Assignment 5-1 Weekly Written Analysis 5

American Idol was an instant success. The hit reality show will soon begin its eighth season, but it won’t start without a big bang. This past week has been filled with talk of Paula Abdul’s interviews with Good Morning America and The View and the questions asked about her future with the show.
Recently, a fan of Paula’s who had been stalking her for years killed herself in front of Paula’s home. Paula insists that producers of the show put her in harm’s way when they allowed the stalker fan to audition in front of Paula.
Abdul says that she asked the producers of the show not to allow the fan in the same room with her but her request was denied.
Paula has also alleged that Simon is responsible for making her look crazy and drunk on the show. Her defense is that Simon is always talking in her ear and distracting her from making a complete thought. Questions have loomed over whether or not Paula will continue the show and her response has been that she is still under contract. Speculation is that she will not renew her contract and this will be her last year.
Personally, I feel sympathetic towards Paula. She is going through a very difficult time right now and it sounds like she is very frustrated with the show. I love the show, but I think everyone would agree that it won’t be the same without the “original three” – Paula, Simon and Randy.

Assignment 4-1 Weekly Written Analysis

It’s no secret that popular culture has created a society obsessed with looks and weight. Most people fear aging and try to combat it with plastic surgery. There are also numerous surgeries to combat weight gain and obesity. An article on yahoo.com gives 19 ways to look younger without a visit to the plastic surgeon.
The 19 tips range from wearing sunscreen to eating organic foods to splurging on a fashionable wardrobe. In my opinion, the best tip in the article is to drink 64 ounces of water each day. We have all heard that water is the best way to keep skin looking youthful and healthy. The tips in the article are easy to follow but not so easy on your pocketbook. They suggest throwing out twin-set sweaters and replacing with an updated look. They also recommend wearing jewel studded clothing and splurging on designer handbags. In a society where people are more budget conscious than ever, some of these tips seem unrealistic. However, in comparison to Botox and plastic surgery, it is a savings and is also less invasive. In popular culture today, celebrities are going under the knife more and more. We see reality TV shows such as “Dr 90210” which promotes plastic surgery. When choosing between plastic surgery and these 19 tips to look younger and more beautiful, I would vote for following the expert’s tips and tricks.

Reference:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/19-easy-ways-to-look-ten-years-younger-321420/

Picture:

http://www.clinique.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY4914&PRODUCT_ID=PROD13506

Assignment 1-3 Journal Article Analysis

The article I chose was written by Joseph Hancock of Drexel University and is a review of the book A Cultural History of Fashion in the 20th Century: From the Catwalk to the Sidewalk by Bonnie English. This book is intended to show the connection between popular culture and 20th century fashion. I will discuss the intended audience, will summarize the article, and will discuss my conclusions.
First, the intended audience is everyone who loves fashion and desires to learn about the history of what goes behind creating the popular designs we see on the catwalk and the sidewalk. According to the article, some may find the book hard to read because of the confusing layout and the inaccurate comparisons of popular culture and fashion. Overall, the reader will enjoy the history found in the article and will appreciate the thought provoking comparisons in the article and book.
English states that “Fashion and popular culture are mutually reliant on each other.” Everything from media advertising to the designer art of fashion depends on each other. The article suggests that popular culture dictates the changing fashion trends and what remains a classic such as jeans. Transcending time is a tricky business and is achieved through thoughtful marketing and a well planned product. Bonnie English gives the example of Brooke Shields in an ad for Calvin Klein Jeans. English states that Shields was used because she was the “All American Girl”. This comparison is categorically untrue. In the 1970’s Brooke Shields was everything but “All American Girl”. Calvin Klein used her because of her high profile status and the interest she drew. Bonnie English also discusses the stresses of society that influence fashion and popular culture. Examples include the First World War, a declining economy and International impressions on fashion.
The article on popular culture and fashion reinforces the importance of using techniques that draw the buyer. Techniques can include using contemporary art in design or advertising with high profile, interesting celebrities. Overall, this article reinforces that popular culture dictates much of what we buy in our society.

References:
(2008). A Cultural History of Fashion in the 20th Century: From the Catwalk to the Sidewalk. The Journal of Popular Culture, 41(6), 1079-1080.

Weekly Written Analysis 3

The 2008 Sex and the City movie was very much anticipated by women all over the world. After the very successful HBO series, questions such as “Will Carrie marry Big” and “Will Charlotte ever have her own baby?” loomed in the air.
In the 2008 movie, many questions were answered. Carried did marry Big, Charlotte got pregnant and Miranda and Steve are still together. The movie was drastically different from the HBO series. The series was adventurous and unpredictable. The movie was nice and sweet and very grown-up.
Now, Sarah Jessica Parker announced that there will be a movie sequel. The anticipated movie release date is 2010. Questions about the storyline are still being debated. There was so much ground covered in the 2008 movie that it’s hard to imagine what the girls of Sex and the City will go through next.
It has been said all the girls will sign on. Miranda will be played by Cynthia Nixon, Charlotte will be played by Kristin Davis and Samantha will be played by Kim Cattrall.
According to an MTV interview with Sarah Jessica Parker, the big question now is “Will Carrie have children in the next movie”. For now, Sarah Jessica Parker feels that Carrie and Big’s relationship is pointed in a different direction.

Assignment 2-1 Weekly Analysis

Recently I started watching the new television series “Kath and Kim” starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. The television show is about a mother ‘Kath Day’ and her daughter ‘Kim’ and their truly dysfunctional relationship.

Kim is a self absorbed brat who expects everyone around her to serve her. Technically she is married but is currently separated. Her relationship with her husband is tainted because of his obsession with his dog. Kim moved back home and says she is working on her marriage. Kim doesn’t have many goals in life other than shopping and gaining the adoring attention of everyone whom she comes in contact with.

In contrast, Kath, has found the love of her life and is at the top of her game. She looks fabulous, she is successful and she’s getting married. Kath tries to provide life lessons to Kim through example but all efforts fail.

It has taken a while for this show to grow on me but I have to say that I have fallen for it. I look forward to it week after week. While there isn’t really a meaningful plot, it’s a nice show to indulge in after a long day at work.

Reference:

Photo retrieved November 23, 2008 from http://www.nbc.com/Kath_and_Kim//photos/#cat=1275&sec=2441&mea=54651

Assignment 2-2 Icon Analysis

When I think of pop culture icons I think of empires such as Disney World, toys like Barbie and television shows such as Sesame Street.

Disney has reached icon status because people have become infatuated with the magic of Disney World and all the Disney characters. Often, people will plan family vacations and save for months or years just to get a small taste of the Disney magic. Disney has made its mark in history through television entertainment, music, lovable characters and unsurpassed quality. I personally spent my honeymoon at Disney World. I had always dreamed of going to Disney World and when I got to experience it, I wasn't disappointed. I will never forget walking in to the Magic Kingdom and seeing Cinderella's Castle.

Barbie is admired and loved by parents, children, and the young at heart. Barbie made her debut in the 1950's and has made a mark in history. The Barbie phenomenon has exploded from dolls to movies, clothing, music and more. To this day, I still collect Barbie's. I also watch every Barbie movie. Barbie was a huge part of my childhood that I'm not ready to let go of.

Sesame Street has influenced children for years. For most children, the Sesame Street characters are loved and admired and most long to be a part of the Sesame Street "crew". Sesame Street has been around so long that now as adults, we find it hard not to admire and love the characters. Big Bird, Oscar, Elmo, and more will forever be a part of our lives. Personally, I can remember watching Sesame Street with my two sisters at a very young age. I still remember every word of the song and remember my favorite episodes.

Pictures retrieved on November 20, 2008 from:

http://web.info-galaxy.com/Barbie/Barbie_s_Story/barbie_s_story.html

http://www.customcrops.com/images/cart/sesame_street_friends.jpg

http://www.giftcollector.com/giftguideimages/24disney.jpg

Assignment 1-4 Written Analysis

On November 21, 2008 the movie Twilight premieres. Twilight the movie is based on book one of a popular series of four books. The series is based on a love story between a young girl named Bella Swan and a vampire named Edward Cullen. Bella is a human girl whose interest in Edward started out as an infatuation. Eventually, the human and the vampire would fall in love.
According to “The Story Behind Twilight”, the author of the Twilight series, Stephanie Meyer, got her motivation to write the series through a dream. Her dream was about a young girl and a beautiful vampire talking in a field. From the first dream and forward, the characters of twilight were like her imaginary friends. She found it hard to keep up with what the characters were trying to tell her. Finally, her first book “Twilight” was published and premiered in October 2005. From there, it has been a phenomenon. Stephanie produced four books and now we await the movie. People of all ages can enjoy the books and the movie because the focus is not on satanic dealings but rather a love story between a vampire who has renounced the drinking of blood and a young girl who has always found it hard to fit in. It is speculated that there will be a movie sequel and the series will top the charts – including the take over of the Harry Potter phenomena.

Meyer, Stephanie (n.d). The Story Behind Twilight. Retrieved November 16, 2008 at
http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html

Popular culture determines the goods that are produced, the articles we read on the internet and the previews for movies that we see on television. If a good is a part of popular culture, we can find it in virtually every department store. However, the items which are more rare and expensive and not generally sought after are harder to find.

Popular culture also determines the type of music that is "in" and the celebrities that we as a society follow as if they are a part of our daily lives.

It's very important to understand and be able to recognize popular culture in the business world. Professionals need to be able to appeal to the masses and understand what sells.

The artifact that I think best represents popular culture is a picture of a television set. With television, we invite popular culture in to our every day lives, however, we also make it a part of important events like the presidential election.

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