Popular Cultural Analysis Paper

In the first lecture for this class, Professor Creekmur asked the question; is sex popular (Creekmur Aug. 20)? As he often does in the course, Creekmur doesn’t give a simple, clear-cut answer, but instead offers a paradox, that while sex is an aggressively private act, it is also a good that is consumed, in our magazines and on our televisions. This paradox ultimately sets the stage for the rest of this class, demonstrating how something as intimate as one’s sexuality can come to reinforce popular conventions of normalcy and deviancy within society at large, and what this essay will attempt to address.

In the first chapter of The Rhetorical Power of Pop Culture by Deanna Sellnow, the author defines popular culture and explains the importance of studying the subject. Sellnow begins with a short explanation of ethics to convey that the influence popular culture has is not always used ethically. Secondly, Sellnow compares the different contexts of culture, elitist and diversity, to explain what popular culture is not. Popular culture is compiled of everyday things that influence people through subtle messages such as what is appropriate and inappropriate, good and bad, and so on.

In “Social Networks”, Neal Gabler explains how television shows and social network influence our daily interactions with friends and family in great details. The author shows that all TV show is just a fiction nowadays. Gabler said,

Identify and define the psychological construct you have chosen to use. Identify the medium that the construct is evident in and give a brief summary of the story and/or plot of the medium. Explain in detail how the construct is used in the story, play, show, etc. Conclude by identifying what you believe are the good or bad aspects or results of the construct you observe.

The study of culture is very important to our society, as we have been studying our past and identities for as long as we can recall. Studying our cultures allows us to understand each other as a people, so we can comprehend what we have done, and possibly, what we may do. As we study American popular culture, we see something that began as almost nothing, to a group of patterns that has captured the minds of not only the American people themselves, but the whole world, as well.

In 1998, a new TV series premiered on American cable television Home Box Office (HBO): Sex and the City. The Genre of the show is comedy, and it is based around four fashionably sense single women in their mid-thirties. In this episode I will discuss on the beauty myth and the power of beauty.

Popular culture or other known as pop culture reflects on society’s values all throughout the world. “In the past, popular culture was generally assumed to be superficial; training, experience, and reflection were not essential to appreciate it or produce it. Now, however, appreciating the importance of both high culture and popular culture has become the hallmark of an educated person” (Shea 707). Popular culture is the entirety of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, images, and other pieces that are within the mainstream of a given culture. Popular culture is targeted to all people of all age groups and influences our thoughts, behaviors, trends, tastes etc, and can include songs, movies, celebrities, food, literature and food.

In an article published for the National Association for Music Education, titled “Popular Culture and Video Games as Tools for Music Learning,” written by Adam Reyher. Focuses primarily on a video game called Rhythm Heaven Fever, Reyher discusses how the use of incorporating technology in the classroom by using video games will appeal to children more than traditional methods. He mentions how appealing to children through the type of music they enjoy listening to as well as using things that will keep their attention will unknowingly help them learn more.

“Nobody Knows: How the Media and Culture Industries Work” by David Grazian explains the relationship between the media and how culture creates a web of networks that assist the implementation of popular culture in media. Media plays a huge role in how popular culture is spread to different parts of the world. In addition, the article emphasizes the importance of how film, music, and record industries bring in revenue and how they are able to attract the audience through the utilization of the media to spread the product. Grazain also points out that it is quite difficult for the industries to target an audience as everyone prefer different types of genres. However, the industries will rely on boundary spanners and gatekeepers. These individuals

Pop Culture permeates our society and is now the first and last thing we think about every day. Almost every waking moment includes pop culture in some way, as society has embraced this new way of life. Parents use electronics to entertain their children and keep them out of the way, and children use them to avoid their parents. Escapism, guilty pleasures and popular culture define each other in ways that they didn’t in the past and now our world is trying to reconcile it.

Annotated Bibliography Stereotypes in media Miller, S. D. (1997). The Reunion of History and Popular Culture: Japan "Come Out" on TV. Journal Of Popular Culture, 31(2), 161-175. This article discusses how on japanesse T.V. today homosexuals are presented as very much a part of the culture but this would not have been possible if it wasn’t for a

Today’s societal norms and popular culture instills the idea that being health conscious and exercising is necessary. Most Americans idealize the “perfect” body and will do anything to achieve this image. We, as an American public, are attracted to members of society who present themselves in a fit and healthy manner. Accordingly, there are many studies proving that active lifestyles will even increase work productivity, which can in turn create job promotions. However, what about workers who are not characterized as slender or in shape? Are they at a disadvantage compared to their colleagues? In class lecture, we discussed what archetypes and myths are and their relevance within cultures. Archetypes are defined as widely recurring actions, objects, or events with a powerful meaning. Myths are composed of these archetypes along with other powerful signs that are ingrained in society because they are constantly retold. Myths can impact our biases and standards unconsciously, as we become accustomed to these widespread narratives in our communities. Within many industries, the myth of weight discrimination in the workplace prohibits many employees from advancing in their careers. Based on my personal experience, the video, lecture, and book, the myth of workplace discrimination towards overweight individuals exists and is furthered because popular culture overemphasizes the ideal body type.

The media influences how people experience social life. Media such as newspaper, television and film, are important sources of information, education and entertainment. It can be used to learn more about the world and the people in it. In this regard it can be said that the media represent, interpret and endorse aspects of social experience (O’Shaughnessy and Stadler, 2005). The media are also implicated in social regulation, or in other terms, the government of society. The media are implicated in government and politics in an obvious way because modern systems of democracy are conducted through the media. But the media have a bigger role to play in government by structuring how society is controlled and maintained.

“Social networks are successful because they offer widespread participation, but at the same time, they open their users up to unnecessarily dangerous exposure.” (Herring, Mark Y.. Social Media and the Good Life: Do They Connect? Jefferson NC: McFarland, 2015. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 10 September 2016.). Social media (sometimes defined as social network/networks) can be used to promote your ideas. Promoting your ideas through social media is a great way your voice to be heard by millions of other users using the same social media you use every day. Promoting may get you discovered by celebrities/authors/people who are looking for good marketing. However, some ideas/opinions you choose to express may cause an uproar of cyberbullying and may cause negative attention to be directed towards you, which nobody wants to deal with. Communication is also a great advantage that social media

Popular culture is generally believed to be comprised of a variety of elements. For example, popular culture covers the most contemporary and instant aspects of our lives. These aspects can often show the characteristics of rapid change, especially in today’s highly technological and informative world in which, people are highly influenced by the universal media. Certain standards of behaviour and common beliefs are reflected in pop culture. Because of its cohesion, pop culture both influences and reflects people’s daily life. Moreover, brands can reach iconic pop status. However, these aspects are not constant and may change rapidly. (Abbott and Sapsford, 1987).