Friday, September 24, 2010
Blog #2- due 9/28: Reflect on how your current identities have been influenced by any particular popular culture...read below
Applying concepts from Baudrillard, Visual Rhetoric, class discussions, observations, your WIKIS and course readings, reflect, by selecting one popular culture that has "SUCKED" you in and describe how your identity has been influenced. Consider the space(s) you inhabit when you participate in that popular culture(such as a sporting event, or a dance club...), the logos present, colors, your senses, presence, and the tools that rhetors have used to seduce and construct identity. What sociopolitical ideologies impact those spaces and how does that impact you?
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I believe that one popular culture that has "sucked me in" would be metal music. In a brief description, heavy metal music is a subgenre of rock music, developed with a massive, heavy sound, with extended guitar riffs, screaming vocals and loud, thick drum beats. Ironically, heavy metal seems to identify with "masculinity" and I myself am a female (not the girliest female, yet still not the stereotypical metal chick as well).
ReplyDeleteI do not feel that my physical identity has been affected much by my listening to metal music. Yes, I have piercings and I have tattoos. I do not have them to identify with a specific scene, I have them because I enjoy the way they look and they make me happy. The only physical aspects of myself that I would associate with it is that I will sometimes wear heavy metal band t-shirts.
When it comes to my physical surroundings when I am participating in that pop culture, it can honestly be anywhere. I listen to heavy metal in my car and at home with my friends. The only time I can think of when I am physically in a heavy metal social space is when I choose to attend heavy metal concerts, which seems to have not been happening as much this past year due to money, jobs, school and my internship.
It is hard to identify the sociopolitical messages of this kind of music because no two bands are the same or have the same beliefs and this type of music comes with so many stereotypes. Heavy metal unfortunately has the stereotype of being devil worshippers; even my friends from home who hate this kind of music call it "kill your mother music." It's quite ironic that heavy metal has such a steroetype because I have been to countless heavy metal concerts where the band is extremely associated with the Christian religion and have preached, if you will, to the crowd about their beliefs. You must understand that not all heavy metal bands are like this, though. All in all, the heavy metal socio political message is not "kill you mother." I would say it's about having fun, living life every day like it's your last, not giving up, not conforming and being who you want to be, whoever that may be.
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ReplyDeleteI would say since I have come to college and especially this year I have been sucked into the fitness culture on campus more so than ever. I do have a history with this popular culture. My mother is a fitness junkie and used to be an instructor. I have been very active my whole life and I teach cycling classes at the gym and have been since freshman year. This year however we received a promotional program from Les Mills, a well know fitness company. They came and trained a number of our instructors in two new aerobics classes, Body Pump and Body Combat. They hung up posters of very muscled men and woman all over our gyms. The adds were predominately in red, trying to instill excitement and passion into the programs. From a Baudrillard point of view I would say those pictures of the muscle gods were reaffirming my belief that I am a flawed human being. The caveat here however is the fact that with enough work I can look that good. Digging a little deeper into this method, I am reminded of all the many diet pills and medications that advertise on TV. They too are filled with perfect looking people. The commercials infer that all the viewers need to do is pay money and take the product.
ReplyDeleteThis semester however I have become very “Sucked” in to these Les Mils classes. I saw these posters and while they did reaffirm my belief that I am not a muscle god I was driven to become one. I went to the kickoff event at the HUB. It was located in the large room next to the cafeteria with the stage. I walked in and saw them, standing there in all their glory. All dressed in bright red muscle shirts or tight tees and short tight black shorts showing off superbly toned figures. I wanted to be like them. The head man was a very excited black man whose voice boomed over the sterosystems. I grabbed a bell bar and I was hooked.
The world of professional football has completely sucked me in. I’m not sure if it has anything to do with living in rural Pennsylvania, although I am sure that has something to do with it, but I completely get a rush from watching the Steelers beat... anyone. Football has such a massive impact on the city of Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas that it is almost considered going against your city if you aren’t as in love with the sport as everyone else.
ReplyDeleteLuckily I am. Football is the one sport (other than hockey) what I can watch and completely understand. It’s less intimidating to me that other sports because I never have to ask questions. I think it is common for people to think of sports fans as male, but I feel like “Steeler Nation” is a wide variety of people, male and female, young and old.
When you a go to a game at Heinz Field, the one thing that unites the crowd is a proud display of black and gold. Men, women, children paint their faces and chance “Here we go, Steelers, here we go!” When you’re watching a game, you don’t identify yourself by what you do from 9 to 5 or by the street you live on. You are simply a fan. The colors around you at a game are, obviously, black and gold. I feel like the optimism, happiness, idealism and hope of the color gold (yellow) really applies to the image of the Steelers, as well as the power, sophistication and wealth of the color black.
And then you have the name and mascot of the team, which reflects on the fact that it is an old steel town, and promotes its former and current glory.
You won’t have to look very hard in this part of Pennsylvania for signs, license plates or t-shirts all about the Steelers. Merchandise is promoted to consumers by telling them they will feel like part of the “Steeler Nation.” Although I sell-in to this notion, it’s an excellent marketing scheme. We make purchases to feel like we are part of a group.
I feel like being a Steelers fan, or fan of football in general, has affected my life because it gives me something in common with a lot of my peers. It’s easy to cut into a conversation about the epic tackle Polamalu made last week or that amazing run by Brett Keisel. The Steelers help you get your foot into the doors, and then, if you’re willing to spend the money, you can be part of the team.
It’s a team I’m proud to support.
I believe the one popular culture that has sucked me in would be reality television. There are so many shows that I watch that influence my own life decisions. I believe that this has to do with the fact that these shows show me how other people are living and make me want to be more like them. I also feel that these shows allow us to escape our own lives and step into someone else’s life even if it’s not physical. This to me is something that I enjoy after a stressful day it allows me to but my stress behind me. I believe that this is a part of our society’s popular culture because more people are interested on what is going on in other people’s lives rather than their own. This can be seen by how much people talk about the various reality shows for example the Jersey shore. I think that people like to watch other people’s lives to make them feel better about their own. I feel that this is true because in my own life I have done this as well with other shows such as American choppers because when I watch the dynamic of the problem’s in the family it makes me feel better about how my own family is. I am one of fourteen kids and yes we all have had our fair share of fights among our family but we are still will to drop whatever were doing to help each other. This is something that I noticed isn’t always the case with reality shows they don’t always have a happy ending just like in life. When I see all of the drama on television it makes me reflect on myself as a person and want to be better than all the people we see on the reality shows. This isn’t always the case with everyone which is why this is huge influence in today’s society. I know for me I enjoy talking to other friends about the different shows I watch. This allows me to connect with other people about the shows we all watch and find important to pop culture. I get sucked into more than just a show I really enjoy more the social factor of it and the chances the escape reality and for a short period of time and see how other people live their lives. This makes me want to find more shows to escape from reality and see how’s others lives are.
ReplyDeleteThe world of professional hockey has "sucked" me in. Im from western PA where hockey is very popular. R.J. Umburger is a professional hockey player that is from my hometown of plum which helps a great deal with the NHL's popularity. The electricity that the city of Pittsburgh shows for it's sports teams is like no other city in the United States. Going to a Penguin game and seeing all those fans screaming and going nuts is unreal. The Pittsburgh Penguins are such a big peice of my identity. The color scheme of the Pens are black and gold. The seats in the new arena are even black and gold. The Sociopolitical ideology that i see is how when watching a game live or at home i feel like im part of the team. I feel like without the fans the Pens would not be in the city of Pittsburgh anymore. I am a proud fan of the Pens and it will be a huge part of my identity for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to agree with Jessica that I have become completely sucked in by the Pittsburgh Steelers at a young age. I live in the city of Pittsburgh and it is pretty much impossible to not be sucked into this popular culture that lives so strongly in my city. Everything about the Pittsburgh Steelers has a huge influence on the whole city of Pittsburgh.
ReplyDeleteMy identity has definitely been effected by the Steelers in my appearance on my body, my car, and my house. The city of Pittsburgh "bleeds Black and Gold" and being apart of this popular culture, the colors black and gold can define your identity as being from Pittsburgh or Steeler fan in general. I wear black and gold alot and always on game days! Just seeing somebody on the street wearing black and gold I automatically think of home and think that that person is from Pittsburgh or a Pittsburgh fan. I have a Steelers license plate and terrible towels all in my house at home and my apartment at school.
Something so simple as the colors black and gold can take away your identity as a doctor, teacher, or student to simple be defined as a Pittsburgh fan especially in the city during a game. Your social status does not show who you are but rather just the color of the clothes on your back can unify everybody even if its just for the hours of the football game on television or in the crowd at Heinz Field.
Being in Heinz Field with all of the screaming rowdy fans feels like home to me and is one of my favorite places to be. This is one place in the world that I can go to and nothing else is on my mind but a Steeler victory and being with my Steelers family. The atmosphere of Heinz Field is like one big huge family and when you are wearing the other teams colors you stick out like sore thumb and everyone around you becomes your enemy just because of you different color scheme. This is interesting to see how powerful colors and small symbols can be during a football game to divide people.
The sociopolitical messages you can get out of the Steelers popular culture is feeling as one big family. As mentioned above, Steelers merchandise is found almost any where you look in the city and the surrounding counties. Buying this merchandise can make one feel as a part of the team or Steeler family with the Rooney's and if you are a Steeler fan or Pittsburgh citizen, who wouldnt want to be apart of this family?
The Renaissance Festival culture has had my attention for a long time now, about 10 years. I grew up near the Pittsburgh Renaissance festival and from the first time I visited I knew I wanted to work and visit there. It's not as big as the festival in central pa or the Maryland festival but it's getting there. It's seen as geeky by most, but sometimes the popular 'simulacras' are geeky -Star Wars, -Lord of the Rings,Star Trek etc...
ReplyDeleteWhen you attend a Renaissance festival it is most of the time VERY loosely based on history. And I mean that! It's usually just budget friendly Disney World. The one event that sucks people in the most is jousting. It can be alluded to football in this country. People are so passionate about which knight wins it can become ridiculous! I've seen some people who get into fights over the jousters and which one they want to win! A funny insider fact that not many know is that the winning knight, not always the good night, will always wear black and gold - it appeals to the local Steelers culture. Black and Gold are so engraved in our subconscious as the colors that must win that the one time they forgot to have the black and gold knight win, the company received many complaint emails that said "The black and gold should never loose"...or something along those lines.
Like Jessica said "When you a go to a game at Heinz Field, the one thing that unites the crowd is a proud display of black and gold." this is also true of the renaissance festival in Western PA.
Other ideas the renaissance festival evokes in people are romantic ideals. All renaissance festivals sell roses and have girls walking around with baskets of roses to be sold, like candy at baseball game. All festivals also do this bit called "The Court of Love...where all men are created guilty" the idea is that the couple will come up to the queen and her ladies and the lady will state something her significant other has not done fother her today or something that he has done poorly. He will then be bestowed with a certificate that the royal court finds him guilty of whatever and that his sentence is he do something for his lady, like buy her jewelery or something of that nature. How capitalistic!
I feel that the renaissance festival has influenced my life because for a month it is my life. The other members of the cast become like family not co-workers. I am sucked into the ideas that cameras and technology don't exist and that magic and chivalry do. That isn't to say that chivalry doesn't, mind you. The funny thing is we are told at the beginning of each day how we are creating this escape for people. They come to us willing to leave the 'real' world for 6 hours (well except their preconceived notions of the black and gold) and we become their reality, heck, this place becomes reality for US. Because we have the patrons who come in believing I'm a princess, I in turn believe I'm a princess. It is a reenforcement cycle that is hard to break and even harder to leave after 6 hours!
I believe a pop culture that has "sucked me in" is simply music. I can't specify a specific genre because I listen to a wide range of music, from the blues to heavy metal. Music has become a passion and a foundation in my life. Music speaks in so many ways and most people don't take the time to realize the soul that is put into music. Whenever I am walking somewhere I take my Zune and I pick music that suits my mood. Sometimes I realize I relate the sounds and harmonies to everything around me. Baudrillard would say that I use music to replace my reality and I go into my own world when I have music in my head. Being a metal fan, I also agree with what Annette said. Metal bands deliver such different messages in their songs. However, I feel a destabilization when I hear "rap music." Yes, I put music in quotes too. I don't believe you can call rap music because there is no talent in using a computer to reproduce beats that the artist can't play on an actual instrument. Only my opinion of course. Music always brings me to a restabilization when I'm out of my space. Music is the best pop culture out there. Life is always better with a soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that rock & roll is the one thing that has shaped my identity. When I really get into the music, the only thing that exists is the music and me. Rock & Roll expresses how I could feel. It thrives me when I'm about to burst and it calms me when things burst for the worst. On a typical Friday afternoon I could be driving around town loving life while listening to Rocket Queen by Guns n Roses. When I'm really feeling the music it puts me in my social space. It is just me and a new world with a great soundtrack. Rock & Roll puts me in a type of Third-space as well. I could be living in my head with the music and putting life on cruise control and realize everything is going to be all right, everyone else has been there and it will be ok. I feel that Baudrillard would describe the experience I get by saying I created my own reality and other people that get taken away with music like I do, they to are part of the reality. Being at a rock show can have plenty of different effects on people.
ReplyDeleteI love what Annette said: "I do not feel that my physical identity has been affected much by my listening to metal music. I do not have them to identify with a specific scene."
That's exactly how I feel. You couldn't tell that rock & roll shapes my identity, because its a personal open secret to me. It is my meditation. It is not my life.
Well, I have to be honest... reality TV has completely SUCKED ME IN. As I've expressed in class and even told people Snookie was my hero, I am completely obsessed with watching reality TV. I never ever miss an episode of Jersey Shore or when it was still on MTV, The Hills, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club etc. I get so wrapped up in these "characters'" lives and feel as if I know them personally. For this blog, I am using Jersey Shore as my main focus because it is the show I watch the most and am obsessed with the most haha.
ReplyDeleteI do believe my personal identity has been influenced greatly for example, there are times that I watch Jersey Shore and (jokingly of course) I'm like "ya know what... I could totally rock the crap out of that poof!" haha But seriously, I do wish I could party with them and there are times when my friends and I are quoting from the newest Jersey Shore episode and calling out "grenades" at the bar. Their lifestyles make me jealous.. who wouldn't want to party every night and get paid for it?! Baudrillard would probably say that I am addicted to reality TV for the sake of trying to escape my actual reality, which is half true. For that hour of dirty Jersey, I lose some sense of reality, sure that paper is due tomorrow at 9:00 AM, but its worth the laughs.
What I love best about watching reality TV is that people somehow always come together to watch the new episode. We have Jersey Shore nights, and me and my roomies used to have "Hills" nights, but it is great just being able to chill with your friends, share a few laughs, and get some new quotes to say. Throughout the different shows, there are always logos present. And to continue with my Jersey Shore example, Ed Hardy is CONSTANTLY present throughout the show. Every cast member has shirts, hats, and even The Situation's "sweet" sweatpants from a few episode's ago (they were awful). When people watch this they think of how cool Ed Hardy clothes are and that they want to be like the cast members who wear that designer. Also, EVERY single time the cast goes out to the club, the girls wear black dresses, shirts, skirts, etc. They are always wearing black whether its ripped up or not haha. Black is the color of sophistication, power, evil, sexuality etc. I think ALL of those apply to JWOWW, Snooks, Sammi Sweetheart, and Angelina EXCEPT sophistication. Those girls are trying to promote sexiness and most likely sluttiness, but hey, black is always in style and can make anyone look slammin. The last "logo" that is ever present is just alcohol in general. They are forever drunk on the show and go out to clubs every episode. This promotes partying and obviously drinking to those viewers watching. Most people probably think, wow man they are having a great time, wish I could party with them! *I do really think this, I wanted to audition for the 4th season, but my mom wouldn't let me haha.
In the end, the sociopolitical message of Jersey Shore is you have to drink to have fun. And don't get me wrong, drinking is a great way to have fun and loosen up, but it isn't necessary to have a good time. As I stated, I think this message really impacts me because I love the lifestyle they are able to live. I just turned 21 YESTERDAY! YES SO LETS ALL GO OUT ASAP! But anyway, I am new to the bar scene and when I watch this show, all I want to do is go out and fist pump with some Guido gorilla juiceheads and have a blast!
A popular culture that has “sucked” me in is fantasy youth literature specifically the Harry Potter and Twilight books. Considering Twilight has already been touched upon and being a fan is particularly shameful, I will focus on Harry Potter. “Harry Potter” has become a phenomenon not only because of the overwhelming success of the novels but also the equally successful movie series. Even before the books were finished, movies were being made. This is how I got involved; I saw the first movie and decided to read the books. My impression of the first novel was lukewarm, but as I continued to read the books became more and more intricate and dark and I became more and more “sucked in”. The movies are also a big factor that solidifies my identity within the popular culture of Harry Potter. They are the first movies made from books that I have been satisfied with. Of course there are always things you miss in translation but the movies really epitomize the character, mood, and heart of the books. This also allows Harry Potter to infiltrate not only my social spaces (movie theatre) but also personal or isolated ones (for reading). The fact that I own two Harry Potter related t-shirts is reflection of my own investment and identification with the entire franchise.
ReplyDeleteThe story in general is chock-full of classic archetypes that may contribute to the wide range of fans that it has collected. Hugely prevalent and at the center of the story is the battle between good and evil. Children, adults, men, and women can all relate to one of its character or situations. There are also messages imbedded into the story that address and apply to racism and prejudices that still exist today.
I'm not sure why but my ID came up as my email so just in case this is Haley Noel.
ReplyDeleteThe popular culture that has “sucked” me in is getting tattooed. Within the last month I had two tattoos done. One on behind my ear and the other I added on to a previous tattoo. I feel like getting tattoos is a way to put different parts of my life on my body so I can remember them. The space where this culture happens is at a tattoo studio/parlor. The logos that are represented are the work that an artist has previously done, the ink that the artist use and the products to use after you get a tattoo. The tattoo studio that I normally get tattooed at has a very calming feel when you walk in. The main color scheme is purple, blue and black. The sociopolitical message is trying to find who you are as a person while representing a piece of your life. From a Baudrillard point of view I think he would say we are trying to fix who we are by putting an image on our body .Travis mentioned on his blog about music being his popular culture that life is always better with a soundtrack, people with tattoos just but their soundtracks on their bodies.
ReplyDeleteVideo games are a popular culture that is often overlooked. Since we do not hear about them every day on the news, or see them in our daily lives, we don't consider them to be a popular culture. I think it's hard to argue with the 11 million, and counting, current players of world of warcraft, and say that video games are not a popular culture. World of warcraft especially is a game that offers an alternate universe in which you can be considered a god of sorts no matter what your real life is like. This is why so many people are drawn to it. It is also easy for people to be sucked into the "I want to be the best at this" mentality. The only problem is that it is almost impossible to be the best ever at any given video game. This is why people spend countless hours playing halo and guitar hero. They might not be that great at math, but they sure can kick your ass at call of duty. There have been several periods in my life when I have been totally immersed in video games in this way. In high school when I felt like I was not respected by my peers, I could log onto world of warcraft and be a force to be reckoned with. As Baudrillard would say, my existence was validated by this game or alternate reality. When we weren't playing, the game was all my friends and I would talk about. People would make fun of us and call us "WoW nerds." This solidifies the idea that it is a popular culture because there is opposition. People don't understand why people play or why they like it, and therefor video games are a popular culture.
ReplyDeleteThe popular culture that has had the biggest influence on my identity is certainly the military. I enlisted just after I turned 18. Now, I've been in for over 6 years, I'm on my second enlistment, I've deployed, and I've met some of the best friends I could ever ask for.
ReplyDeleteIn the Air Force, our core values define the way we live our lives, both on duty and off duty. The words "integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do" provide us with the know-how to lead in difficult situations and follow when someone else is calling the shots. Working in a rank-stuctured environment certainly has its disadvantages, but, if nothing else, I have learned respect and humility. There is not a lot of glamour associated with the military. When we all gather in plainly-decorated rooms and our olive (well, now sand-colored) drab, the only thing that divides us is our ranks. The military does not encourage indivdiuality. In fact, we often hear just the opposite: we are nothing if we are not a cohesive unit -- an Air Force family.
Even nine years after the fact, we are still motivated by the events of September 11. Our commanders deliver us sociopolitical messages that are very obvious. We were victims of terrorism, and we are still fighting. Each day that we work, we are thanked for what we do. It's amazing that, though we will never forget those events, we are constantly reminded. Our trainings and briefings are full of pictures of Middle-Eastern people and places.
The popular culture that has "sucked" me in is music. I personally enjoy all genres of music because each one fits a different mood that I feel throughout my life. I cannot imagine going one day without listening to it. My love of music stems from the way I feel when I listen to particular genres. There is music that can calm me down, help me concentrate, feel really sad or really happy, and music that I can dance and sing along to. I also need it as background music to complete work, read, or walk to class.
ReplyDeleteMy number one passion is dance. Music has a large impact on dance and allows the dancer to use the rhythms and sounds to perform their inner most thoughts and feelings. I listen to music and find myself dancing in my head to the music and coming up with interesting choreography that fits to the music being played.
Music is all around us. It is played in movie and television programs, in restaurants and stores, sporting events, at bars or clubs, and in offices and classrooms. Some teachers are even presenting music in their classrooms for students to listen to while working on certain assignments.
I am able to recognize the music played all around me and find myself writing down the song titles to download later. Thanks to these sociopolitical messages, I have probably charged well over $1,000 to my parent’s credit card on iTunes. Even though it costs money, I will continue purchasing music to keep as a soundtrack to my life.
Growing up in Pittsburgh my entire life I feel as though professional sports teams have really sucked me in since coming to college. Don’t get me wrong I have always followed the Steelers, Penguins, and even though I may not be entirely proud to say it, the Pirates, but being around so many other fans during my time here it has really ignited the passion for professional sports which I have now. Before coming to college I would watch the Steeler games with my family on Sundays. We would usually watch around 40 games out of an 82 game season for the Penguins, and we usually would go see the Pirates play, because of their insanely low ticket prices. Whenever I came to college though, it seemed as though everyone was crazy about the idea of the Steelers and the Penguins, especially since the Steelers had just recently won a super bowl, and the Penguins just signed Sidney Crosby. This really sucked me in. I started watching every single game of every team. I began signing up for fantasy leagues and tracking all of the teams statistics compared to other teams. I believe the big reason I was so into it is because I love numbers, so I was able to look at a players numbers and come up with my own statistics about how they might do during the season. Having a bigger obsession with my home teams led me to different social spaces to watch the games. Whenever I would be home on breaks from college my friends and I would plan trips to places like Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Penguins, or Steelers games. Being in these new social spaces showed me different sides of people. I saw people get so into the games that a win or loss would affect the rest of their night. In class I know we talked about how popular culture could influence yourself in a negative way. I believe sports can have these negative effects, as well as positive ones. I do not think an individual should let his mood be decided by how well a professional sports team does. If Baudrillard were to comment of professional sports fantasy league I think he would say it is a little bit ridiculous how much time people spend making up a fake team to try to win every week. It all ties back to his main point of how we don’t really know what is original anymore. In terms of stabilization I typically feel stabilized whenever I go out to watch a game at the bar, or a restaurant, because everyone there is typically rooting for the same team. I think I would feel a destabilization if I was to visit a friend in another city and I was the only one cheering for a particular team. I also feel like professional sports teams try to drag you into purchasing certain products. For example, Troy Polamalu, a safety from the Pittsburgh Steelers, appears in commercials for shampoo. Polamalu is one of the most respected and well-liked players on the Pittsburgh Steelers. By doing these commercials he is trying to entice consumers into buying the product just on the sole fact that they like him, so in turn they should like the shampoo he is advertising. You see this all the time with any type of sport, or even any celebrity.
ReplyDeleteThe popular culture that has "sucked" me in is cell phones. I feel that if I went a day without my cell phone I would be lost in the world. Electronics play a big role in society today in which the population becomes very dependent on these new advances. If you were to look back to about ten years ago it was very uncommon for the majority of teenagers and older to have their very own cell phone.
ReplyDeleteIn today's society however, the vast majority of the population has cell phones. It is interesting to see how much people are dependent on cell phones. I know I am very dependent on my cell phone and need it everyday. My phone shows that I love talking with friends and family at any time that I want. Without a cell phone, I wouldn't be able to get in contact with people as easily making my life very difficult. In the past I have gotten my phone stolen (by hillbillies), dropped in the toilet (3 times), and spilled a glass of water on it. The time period I had without my phone was the worst ever! I felt that I was segregated from the world and couldn't talk to anyone (a bit extreme I know.) While I had my cell phone I felt very stabilized, however when it was gone or damaged I felt very destabilized. Finally, once I got my new phone I was restabilized and a happy camper again!
Cell phone companies send many sociopolitical messages to the public. I see many different commercials of all different companies advertising their company trying to seduce the public into having a cell phone of their company. Companies such as Verizon, AT&T, Cingular, Mobile, Sprint etc. all try to persuade the public with deals on family plans, minutes, text messaging and so forth making it seem reasonable to use their company.
As Annette says: "I do not feel that my physical identity has been affected much by my listening to metal music. I do not have them to identify with a specific scene."
I agree with her completely because being dependent on my cell phone you would not be able to tell just looking at me. Many people may not know that I am always on my phone so it can not show my physical identity really.
Trying to find a popular culture that I identify with is probably the hardest part to this blog assignment. I could write about what its like to be an English major but I don't believe that's what the question is asking. Since I keep distracting myself with Facebook, I feel like social networking is a popular culture that I not only identify with, but one that has almost become an addiction.
ReplyDeleteFacebook is something every college and high school student interacts with on a day to day basis. Baudrillard would probably say that it has become the downfall of American youth and I have to agree with him. I have probably looked at that damn site at least twelve times today. I can tell you that my friend's mom Sophie has been cancer free for ten years today but I can also say that my friend Bill is "chasin that paper trail"...whatever that means. Social networking has become a way of life, not just for college students but for everyone.
Facebook especially has a way of just completely sucking you in, regardless of who you are. Maybe it has to do with all of the blue used in the site. It makes you want to stay on longer, see who's doing what, and essentially waste more time not doing school work. My mom doesn't have one but still manages to use her co-workers FB's to check up on me. She even knew I was having a party last summer because her friend is my friend and she saw I created a new event on FB for the party. Social networking has completely taken over my life, I can't even finish this blog without taking peeks every now and then. Why has this become such a phenomenon? How did it happen so quickly? When, if ever, will it stop? What will be the new fad once the hype dies down?
All of these questions bring to mind one answer...Facebook has probably only just begun and in time will be replaced. Until then, I better log out and continue my homework
One particular culture that has sucked me in has to be our current topic for the day. That being Rap/Hip Hop music. Growing up I became a fan of Rap around the age of 9. My older brother was listening to it, so naturally I started to become exposed to it as well. The beats and lyrics are what really sucked me in. It became an outlet for me. Growing up I also played a lot of sports. I participated in wrestling, basketball, football, baseball, and track and field. As long as I can remember before any of these events I would listen to Rap/Hip Hop music. The music would always pump me up for competition. That's what I think Rap/Hip Hop is based on. Originally, Rap was all about emcees, lyrics, and battles. The Rap industry has flourished on competition among artists. There are many well known "beefs" that help make Rap what it is today. Going back to Easy E vs. Ice Cube, Ice Cube vs. Common, Tupac vs. Notorious B.I.G, Nas vs. Jay Z, and currently Rick Ross vs. 50 cent.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason this music used to get me pumped up is because of the free expression of the mind and competition rooted in its history. My fashion changed as I became more into Rap/Hip Hop. I would mimic the current styles in the industry. I saw my identity change from "preppie" to "wigga" if you must. When I got to High School I became more well rounded and opened myself up to other music. There are still certain Rap albums that I can honestly say changed my life.
I guess it maybe enticed me more because Rap/Hip Hop was different,unique,and out of the norm for a white kid from the suburbs. I guess the counter culture of Rap/Hip Hop is what attracted me. I remember my Uncle from the City took me to a flea market and I bought one of my first rap cassettes. It was Outkast ATLiens. I still remember songs from that tape 'til this day. I also became fascinated with the lyrics. The way you can express yourself is almost limitless. There are so many sociopolitical messages in songs that are sneakily hidden by clever artists. I believe this art goes back hundreds of years. From African American slaves singing songs that actually were encoded directions to freedom. Also in the Canterbury tales there is a character called Artful Dodger who also disguised messages similar to Rappers of today. Overall, Rap/Hip Hop remains my favorite and most influential genre, but I also listen to all types of other music.