Assignment 5-1 Weekly Written Analysis

            Every year there is an ‘it’ item for the Holiday season that parent’s rush around trying to get for their children. A few famous ‘it’ toys were the Yo-Yos by Duncan in 1929, Barbie by Mattel in 1959, The Pet Rock by Rock Bottom Productions in 1975, the GameBoy by Nintendo in 1989, Tickle Me Elmo by Tyco in 1996, Pokemon by Nintendo in 1999, Beyblades by Hasbro in 2002 and 2003, and Elmo Live by Fisher Price in 2008 (Cunningham, 2009). Technology keeps advancing causing it to infiltrate every aspect of our life from work to schools to the toys children play with. One would assume that kids like their adult parents must be just as eager for the latest piece of technology in their toys. Yet, in 2009, one of the most popular gifts for children was a piece of rubber silicone.

            These rubber pieces of silicone are called Silly Bandz. They are thin and look like a colored rubber band. The bands are shaped into an object and retain there shape despite being stretched. The Silly Bandz come in literally every shape imaginable examples include Rudolf, football players, rings, Disney Princesses, guitars, toothbrushes, and animals. The Silly Bandz were intended for children and preteens, yet adults can be seen wearing them. They were one of the hottest children’s toys in 2009 and are expected to be just as popular this Holiday Season.

            One cannot help but ask what the appeal is to these colorful bands. Especially when one considers that children today have access to toys that contain advanced technology. They have their choice of video games, talking stuffed animals, and walking toys. So, why these colored piece of rubber silicone? I believe the answer lies in the simplicity of these bands. They provide a simple kind of pleasure like the Yo-Yos by Duncan in 1929. Today children are surrounded by the complexity that is life today. These Silly Bandz provide a simple pleasure in a not so simple world and even though adults may not understand the draw they will be happy about the price.

Resources

Cunningham, S. (2009 Nov. 16). A Timeline of the Top-Selling Christmas Gifts…Ever. Retrieved from http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/top-christmas-gifts.

Assignment 1-3 Journal Article Analysis

The article is by Jessamyn Neuhaus is called Marge Simpson, Blue-Haired Housewife: Defining Domesticity on The Simpsons. The article discusses the satire around the American family in the show, Marge’s humorous challenge of the American housewife, and yet her overall actions make her the quintessential housewife.

The article discusses how even thought The Simpsons may poke fun the American family it still reinforces family values of postwar sitcoms. For instance the show displays a tight knit community, that participates in civic life, and that regularly attend church. The Simpsons demonstrate a nuclear family with Homer as the head of that family as the main money maker. Even though Homer is the breadwinner he is still depicted as lazy and stupid. Marge on the other hand is the quintessential housewife and is depicted as rarely falls short in her role. Even though Homer and Marge are depicted humorously they still abide and support traditional gender roles.

            Even though Marge is depicted with many characteristics of the quintessential housewife it is done in a humorous way that challenges the unrealistic image of the American housewife. When most think of Marge they picture her sky high blue beehive which vividly shows her as unreal. In the show Marge’s hair is used to hide objects in her hair and her hair generally grows back by the end of the episode no matter what happens to it. In addition, Marge has a very rough voice that mocks the light singsong of most housewives depicted. Her voice shows she is strong and not submissive often her voice is raised in defense of her family. Neuhaus writes that Marge “pointedly refutes the myth of the TV housewife; she belies the image of the eternally cheerful, content, utterly domesticate wife and mother” ( 2010, p. 771). In a few episodes Marge’s character depicts her frustration with life. Whether those frustrations are from exhaustion, her marriage, or unfulfilling housework. the frustrations are always resolved by the end of the episode.

Even through the satire surrounding Marge’s character at the root of her actions is a woman who is dedicated to her community, home, children, and husband. Marge is often shown as serving the public through bake sales, politics, or even trying to work outside the home. Yet when she does things quite literally fall apart not only at home but in the whole town of Springfield. No matter her endeavor pursued outside the home she always ends up returning to her domestic role and sending a message that her values rest in caring for her family. Marge is dedicated to her family and is often rewarded for her dedication to her family usually in the form of praises from Lisa. Her willingness to stay with Homer despite his many downfalls is rewarded with reassurance and love from Homer. Thus, furthering the idea that Marge Simpson’s place is in the home.

Resources

Neuhaus, J. (2010 Aug.) Marge Simpson, Blue-Haired Housewife: Defining Domesticity on The Simpsons. Journal of Popular Culture, 43, (4), 761-781. Retrieved September 30, 2010, from EBSCO host database.

Assignment 4-1 Weekly Written Analysis

            In the last few years there has been a renewed fascination with the vampire lore. Author Stephanie Meyers has written the Twilight series which is about a human girl falling in love with a vampire and the battle they face to stay together and her bumpy friendship with a werewolf. The books had quite the following and were turned into a movie series. The first movie of the series Twilight was a low budget production because no one expected the results of that movie. The movie was such a huge success more than anyone expected. The movie featured primarily lesser known actors but now the actors are household names. The series portrayed vampires as capable of love and compassion quite a different perspective then the traditional vampire story.

In addition to Twilight there has been another supernatural series that has become very popular and it is The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris. The series has become a HBO television series called True Blood created and produced by Alan Ball. The show features a girl with mind reading abilities who falls in love with a vampire. In addition there are other mythological characters such as werewolves, fairy’s, and shape shifters. The series has also helped to feed the flames of the vampire obsession that has begun in modern culture. A third book series focusing on vampires is The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith. The series focuses on a girl who falls in love with a vampire. The series has recently become a television show.

According to Ray B. Browne author of Profiles of Popular Culture: A Reader literature that relates to “adventure and romance have been particularly appealing to readers...both represent traveling either physically or emotionally into a world that is different from and superior to the everyday world around us” (2005, p.300). The popularity of novels discussed above is easy to understand because they all contain the romance and adventure factor. In addition the novels contain a mythological factor which draws in addition readers. Therefore it easy to understand the popularity of these novels and how these novels have helped bring the vampire lore back to life.

Resources

Browne, R. B. (2005). Profiles of popular culture: A reader. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.

Assignment 3-1 Weekly Written Analysis

            The Ohio State University has become a national powerhouse in the Big Ten with a football team that has become one of the best in the nation over the last decade. OSU hired Jim Tressel to lead their team in 2001 knowing that he was going to be the man that would bring their team out of their slump and right into the winners circle. Tressel proved that he was the right man for the job by taking a team and within two years of coaching lead them to a national title. He achieved a record of 7-5 his first season with the team and then turned around and was able to accomplish a perfect record of 14-0 in his second season finishing up the season with a win over Miami and ending their 34 game winning streak.

            Tressel has reignited the passion that the entire state feels for this team. If you live in Ohio it is almost a given that you are a diehard OSU fan and if you were to drive through a random neighborhood on a game day you would be sure to find at least one game day party taking place with a house packed full of fans cheering and supporting their team. Residents in Ohio are among the most dedicated fans to a certain sports team in this nation and they are not afraid to let you know it. If you were to be randomly walking through a crowded mall or other area and scream O-H you would receive an answer of I-O.

            The following of the Buckeyes is extraordinary but fans can be found for most teams and most sports. The fans dress themselves covered in logos, put jerseys on with their favorite player’s number, put flags on their cars, and signs in their homes. The fans never miss a game and usually can recount all the major plays. The dedications these fans have is like a cult and loyalty is generally not wavering. According to Michael Petracca and Madeleine Sorapure, author of Common Culture: Reading and Writing About American Popular Culture, “Sports can affect fans in surprisingly intense ways. We all probably know people whose moods fluctuate with the fortunes of their favorite team” (2007, p.419-420). The fans let the outcome of something they have no control over affect their mood and this again shows the dedication these fans have is cult like. The fans let the sport overtake them. In Ray Browne’s book Profiles of Popular Culture: A reader he has included an article by Judy Tarjanji titled Religious Fervor Is Building for Pro-Football Fans. Tarjanji writes “A super-sized religious event is about to occur in American life, anticipated by millions with the kind of eagerness felt by children before Christmas. It is Super Bowl Sunday” (2005, p. 128). Tarjanji put it accurately fans of sports are treating at as a religion versus a form of entertainment.

Resources

Ohio State Buckeyes. (2010, Aug 1). Football: Jim Tressel Biography. Retrieved from http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059367.

Petracca, M. & Sorapure, M. (2007). Common culture: Reading and writing about American popular culture. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Tarjanji, J. (2005). Religious Fervor Is Building for Pro-Football Fans. In R.B. Browne (Ed.), Profiles of popular culture: A reader (pp. 128-131). Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.

Images for Assignment 2-2 Icon Analysis

http://www.eztravelresorts.com/vacation-destinations/orlando-vacation-packages.html


http://www.macworld.com/article/153822/2010/09/music_event_summary.html


http://www.britneyzone.com/

Assignment 2-2 Icon Analysis

     Our modern world is full of icons that would fall into the category of popular culture and new icons are created everyday into this category. I have chosen three icons that seem to have always been there in my life as I was growing up. The three icons to be evaluated are Disney World, the Apple iPod, and Britney Spears.

            My first icon, Disney World, is something that is known all over the world. The creator, Walt Disney, created something that has lasted and survived the test of time and is still creating new ways to entertain the youth of today. It is absolutely amazing how complex this set of amusement parks are. The attention to detail is what sets this theme park apart from other theme park. The employees of Disney World are hired for their excellence. The employees that work for the parks are terrific actors and are dedicated to their character. Disney World has been known as a place where magic happens and I am positive that it will uphold this for generations to come. To me Disney World represents entertainment that has survived time and is still a force to be reckoned with.

            The second icon as stated earlier is Apple’s iPod. The iPod has had a significant cultural impact. The iPod was introduced into society as a replacement for the CD player and as a way to carry hundreds of songs on a little device capable of playing back any song at the touch of the user’s finger. It was incredible to be able to carry that many songs on such a small device and this completely transformed the way that people listened to music. The mp3 players have surpassed CD players in popularity and the most popular brand by far is the iPod. Apple has been able to create multiple different types of the iPod as well, ranging from the Shuffle to the iPod Touch. The iPod Nano has been remade six times and the latest model is nothing more than a small touch screen and a clip which allows you to clip it on anything. The iPod appeared while I was in high school, so it has been around for a significant part of my life. To me the iPod has become a significant icon. I personally own a black iPod Nano.

            The third icon is Britney Spears. Britney is a pop culture icon who got her start on the Mickey Mouse Club. She has appeared on television, in movies, had her own Barbie, but she is mostly known for her singing and stunts. Today she is working on rebuilding her career after a few years of personal issues but she does not have to work on building her name. Her name is truly a household one in America thus why she is a popular culture icon. I choose Britney because I have grown up listening to her music and she has been a figure in my generation’s upbringing.

Assignment 2-1 Weekly Written Analysis

     The Pirates of the Caribbean series that was first produced in 2003 has become a major cinematic hit with all ages. Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida created an attraction in their park by the name of Pirates of the Caribbean and the ride was such a hit that in 2003 it became and movie. Now seven years later the fourth installment of the Pirate series is about to be released. The tale follows the witty Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he continues to escape his debt that he owes Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) as well as the new pirate by the name of William Turner (Orlando Bloom) who is madly in love with the one Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightly). All these unique characters fit together in a series of action driven films that contain danger, drama, and enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat (The Internet Movie Database, 2010).

            The series of movies has become an icon for the culture of today and will be for years to come. The story line for these movies is such that the writers should be able to keep going with these movies for at least one or two more installments which will keep the diehard fans happy. These movies are such a symbol of pop culture for this generation that it is incredible to think that Walt Disney came up with the original idea for this theme back in the mid 1900’s and now it is one of the most popular movie series at the box office right now. According to Michael Petracca and Madeleine Sorapure, authors of Common Culture: Reading and Writing About American Popular Culture, “I make the movies I make because there is in each film some argument that fascinates me, as issue I want to work through.” (Petracca & Sorapure 2007, p. 528). The Pirate series carries a deep message that even among a crew of dirty and mangy pirates there can be some good men that will do what they can to take care of one another and the ones that they care about.

            The movie has been written well and carries a good message to its viewers in and around the action and the drama. It is a tale of love and trust and honor. These movies show the evolution of Sparrow as he finds himself doing things that even he did not think that he would do for another human. The story line also follows Mr. Turner as he comes to realize that his father was indeed a pirate and that it is his destiny to sail the seas under a pirate flag. The love between a blacksmith, Turner, and the governor’s daughter, Swan, is also developed throughout all the movies.

Resources

Petra cca, M. & Sorapure, M. (2007). Common culture: Reading and writing about American popular culture. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

The Internet Movie Database. (2010). Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2010, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383574/

Assignment 1-4 Weekly Written Analysis

            Popular culture surrounds everyone every day. In fact one cannot sit down to watch television without being bombarded with image about popular culture. Sitting down to watch television with my dad one night is where I got the idea for this week’s analysis of popular culture. My dad is a big fan of the History Channel and on this particular evening we sat down to watch a show called Stan Lee’s Superhumans. The show is hosted by Stan Lee a popular comic book creator and Daniel Browning Smith “the most flexible man in the world”. The show is about a man searching the world for human beings that have superior abilities. The show features such people as the Rubber Band Man, the Human Calculator, Quick Draw, and Ultra Marathon Man (History.com, 2010).

            Human beings have always been fascinated by oddities in fellow human beings. Thus, why the “Freak Shows” or “Side Shows” of the mid 1900s were so popular. The fascination with those who possess exceptionally unique abilities is what led, in part, to the creation of the Guinness World Records organization. The organization had its own show on FOX starting in 1998 (Guinness World Records, 2010). The Stan Lee’s Superhumans is the next in the line of shows to feature people with exceptional abilities.

            According to Michael Petracca and Madeleine Sorapure, authors of Common Culture: Reading and Writing About American Popular Culture, “television’s greatest benefit is its potential to broaden our experience, to bring us to places we could never visit, to people we could never meet, and to a range of ideas otherwise unavailable to many people” (2007, p.144). The show Stan Lee’s Superhumans covers a unique niche in television programming. The show allows the viewer the opportunity to see people with unique abilities that the viewer would not normally be able to see.

Resources

Guinness World Records. 2010. TV: Bringing record-breaking to life. Retrieved September 30, 2010, from http://corporate.guinnessworldrecords.com/tv_main.aspx

History.com. 2010. Stan Lee’s Superhumans. Retrieved on September 30, 2010, from http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans

Petra cca, M. & Sorapure, M. (2007). Common culture: Reading and writing about American popular culture. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.