituals as, “passing from childhood to adulthood, graduating from high school, or entering a profession” (127). These are going on all the time, with people never really looking at them as rituals. Other rituals could be doing laundry every Sunday, or the order in which you get ready in the morning.
One ritual I would like to develop is a scheduled dog walking time every day. I find myself only walking him a few times a week because I feel like I never have enough time. For the health of myself and my dog, though, I need to set a time when I know I will be available every day to walk my dog.
References
Browne, R. B. (Ed.). (2005). Profiles of popular culture. p. 127 Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.
Hooley, B. (2003). Buckeyes bask in glory. In R. B. Browne (Ed.), Profiles of popular culture. p. 288. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.
One ritual in my family came every year at New Years Eve. When I was a child, every year, my mom would make me eat a piece of pickled herring before midnight. She said it would bring me good luck for the following year. This was a ritual that was passed down in her family, but I don’t know where it came from. For the past few years, since being out of my parent’s house, I have stopped the ritual, but I know my mom still does it every year, and my brother claims to as well, so the ritual still lives on with them.
There are many rituals that are prevalent today. Ray B. Brown, (2005), editor of Profiles of Popular Culture, identifies secular rituals as, “passing from childhood to adulthood, graduating from high school, or entering a profession” (127). These are going on all the time, with people never really looking at them as rituals. Other rituals could be doing laundry every Sunday, or the order in which you get ready in the morning.
One ritual I would like to develop is a scheduled dog walking time every day. I find myself only walking him a few times a week because I feel like I never have enough time. For the health of myself and my dog, though, I need to set a time when I know I will be available every day to walk my dog.
References
Browne, R. B. (Ed.). (2005). Profiles of popular culture. p. 127 Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.
Hooley, B. (2003). Buckeyes bask in glory. In R. B. Browne (Ed.), Profiles of popular culture. p. 288. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Assignment 2-2: Icons
Three influential icons of my generation are Tiger Woods, Bob Barker, and Britney Spears. Tiger Woods is a professional golfer that is considered to be one of the best golfers of all time. He is on track to eclipse all of the major professional golf records and put his name at the top of the greatest golfers of all time list. Bob Barker is a legendary game show host who has recently retired. He is best known for hosting “The Price is Right” for 35 years, but previously hosted “Truth or Consequences” for 18 years. Another icon, Britney Spears, was the biggest female pop singer to grace the late1990’s and early 2000’s. Because of her success in the music industry, Spears went on to pursue acting and writing careers. She has been one of the most talked about celebrities for the past several years.
I chose Tiger Woods as an icon because he has changed the way many people look at golf. Until Woods came along, golf was a predominately white male sport, but Wood’s impressive statistics have proved that golf is not just for older white men anymore. According to the “Tiger Woods Official Website,” “he is the career victories leader among active players on the PGA TOUR, and is the career money list leader” (tigerwoods.com). I also chose Bob Barker as an icon because according to Gary Richard Collins II, who wrote “Mini Biography” for IMDB, Barker was “named the most popular game show host of all time in a national poll.” Not only was Barker, himself, popular, his most recent show, “The Price is Right,” was the longest running game show in history. Finally, I believe Britney Spears is an icon because she was one of the top selling female artists. Everyone always wants to know what she is up to and she is in the tabloids almost daily. Although her recent choices may not have been the best, she is still a leading celebrity in Hollywood.
As an icon, Tiger Woods’ success means that stereotypes can always be broken. He has broken through the cultural barrier of golf and proven himself to be the best, no matter how different he was. Woods also became an extremely good golfer at a young age, showing that practice and persistence pays off. Bob Barker is more than a celebrity, he tries to instill values into America, asking his viewers to get their pets spayed and neutered. He means so much to so many people, and it was obvious when his fans had the chance to meet him on stage. Britney Spears, on the other hand, means something entirely different to me. Her iconic status is no longer a good one. Her lesson is to keep a clear head, no matter what good fortune comes your way.
References
Collins, G.R. “Mini biography.” IMDB. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0054837/bio.
“Tiger Woods profile” Tiger Woods Official Website. Retrivied November 11, 2007, from http://www.tigerwoods.com/defaultflash.sps.
I chose Tiger Woods as an icon because he has changed the way many people look at golf. Until Woods came along, golf was a predominately white male sport, but Wood’s impressive statistics have proved that golf is not just for older white men anymore. According to the “Tiger Woods Official Website,” “he is the career victories leader among active players on the PGA TOUR, and is the career money list leader” (tigerwoods.com). I also chose Bob Barker as an icon because according to Gary Richard Collins II, who wrote “Mini Biography” for IMDB, Barker was “named the most popular game show host of all time in a national poll.” Not only was Barker, himself, popular, his most recent show, “The Price is Right,” was the longest running game show in history. Finally, I believe Britney Spears is an icon because she was one of the top selling female artists. Everyone always wants to know what she is up to and she is in the tabloids almost daily. Although her recent choices may not have been the best, she is still a leading celebrity in Hollywood.
As an icon, Tiger Woods’ success means that stereotypes can always be broken. He has broken through the cultural barrier of golf and proven himself to be the best, no matter how different he was. Woods also became an extremely good golfer at a young age, showing that practice and persistence pays off. Bob Barker is more than a celebrity, he tries to instill values into America, asking his viewers to get their pets spayed and neutered. He means so much to so many people, and it was obvious when his fans had the chance to meet him on stage. Britney Spears, on the other hand, means something entirely different to me. Her iconic status is no longer a good one. Her lesson is to keep a clear head, no matter what good fortune comes your way.
References
Collins, G.R. “Mini biography.” IMDB. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0054837/bio.
“Tiger Woods profile” Tiger Woods Official Website. Retrivied November 11, 2007, from http://www.tigerwoods.com/defaultflash.sps.
Assignment 2-1: Craigslist
The Internet site, Craigslist, is a pop culture topic that I am very interested in. Craigslist is a website that allows people to sell or buy items, or find activities, real estate, jobs, companions, and much more. Craigslist has an individual site for each city to make it easier to find whatever you want or need. I prefer Craigslist to eBay because it offers so many different services. It is also comforting to know that you are dealing with people from the same city, so you can always pay with or accept cash for any items bought or sold, which reduces the likelihood of being scammed.
According to Catherine Holahan, 2007, author of “eBay takes on Craigslist,” eBay has opened a site to rival Craigslist, called Kijiji.com. Kijiji is starting as a free listing site to compete with Craigslist, but according to Holahan, they will eventually charge for listings, making it very difficult to rival Craigslist (p. 27). This means that Craigslist is taking over the classifieds market and will be difficult to stop. In fact, Jessi Hempel, 2007, author of “Craigslist’s Ongoing Success Story,” says that “the site took in $25 million in revenues last year, but it's clear that that the site could be worth more--very much more” (p. 18).
Craigslist has become a huge hit for those wanting the convenience of classified ads without being charged a fee. Hempel, 2007, explains the popularity of Craigslist with the following statistics: “it serves classified ads to 450 cities. The site receives more than 750,000 job listings a month, and users self-publish about 14 million new classifieds a month” (p. 18). Craigslist has taken over the world of online classifieds. They have a very faithful user base that only keeps growing.
References
Hempel, J. (2007). Craigslist ongoing success story. Business Week Online, 18. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/may2007/id20070515_301894.htm?chan=search.
Holahan, C. (2007). EBay takes on Craigslist. Business Week Online, 27. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=8&sid=cf0303e4-b7e6-456b-8cae-342b276fc3a6%40SRCSM2.
According to Catherine Holahan, 2007, author of “eBay takes on Craigslist,” eBay has opened a site to rival Craigslist, called Kijiji.com. Kijiji is starting as a free listing site to compete with Craigslist, but according to Holahan, they will eventually charge for listings, making it very difficult to rival Craigslist (p. 27). This means that Craigslist is taking over the classifieds market and will be difficult to stop. In fact, Jessi Hempel, 2007, author of “Craigslist’s Ongoing Success Story,” says that “the site took in $25 million in revenues last year, but it's clear that that the site could be worth more--very much more” (p. 18).
Craigslist has become a huge hit for those wanting the convenience of classified ads without being charged a fee. Hempel, 2007, explains the popularity of Craigslist with the following statistics: “it serves classified ads to 450 cities. The site receives more than 750,000 job listings a month, and users self-publish about 14 million new classifieds a month” (p. 18). Craigslist has taken over the world of online classifieds. They have a very faithful user base that only keeps growing.
References
Hempel, J. (2007). Craigslist ongoing success story. Business Week Online, 18. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/may2007/id20070515_301894.htm?chan=search.
Holahan, C. (2007). EBay takes on Craigslist. Business Week Online, 27. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=8&sid=cf0303e4-b7e6-456b-8cae-342b276fc3a6%40SRCSM2.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Assignment 1-3: "Reality" TV
Reality TV has become a viewing favorite for Americans. One of the first times we were able to see people being “real” without a script was on The Real World on MTV. Years later, the television hit, Survivor came onto the scene. From there it has been an immediate downpour of reality TV shows. We have seen many programs come and go, but some that have stayed are The Bachelor, Nanny 911, Wife Swap, Trading Spaces, and Generation X’s favorites on MTV, such as Laguna Beach, and The Hills.
While many people either have lived vicariously through the “real” people on these shows, or watched to make themselves feel better about their own lives, or simply just for the entertainment, most of America has tuned into a reality show at some time. It was quite a shock at first to be able to see people on TV without a script, but now, there are people saying that these reality shows aren’t quite real.
There has been a lot of talk about the hit MTV show, The Hills. It is supposed to be a reality show about a group of early twenty-something’s living the life (with the occasional back-stabbing fight thrown in) in Los Angeles. Recently, it has come out that the show is not really “reality.” The show is said to be mostly scripted with a few of their own words thrown in. This is not so shocking news, as the camera crew just happens to be at the boyfriend’s house when he calls to break up, or the crew is in the office as the main character gets a promotion.
Ray Richmond, author of the article, “Calling it Reality TV is Altogether Unreal,” says that “it’s time to dump the term ‘reality TV,” and his “suggested replacement would be ‘partially scripted TV,’ which I imagine would be preferable to "fabricated" for those who work that end of the business” (2007). Richmond reasonably questions the fact that if it truly were “reality TV,” why would the credits show “story editors” or “story producers” (2007). Many shows labeling themselves as “reality TV” are hiding a little thing called a script behind closed doors.
Richmond, Ray. 2007. “Calling it Reality TV is Altogether Unreal. Hollywood Reporter –
International Edition. Vol. 400. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from EBCOhost.
While many people either have lived vicariously through the “real” people on these shows, or watched to make themselves feel better about their own lives, or simply just for the entertainment, most of America has tuned into a reality show at some time. It was quite a shock at first to be able to see people on TV without a script, but now, there are people saying that these reality shows aren’t quite real.
There has been a lot of talk about the hit MTV show, The Hills. It is supposed to be a reality show about a group of early twenty-something’s living the life (with the occasional back-stabbing fight thrown in) in Los Angeles. Recently, it has come out that the show is not really “reality.” The show is said to be mostly scripted with a few of their own words thrown in. This is not so shocking news, as the camera crew just happens to be at the boyfriend’s house when he calls to break up, or the crew is in the office as the main character gets a promotion.
Ray Richmond, author of the article, “Calling it Reality TV is Altogether Unreal,” says that “it’s time to dump the term ‘reality TV,” and his “suggested replacement would be ‘partially scripted TV,’ which I imagine would be preferable to "fabricated" for those who work that end of the business” (2007). Richmond reasonably questions the fact that if it truly were “reality TV,” why would the credits show “story editors” or “story producers” (2007). Many shows labeling themselves as “reality TV” are hiding a little thing called a script behind closed doors.
Richmond, Ray. 2007. “Calling it Reality TV is Altogether Unreal. Hollywood Reporter –
International Edition. Vol. 400. Retrieved November 5, 2007 from EBCOhost.
Assignment 1-1
According to Gary Hoppenstand, “popular culture can, and should be anything: television, automobiles, movies, fast food, tattoos, best-selling novels, buildings, music, holidays – the list is potentially endless” (2003, p. 3). Popular culture can really mean anything to anyone. It is anything that a person finds relevant in society. The term “popular culture” is extremely broad, and there are many different perspectives on its meaning. I think it is any person, place, or thing that has made an impact on someone or a culture at any point in time.
Part of popular culture includes people’s tastes. If a company wants to survive, they must have an understanding of what people want in today’s society. People’s wants, desires, and tastes, are ever changing, so a business must be able to keep up with their customers and be ahead of the curve. A business is truly successful if they are able to create a new artifact of popular culture, giving people what they want before they even know they want it.
The understanding of popular culture is very important in the business world. Keeping up with popular culture keeps a business in touch with their clientele. If a company knows what is important to their customers, they will have a much better chance of success. In my business, we work with people of all ages. Being able to understand the parts of popular culture that are important to the different generations will help us better relate to our clientele, allowing us to give them what they want and need.
I would consider the television show Saturday Night Live to be a popular culture artifact. Saturday Night Live has been around for decades and it is something that everyone in America knows about. It is a show that has successfully kept up with each generation. SNL is always current and relevant to what is going on in the world. Along with being a creative and hilarious sketch comedy show, SNL brings the most popular actors and bands to their show, furthering their status as a popular culture artifact. Having these celebrities keeps the show even more up to date and keeps people watching.
Part of popular culture includes people’s tastes. If a company wants to survive, they must have an understanding of what people want in today’s society. People’s wants, desires, and tastes, are ever changing, so a business must be able to keep up with their customers and be ahead of the curve. A business is truly successful if they are able to create a new artifact of popular culture, giving people what they want before they even know they want it.
The understanding of popular culture is very important in the business world. Keeping up with popular culture keeps a business in touch with their clientele. If a company knows what is important to their customers, they will have a much better chance of success. In my business, we work with people of all ages. Being able to understand the parts of popular culture that are important to the different generations will help us better relate to our clientele, allowing us to give them what they want and need.
I would consider the television show Saturday Night Live to be a popular culture artifact. Saturday Night Live has been around for decades and it is something that everyone in America knows about. It is a show that has successfully kept up with each generation. SNL is always current and relevant to what is going on in the world. Along with being a creative and hilarious sketch comedy show, SNL brings the most popular actors and bands to their show, furthering their status as a popular culture artifact. Having these celebrities keeps the show even more up to date and keeps people watching.
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