Assignment 5-1

The Hills is an MTV reality show that showcases the lives of numerous young people in Los Angeles, California. According to wikipedia.org, The Hills premiered on May 31, 2006. In addition, this show is about the personal life of former Laguna Beach star, Lauren Conrad as she moved to Los Angeles. This show helps the younger generation define popular culture, and has added to the list of numerous reality shows we as Americans have grown to love. At times this show seems to be scripted to add extra drama to it, but this show is very entertaining.

This shows adds to the argument that we as a society are too obsessed with the life of celebrities and people that seem to fit the mold of the American Dream. Lauren Conrad, the main character in the show was not a celebrity to my knowledge before the show, so I decided to look up her background to see how she became so popular, and to try and understand who so many young girls model their image after her.

Lauren Conrad is a tv personality, author, and fashion designer. In addition to all of that, she is beautiful. During her senior year of high school she appeared in the reality television show Laguna Beach. The Hills is a spin off of that show. The Hills documents her move to Los Angeles, and her work at Teen Vogue. Not only do you get to see her life, but you also see the life of her friends and family members.

It is important to remember that you never know what kind of life a person has behind the glitz and glamour, but after researching the show The Hills and Lauren Conrad, I can see why people like her so much.

References

wikipedia.org.(n.d.).Lauren Conrad. Retrieved on June 22, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Conrad

Assigment 4-1: Analysis of Desperate Housewives

Kyle MacLahlan

MacLachlan to quit Desperate Housewives?

Desperate Housewives began its season on October 3, 2004. In the spring of 2007, this show was said to be the most popular show worldwide demographically, (wikipedia.org, n.d.). The setting of the show is set on Wisteria Lane. A group of 5 women are seen through the eyes of their dead neighbor, as they work through numerous many different issues involving family and domestic issues. In this seemingly perfect neighborhood the characters lie, cheat, back stab, and even commit crimes. This series is very entertaining, and with all the different personalities featured in this show, we share at least one characteristic of the characters featured in the show. MacLachlan plays the spouse of Bree on the show (actress Marcia Cross's character), and has admitted that he may not commit to another season in the show, in the article titled MacLachlan to quite Desperate Housewives. He became a father at the age of 49 years old, and admits the demands of fatherhood surpass the demands of the show. MacLachlan states "It's such a huge change having children. It's not about me any more - it's about my family, (2009).

I'm happy to see that MacLachlan sees how important the role of a father may be, especially when you're an older father. Time is so precious, and the early years are years you will surely miss, and can never get back. Desperate Housewives has helped define our culture, and without or without MacLachlan, I'm sure the show will do well.

References

wikipedia.org (n.d.). Desperate Housewives. Retrieved on June 11, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=884607

World Entertainment News (2009). MacLachlan to quite Desperate Housewives. Retrieved on June 11, 2009 from http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1/20090611/ten-maclachlan-to-quit-desperate-housewi-c60bd6d.html

Same Sex Controversy: Assignment 3-1

Sam Sex Marriage

One of the most hot topic issues of today involves gay marriage. Wikipedia.org describes popular culture as ideas or perspectives influenced by the mass media. I believe the media has greatly changed the way gay people are viewed in our society, along with the way marriage as a whole is viewed. In the article Gay groups grow impatient with Obama Martin discusses the frustration gay and lesbian couples feel with the inaction Obama has taken against the issue of gay marriage being legalized, (yahoo.com, 2009). This article also states, “Obama is out of step with his party, which is overwhelmingly in favor of marriage at this stage,” said David Mixner, a veteran gay rights activist. Obama’s promises of change are falling short.

His most important campaign promise that has not been fulfilled includes the repeal of banning openly gay and lesbian service-members.
Most public opinion polls show that more than 40 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage laws, (Martin, 2009). Legalizing same-sex marriage will also boost our economy. Gay marriages will generate $64 million dollars in additional tax revenue, and $9 million dollars in marriage licenses fees, (cbsnews.com, 2009). In addition to the state revenue that will be received, allowing same-sex marriage will add and additional $60 million dollars to our economy via the wedding industry.

I believe same-sex marriage should be legalized. Statistics show that our popular culture even includes the acceptance of this kind of marriage, and would give our economy a much needed boost. I define popular culture as a set of behavior or characteristics that are generally accepted within a culture, and I believe same-sex marriages fit this characteristic due to the media, and knowledge we as Americans have gained throughout the years. I do not believe anything in life is cut and dry, or black and white, and that includes the issue on same-sex marriage.

Video on same sex relationships:
http://www.thedailytube.com/video/18209/iowa-gay-for-marriage-and-you

Same-Sex Marriage Is Kosher!

Poem written by: Stanley Siegelman
Published June 04, 2008, issue of June 13, 2008.

That same-sex marriages are cool. A girl may now a female wed,Two males may share a marriage-bed. It’s legal, on the up-and-up,So drain the brimming loving-cup! This novelty connubial iIs all quite constitutional. The justices from bench explainAnatomy is not germane.What counts and matters, they enthuse, is being free to pick and choose. When one selects one’s future mate, It’s O.K. now to deviate. And nodding, everyone agrees it’s alright to take liberties.’Cause liberty, the gay folks shout, is really what it’s all about. Will our good judges now endorse new guides and standards for divorce?Expect some fresh, creative torts to be debated in the courts!
Religionists, of many sects,Are angered, outraged, sorely vexed. The justices’ decree they spurn And vow the law to overturn. Society is plagued by plights: Religion versus civil rights!

References

Cbsnew.com (2009). Study: Gay Marriage Good for Economy. Retrieved on June 4, 2009 from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/09/national/main4167209.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._4167209

Martin, J. & Smith, B. (2009). Gay groups grow impatient with Obama. Yahoo News.
Retrieved on June 4, 2009 from http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090604/pl_politico/23328;_ylt=Amn_8EMERWOzparrpv392UNxFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTJyMnRnZ3N2BGFzc2V0Ay9wb2xpdGljby8yMDA5MDYwNC9wbF9wb2xpdGljby8yMzMyOARjcG9zAzcEcG9zAzcEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNnYXlncm91cHNncm8

Siegelman, S (2008). Same-Sex Marriage is Kosher. Forward.com. Retrieved on June 4, 2009 from http://www.forward.com/articles/13501/

Assignment 2-1: Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson is a popular icon known for the championship boxing title he has won, along with the recent legal trouble he has been in. On Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter Exodus Tyson died tragically after getting her neck stuck around the cord of a treadmill, after being on life support for less than 24 hours. The death of a child is something that should not be taken lightly, especially given the fact that this child was apparently unsupervised.

Upon doing an analysis of this article, I noticed the author Ross Franklin showed little to no sympathy for the child’s death. Instead of showing sympathy for the family, and loss of the child, he highlighted the legal problems and the mistakes Mike Tyson has had in his past. In addition, I feel an article about a child that has died due to no supervision should stress the importance of parents watching their children, and the importance of exercise equipment be locked up, or put away when small children are in the home. The information listed in this article about Mike Tyson was just inappropriate, and unnecessary. Information given in articles should be informative and help the reader. The information given in this article, at least the way the author wrote it, would leave you with a feeling of less sympathy of Mike Tyson. The article started off talking about Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter Exodus, but then started talking about how you had been in jail due to beating up two men, and raping a women. The Associated Press never should have run this article. When I read this article, I also looked at a lot of the comments on this article. Many people felt the same way I did; some people left comments stating he deserved what has happened to him given his past. These insensitive comments probably would not have been left, if it were not for the information brought up during this article. I can’t imagine how it would feel being the parent of this poor girl, and reading such hurtful and unnecessary comments. No matter what kind of past a person has, a death of a child is something that is very tragic.


References

Franklin, R. (2009). Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter dies. Associate Press. Retrieved on
May 28, 2009 from http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-05-26-tyson-daughter_N.htm?csp=34.

Assignment 2-2: Icon Analysis

Popular Icons

The three icons I chose for Assignment 2-2 were Britney Spears, the show Saved by The Bell, and President Barack Obama. Britney Spears is a singer, songwriter, and actress. She has millions of fans, and sells out concerts wherever she goes. Saved by The Bell was a show that showcased the life of 6 teenagers, and aired between 1989 and 1993. Each character in this show had a different personality, and we could all relate to at least one character in the show. President Barack Obama is a great orator, intelligent, and has provided hope and many dreams for Americans today.

Britney Spears plays a huge role in regards to popular culture, because she has a great influence over young girls today, and has had this influence for many years. She makes over $700, 00o monthly due to her music, modeling, clothing line, and perfume. Britney Spears sets trends both fashion and music wise. Saved by The Bell is an older contemporary icon, but this show played a great influence on my friends and I growing up. A lot of the girls I knew were in love Zack or Mario, and wanted to be like either Kelly or Lisa. President Barack Obama is a icon to me because of everything he stands for, his intelligence, and the change he has made to America today. I chose these three icons because they have greatly influenced popular culture, and will probably do so for a long time coming.

Each of these icons mean a lot to me because of the effect they have on popular culture and Americans today. While I personally do not agree with some of the clothing and music Britney Spears sells, I only hope she does the right thing because the public eye is watching her very closely. I remember a few years ago I had to work at one of her concerts for a fundraiser. There were girls there that had their hair dyed blond, and mini-skirts. Saved by The Bell is close to me for sentimental reasons. I remember taking fashion tips from the girls on the show, and I envisioned one day I would marry someone like Zach when I was older. President Barack Obama means a lot to me because of the change it seems America is currently going in. President Obama being elected has given minorities the hope that was needed to show that with perseverance, you can be anything you want to be. I never really believed in that saying until he was elected.

Assignment 1:4 Analysis of mediatakeout.com

Picture of singer Cassie's hip new hairstyle

EXPLOSIVE!! TRINA CLAIMS IN RAP SONG THAT SHE USED TO SLEEP WITH KOBE … WHILE HE WAS MARRIED TO VANESSA!!!EXPLOSIVE!! TRINA CLAIMS IN RAP SONG THAT SHE USED TO SLEEP WITH KOBE … WHILE HE WAS MARRIED TO VANESSA!!!





Mediatakeout.com Analysis



Mediatakout.com is an entertainment website that is full of gossip, the latest trends, embarrassing moments, and the latest news regarding entertainers and famous people. In addition, there is also news on the website about regular people like you and me, but the news about them always includes something that is really bizarre and often highly publicized.

One feature that mediatakeout.com offers, is the capability to comment on the stories about celebrities, and also comment on the different fashion trends celebrities set. This website seems to get exclusive information that is received hours before any other website or television show has the same information available. It is unclear exactly how accurate this information may be, but they always back up their facts by evaluating certain evidence about the story, that at least makes you wonder if their information has any validity. Take the story about rapper Trina and basketball star Kobe Bryant. While I am not a fan of rap, she clearly states in the rap they have listed on the website, that she was the first person Kobe Bryant cheated on his wife with. In addition, you also different styles celebrities incorporate. I often see the same styles on the street. Take the hairstyle singer Cassie currently gave herself. She shaved half of her hair off her head, and has classified this hairstyle as a "punk rocker" hairstyle.

Celebrities do not get any privacy currently, and America seems to be obsessed with their lives, and will follow any trends they set, no matter how ridiculous. We get plastic surgery and enhancements; we even spend money on expensive things just to be like these celebrities. Our obsession with celebrities can even be fatal. On August 31, 1997 while Princess Diana was driving to get away from photographers, her driver ended up crashing the car she was a passenger in, and this ultimately killed her. Mediatakeout.com is a good example of a current pop culture because it shows things about celebrities that our popular and hip, this are things we incorporate in our lives. Mediatakeout.com is a website that is full of rumors, styles, and trends that influence us today, but it is also a website that gives us informational news as well.
*Pictures provided via mediatakeout.com

Assignment 1-2: Pop culture and Sex and the City

Popular culture is the contemporary lifestyle that includes items that are well known and generally accepted as part of our culture.


I define popular culture as something that is generally done within a community that is acceptable to everyone. Popular culture also seems to shape our beliefs, ethics, and even behavior. In the business environment I believe it is important to know and adapt to popular culture to be a successful leader and manager. You need to know whats "hip" to stay relevant and in tune with the business market, and this will also help you adapt to the people you will manage someday. As managers and successful business owners you have to be able to adapt to the every changing business world, or you will be left behind, and won't have any effect on the people you manage.

I consider the show Sex and The City to be a great example of an artifact that deals with popular culture today. I did not watch the show personally, but Sarah Jessica Parker is known to set many trends that are still around today regarding fashion, and this show was huge. Due to the success of the television show, there was even a movie that was made as a sequel to the show. This show was the first of its kind to really talk about sex and be open with sexuality, and there is even a popular rap song out that mentions the show. This show also was a bit empowering to women everywhere. According to Burton and Renner the show Sex and The City was also based on statistics about women, like more than 60 percent of all women now work outside the home. In addition, the number of women-owned businesses is growing almost twice as fast as the number of firms overall. In 2006, there were 70 million women employed; in 1950 there were 18.4 million. 27% of households are headed by women at last count, a fourfold increase since 1950, (2007).

Below is a link to a trailer of the movie which I did see and loved!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo0Hkaft7Nc

References

Burton, J. and Renner, C.J. (2007). Sex and the City statistics. Momtalk.com Retrieved on May 19, 2009 from http://www.momtalk.com/2007/10/sex_in_the_citystatistics.php