Assignment 5-1: Written Weekly Analysis 5

            Music is a massive industry in today’s society. Many different forms of music are prevalent to the younger generations as well as older generations in today’s popular culture. Music has come a long way from the beginning of time, and over the last couple of decades has began to show up more and more in the media because of its negative lyrics. It is important for us as a society to realize that although music is a big part of people’s lives, it is the artist rights to sing, rap or play about anything they desire under the first amendment. Society cannot always point its finger at a form of entertainment for the problems of today’s children. It has always been an issue how the music is portrayed, the message behind the lyrics and the influence it has on our children.

            This is going to be a little sideways because it is going to have a lot of my personal feelings involved. I feel that music, like video games, do have an influence on today’s children, but I do not think that it is what causes our children to be violent, or behave in such a manner that is detrimental to their growth. Yes, the music in popular culture today is very controversial, and its lyrics can be very violent and crude, but I do not think it’s what makes a kid pick up a gun and go shoot someone. We as a society, as well as parents mainly need to know that, “While we find that lyrics may be dangerous to a child we must ask ourselves whether the child fully understands and comprehends what the artist is saying (N/A, 2004)”. How are we so quick to point the finger at music, when we are not even sure if they kids understand it? Yes, them not understanding it can lead to uncertainty in what is real and what is not, and what is acceptable or not, but then you should limit the listening of thistype of music as much as possible. As an artist, they have the ability to rap or sing about lifestyles, events in their lives or whatever they please. Who are we to say they can’t?

            While many want to censor the music industry due to corrupt children, maybe we need to look at the reality of the fact that many kids as they get into high school or even middle school see this kind of stuff going on in their own neighborhoods and schools. Our society is changing. We as a society cannot censor everything, we need to inform the impressionable minds about meanings of lyrics or the reality of the consequences that occur when acting on the lifestyles the music is portraying. It is a problem that needs to start from the home and work outward, not from the outside and work in. Music is music, and while some say it can be held responsible for kid’s actions, I do not think that it plays the role that different studies show, or report. This is why there are ratings on the music so someone who is thought as of too young cannot purchase.

            Take a step back and look at the real effect music has on most people. If a kid is going to let music judge their actions with violence, it seems more likely there is an interlaying problem within the child to be that influenced to commit violence or crimes just because of lyrics. I may be way off base, but this is how I feel, and it goes the same for video games as well. We as a society are quick to blame others due to our children’s behaviors instead of really trying to find the problem from within. It is baffling that everything is becoming so censored, or people want to protest this or protest that, yes it their rights, but grow some balls and deal with your children.

Bibliography

N/A. (2004). The Effects Of Violent Music Content on Teens. Retrieved October 31, 2010, from http://www.rense.com/general59/teens.htm

           

            

Assignment 4-1 Weekly Written Analysis 4

            In our society, the majority of people want to become famous, whether it is in acting, business or sports. Celebrity status is deemed by popular culture to be one of the highest statuses you can achieve. What constitutes as a celebrity though? As our other assignment is dealing with celebrities and heroes, I felt it necessary to voice my concern with the obsession of celebrity status. Most view celebrities as people who are always in the spotlight, star in movies, or have the game winning play in sports. While this is not totally off based, we need to look at what a celebrity use to represent and what celebrities are becoming in our culture today.

            When I think of a celebrity, I am just like everyone else and think of movie stars, actors on television series, and athletes in professional sports. The idea of kids wanting to become celebrities has always been common, but what are they looking at in these celebrities? In the past 10 years or so, celebrities have been hit hard by media on their mishaps and their faults. The media is a whore when it comes to a celebrity in trouble for DUI, drugs or other offenses. Can we really define celebrities in today’s society as we did in the 90’s and earlier? I don’t think we can. Some of these so called celebrities are becoming famous for the wrong things. Celebrities today are not based on their talents, their good deals, the positive impact they have on people and most important, children. They are now, “assessed by breast size, amount of marriages/divorces, and the number of tabloid covers appeared on (Dunshster, 2008)”. The media no longer is giving the viewers newsworthy information, but it is all smut.

            The idea of celebrity status has changed so much; it is hard to find a celebrity that has not been in the news for something illegal, an affair or anything that is damaging to their reputations. It is sad that our society is so obsessed with the flaws in the people who entertain us. Popular culture in our society just feed into this and skew the whole image of what a real celebrity is. Everyone wants to see people at the top come falling down, and it has always been that way, but in our society it is at its peak. We need to get over it and realize that they are just like us, and just because they are on TV, or play sports, and have millions of dollars, they still do the same stupid things we do. Let them live their lives with their problems outside the media, just as we do. Let real newsworthy information be reported to the public again, please. 

Bibliography

Dunshster. (2008, September 20). Associated Content. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from What Defines a Hero and Heroism in Today's Society: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1029742/what_defines_a_hero_and_heroism_in.html?cat=19

Assignment 3-1 Weekly Written Analysis 3

One of the biggest focuses in pop culture in the past few years has been on reality TV. It is literally taking over television networks and changing the way television is viewed in the present day. Television use to portray real life situation done by actors, but everything now is based on reality, even if it isn’t even close to being real. I feel as if reality television at times can be even more scripted than normal television programs or series. When I said that reality TV is taking over networks, I was trying to express how every other show is a reality show and they are even playing on specific networks like History channel and Discovery channel. These networks are playing reality TV shows that having nothing to do with what their network is supposed to be geared toward. From shows such as Man vs Wild to Big Brother, the idea of reality TV has been lost somewhere in the frenzy of entertainment. Thinking of reality TV, you picture it to be all real life as if the cameras weren’t there, but, “participants of reality TV shows are sometimes willing to go outside of their boundaries and do things that they would not necessarily do in their normal lives, without the cameras following their every move (Russell, 2005)”. This defeats the whole purpose of reality TV. For the most part, I think all the reality television shows are lame. There are a few exceptions such as Ice Road Truckers, because it is hard to get too far off of being real when they are pretty much in a truck for 90% of the show. I just am not a fan of the reality TV, because I think TV was great before this boom.

Bibliography

Russell, M. (2005, May 6). How Real Is Reality TV. Retrieved October 17, 2010, from http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Real-is-Reality-TV?&id=191704

Assignment 1-3 Analysis

            

The article I chose to analyze was about the lack of television stations using their air time for their specialized programming. Many television stations have jump on board the reality TV band wagon and have left their specialized stations to join the masses in entertainment of a different form. The specific networks such as, MTV, Discovery, History and National Geographic are playing television shows that have nothing to do with the networks title. They have deemed this act the television stations are performing as bait-and-switch chicanery. The stations have, “been subverted by television executives who seem determined to give their cable network audiences something that is not advertised correctly in the name of the network itself (Wiley Periodicals, Inc, 2010).” It is becoming more and more common that we see television station changing. There is becoming less and less truth in their advertising of their network name because of their broadcasts. “What was once an amazing entertainment media development (Wiley Periodicals, Inc, 2010)”, is now main stream and a cop out, going from quality broadcasting to what reality television with no core.

Bibliography

Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (2010). Editorial: Truth in Advertising. Journal of Popular Culture , 669-670.

  

Assignment 2-1 Weekly Written Analysis 2

Many people believe that video games are the cause of many problems with children today. Many are concerned about the impact the different types of video games portray on young impressionable minds. The major concern is whether or not violent video games really do have an effect on a child’s aggression, both short term and long term. Parents are concerned that their children will feel that aggression played in a video game will carry over to real world experiences when presented with similar situations in life. Children’s minds are very impressionable, and the impact of violence on television and video games, compounded with violence they see on the news and in schools can seriously affect their aggression.

            There have been many studies that try to prove that video games with violence trigger more aggression in children from 4^th grade to 12^th grade. A study was done by Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh states that, “that teens who play violent video games for extended periods of time tend to be more aggressive, are more prone to confrontation with their teachers, may engage in fights with their peers, see a decline in school achievements (Norcia, N/A).” The concern and logic is that because video games are interactive, they get the children more involved, whereas television is more passive as just viewing. I think it just depends on the particular child at hand, because although they are exposed to violence in video games, television and movies are just as violent even though they don’t require interaction. Children are exposed to first hand violence in schools and in their neighborhoods, but they are not focusing on that variable. Although I do believe that violent video games can trigger more aggressive behavior in some children, I do not believe it to be true across the board.

            Overall, violent video games can be described as a minimal factor in children becoming more aggressive. Just because the game is interactive and you have control over it, unlike television, does not necessarily mean it is the key factor in a child acquiring an aggressive behavior pattern later in life. With technology becoming more advanced, I do understand that the reality is more life-like, it is no different than what is played on the news, or being seen by children in schools. Many other factors have a bigger impact on children acquiring an aggressive personality.

Bibliography

Norcia, A. (N/A). The Impact of Video Games On Children. Retrieved 10 October, 2010, from http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html#What impact does playing video games have on children or adolescents?

Assignment 2-2 - Icon Analysis

Contemporary icons can come in a variety of forms depending on whom you are asking. I feel an icon is someone that you either look up to or someone that inspires you to a degree that you try and mock their drive or work ethic. The three icons that I have chose are Dana White, owner of UFC, Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, and Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon Cooper on the hit television series The Big Bang Theory. Dana White took a sport that was looked at as barbaric, and turned into one of the most viewed sports entertainment today by forming the UFC. When the internet became the thing of the future, Mark Zuckerberg defined himself by creating Facebook, the number one social network today. Jim Parsons may not have created something used/watched worldwide, but he created himself as an actor. These three men put their mind to do something and achieved their goals.

These three people have for the most part, made their own success with their drive and motivation to not conform and go outside the norm. I chose these men because they created things people did not think were possible or did not have faith in. Success is not just measured by the money you make or the fame that you achieve, but by overcoming obstacles that would stop most, and these men did not lose faith or give up. I aspire to be a leader, even if it is not in something as big as these icons, I still want to lead and not follow. I cannot imagine being Dana White or Mark Zuckerberg, knowing that millions of people are fans of your technology or your ability to turn a brutal sport into a sanctioned worldwide viewing.

These icons mean a lot to me because they were trail blazers and did not really follow anyone, but made their own paths. It is important to think independently and when you put your mind to something, no matter the obstacles, to persevere and overcome them to achieve your dreams. Their ideas and innovations were the gateway to the entertainment and social networking we are able to view today. They represent what is possible to me. 

Assignment 1-4 Weekly Written Analysis 1

            In the past decade or so, studies have been occurring all over the world on how too much television as a child can affect their learning in later years, as well as increase the chances of obesity.  People believe that there is a direct link based on research and studies. Within the United States, childhood obesity and the number of students losing interest in school has grown to a new high. Many associations are pouring money into finding out the main reasons behind the new era. It is a growing concern that is causing quite the attention of many researchers, and parents to take a closer look at how television makes an impact on children lives.

            According to a 2009 study in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the benefits of limiting TV exposure included, “lower risk of attention problems, lower risk of overweight and obesity, and improved sleep quality (Schmidt, Rich, Rifas-Shiman, Oken, & Taveras, 2009)”. Along with these finding was the determination that “there is no benefits of TV viewing for children less than two years of age (Schmidt, Rich, Rifas-Shiman, Oken, & Taveras, 2009)”. TV watching leads to a decrease in physical activity and outdoor play. This in turn leads to higher obesity. In addition, a commercial during this time of watching TV impresses upon young children a desire for things that is not necessary, including fast food. Although the study did find, “television viewing in infancy does not seem to be associated with language or visual motor skills at three years of age (Schmidt, Rich, Rifas-Shiman, Oken, & Taveras, 2009)”, when adjustments for “maternal age, income, and education” were taken into account, it still found no benefits even in adjusted results. The study did not take into account high levels of television viewing in children under two, which could affect the negative effects even in high income and educational households. High levels of television watching seem to be due to parental idleness.

            In conclusion, TV viewing shows no benefits yet also shows no harmful effects with less than 2 hours of television watching a day. That being the case, it is still better for a child to have limited television watching and increased parental involvement in a child’s daily activities. More studies are needed to further examine both the positive and negative effects of television watching on infants and small children. Although it makes sense that the less television watching allows for more time to play with other children and parents which increases a child’s ability to socialize in the world. 

MMA in Columbus, OH

When I hear people talking about pop culture, I think of Mixed Martial Arts. I think MMA has had a huge impact on popular culture over the last 5 years even though it has been around for about 20 years. Popular culture to me is the what is new and upcoming around the world, what is getting a lot of attention, and what are people spending their money on.  I think popular culture is important in business because it sets trends, and these trends are reviewed and analyzed and sometimes are a huge impact on what businesses do to get into the loop. No matter what type of career you have or are pursuing, there will always be a way to tap into the popular culture, and you what is in to your advantage on many different levels. Businesses are taking advantage of the widespread interest in MMA and using their viewing audience to get their advertisement out there on fighters clothing, gloves, and even in their corners. MMA in my mind, is definitely in popular culture at this current time.