Some of us have grown up watching game shows on TV, such as The Price is Right and Hollywood Squares. Game shows are competitions where players are eliminated and in the end someone wins a prize. This sounds like Reality TV. The only difference is that Reality TV shows go on for several weeks where a game show changes players each time it.
Reality TV, just like movies, music, and books, follows a certain formula. The standard formula that almost all reality shows follow involves a competition, player elimination and the awarding of a prize. The prize is the main focus of the show. On American Idol, contestants are vying for a recording contract and on Survivor; the prize is a million dollars.
As Morgan (2006) writes, “Reality TV isn't new - game shows have been around since the 1940s and it's the same basic premise. Contestants, all vying for the same prize, compete with each other like the most bitter enemies” (para. 3). We, the viewing audience pick our favorites and cheer from our couches. Our favorites usually don’t win the ultimate prize so we keep watching and waiting in hopes that sometime they will.
The formula for Reality TV is what draws us in. According to Morgan (2006), “And in truth, the American viewing audience just loves game shows, so it's no wonder that we keep tuning in. Reality TV only makes competition more ugly, rivals more pronounced” (para. 4). The next time you tune into your favorite Reality TV show remember, it’s just a game – a game show that is.
References
Morgan, K.C. (2006, December 20) Why do we love reality TV? Retrieved June 14, 2009, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/106897/why_do_we_love_reality_tv.html?cat=39
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
4-1 Weekly Analysis
We don’t hear about them very often, but everyday heroes do exist. We may read about them in our local newspapers but very seldom do we ever see them on television. Reader’s Digest recently published an article about two of these everyday heroes. Heroes: Roadside Inferno tells the story of a man and woman truck driving couple, the Coopers, and another truck driver, Ronnie, who performed heroic acts on the same day.
Ronnie Sanders was running his truck route when he happened upon a van that had stopped suddenly in traffic on an icy road. He observed children in the backseat and knew instantly that the impact of the heavy truck would kill them. Acting on instinct, he immediately swerved to miss the van and his truck plowed down a steep embankment and collided instead with a pile of rocks. Ronnie’s truck caught on fire when the rocks pierced the gas tank.
At the same time, the Coopers were coming down the road and saw the truck on fire. They stopped and heard Ronnie screaming for help. Mr. Cooper ran down the embankment to help Ronnie who was already burning from the flames. It took him three tries but he eventually freed Ronnie from the burning cab and then he pulled off his shirt to put out the flames on Ronnie’s burning legs. Mr. Cooper had managed to pull Ronnie far enough away from the truck before it exploded.
Both Ronnie and Mr. Cooper performed heroic acts by sacrificing themselves to save the lives of others. According to Kersten (2009), “Ronnie spent two months in the hospital and received skin grafts on both his legs. He now wears compression garments for his scars and gets physical therapy twice a week.” As for Mr. Cooper he suffered a few minor burns and some smoke inhalation. They consider each other heroes.
Reference:
Kersten, J. (2009). Heroes: Roadside inferno. Retrieved June 11, 2009, from http://www.rd.com.
Ronnie Sanders was running his truck route when he happened upon a van that had stopped suddenly in traffic on an icy road. He observed children in the backseat and knew instantly that the impact of the heavy truck would kill them. Acting on instinct, he immediately swerved to miss the van and his truck plowed down a steep embankment and collided instead with a pile of rocks. Ronnie’s truck caught on fire when the rocks pierced the gas tank.
At the same time, the Coopers were coming down the road and saw the truck on fire. They stopped and heard Ronnie screaming for help. Mr. Cooper ran down the embankment to help Ronnie who was already burning from the flames. It took him three tries but he eventually freed Ronnie from the burning cab and then he pulled off his shirt to put out the flames on Ronnie’s burning legs. Mr. Cooper had managed to pull Ronnie far enough away from the truck before it exploded.
Both Ronnie and Mr. Cooper performed heroic acts by sacrificing themselves to save the lives of others. According to Kersten (2009), “Ronnie spent two months in the hospital and received skin grafts on both his legs. He now wears compression garments for his scars and gets physical therapy twice a week.” As for Mr. Cooper he suffered a few minor burns and some smoke inhalation. They consider each other heroes.
Reference:
Kersten, J. (2009). Heroes: Roadside inferno. Retrieved June 11, 2009, from http://www.rd.com.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Article Analysis 1-3
In the article Monster Masculinity: Honey, I’ll Be In The Garage Reasserting My Manhood, Peter Tragos discusses the causes of feminization of the masculine culture and how culture artifacts are being used to return men to their traditional roles.
It began with the post feminist era when the roles of women were redefined as strong and independent rather than subservient. While beauty is not what defines women, the traditional expectations of beauty and sexuality are expected to be maintained. As Tragos (2009) writes, “Unwilling to yield, or even share power, men accepted a new strong and independent woman as long as she fulfilled beauty expectations” (p.542)
The author explains that the man’s role today is more complex than it was decades ago. The ideology that “men were men” and women were weak no longer exists. Today’s man is more sensitive and attuned to his feminine side. Evidence of this fact can be found in the various magazines just for men that focus on the metro sexual male who is all about appearance and the latest style trends. Some of these magazines are GQ, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Journal and Vanity Fair.
While the version of a more sensitive, feminine male is ever present in popular culture, a search is on by men who seek the familiar, comfortable aspects of manhood. To meet those every growing desires, various media are trying to return to the days of what the author calls “retrograde sexism”. Tragos (2009) states, “You can look at any magazine cover, pop music lyric sheet, or music video to find evidence that male chauvinism has returned and women are just objects of sexual desire” (p. 546).
Magazines such as Maxim, FHM, and Stuff are now prominently displayed and promote all things manly – sex, gadgetry, beer and sports. Even television networks have jumped on the bandwagon. Shows such as The Man Show on Comedy Central, feature a groups of guys hanging out, drinking beer, talking shop, and watching bikini-clad women. There is even a so-called network just for men – Spike TV. Oh, and let’s not forget about the Super Bowl half-time show that featured lingerie clad women playing football.
The main point of this article is that while various medium are promoting retrograde sexism there are two shows on the Discovery Channel that provide the male population an outlet to return to the more traditional roles of masculinity. Monster Garage and American Chopper focus on a place where men can be just men – the garage. The author states that men need a place where they feel accepted by other men. A place where there are no questions, no challenges and where masculinity is prevalent.
These desires are traced back to what the author calls the postwar hot rod culture. As Tragos (2009) writes, “When World War II G.I.’s returned to the California coast, they brought with them vigor, pride, accomplishment, a little bit of money, great new skills, and the need for speed” (p. 548). The objects of their desire were cars or motorcycles, both of which were either too expensive or hard to find. The solution was to make their own which gave rise to the birth of customized cars and bikes.
Our American culture is forever changing, along with roles and expectations of both men and women. As the saying goes, for every action there is a reaction. As a man’s masculinity was challenged to become more feminine, retrograde sexism appeared. Monster Garage and American Chopper are milder reactions to the change. Tragos (2009) states , “TV shows like Monster Garage and American Chopper fulfill the desire for men to safely return to the cave’s modern avatar – the garage – as a means of vicariously asserting their manhood through hyper masculine stars like Jesse James, the Teutul Boys, and their fantasy garages and alluring outlaw lifestyles” (p. 551).
Reference
Tragos, P. (2009). Monster masculinity: Honey, I’ll be in the garage reasserting my manhood. Journal of Popular Culture, 42(3), 541-553. Retrieved June 6, 2009, from Ohiolink electronic journal finder.
It began with the post feminist era when the roles of women were redefined as strong and independent rather than subservient. While beauty is not what defines women, the traditional expectations of beauty and sexuality are expected to be maintained. As Tragos (2009) writes, “Unwilling to yield, or even share power, men accepted a new strong and independent woman as long as she fulfilled beauty expectations” (p.542)
The author explains that the man’s role today is more complex than it was decades ago. The ideology that “men were men” and women were weak no longer exists. Today’s man is more sensitive and attuned to his feminine side. Evidence of this fact can be found in the various magazines just for men that focus on the metro sexual male who is all about appearance and the latest style trends. Some of these magazines are GQ, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Journal and Vanity Fair.
While the version of a more sensitive, feminine male is ever present in popular culture, a search is on by men who seek the familiar, comfortable aspects of manhood. To meet those every growing desires, various media are trying to return to the days of what the author calls “retrograde sexism”. Tragos (2009) states, “You can look at any magazine cover, pop music lyric sheet, or music video to find evidence that male chauvinism has returned and women are just objects of sexual desire” (p. 546).
Magazines such as Maxim, FHM, and Stuff are now prominently displayed and promote all things manly – sex, gadgetry, beer and sports. Even television networks have jumped on the bandwagon. Shows such as The Man Show on Comedy Central, feature a groups of guys hanging out, drinking beer, talking shop, and watching bikini-clad women. There is even a so-called network just for men – Spike TV. Oh, and let’s not forget about the Super Bowl half-time show that featured lingerie clad women playing football.
The main point of this article is that while various medium are promoting retrograde sexism there are two shows on the Discovery Channel that provide the male population an outlet to return to the more traditional roles of masculinity. Monster Garage and American Chopper focus on a place where men can be just men – the garage. The author states that men need a place where they feel accepted by other men. A place where there are no questions, no challenges and where masculinity is prevalent.
These desires are traced back to what the author calls the postwar hot rod culture. As Tragos (2009) writes, “When World War II G.I.’s returned to the California coast, they brought with them vigor, pride, accomplishment, a little bit of money, great new skills, and the need for speed” (p. 548). The objects of their desire were cars or motorcycles, both of which were either too expensive or hard to find. The solution was to make their own which gave rise to the birth of customized cars and bikes.
Our American culture is forever changing, along with roles and expectations of both men and women. As the saying goes, for every action there is a reaction. As a man’s masculinity was challenged to become more feminine, retrograde sexism appeared. Monster Garage and American Chopper are milder reactions to the change. Tragos (2009) states , “TV shows like Monster Garage and American Chopper fulfill the desire for men to safely return to the cave’s modern avatar – the garage – as a means of vicariously asserting their manhood through hyper masculine stars like Jesse James, the Teutul Boys, and their fantasy garages and alluring outlaw lifestyles” (p. 551).
Reference
Tragos, P. (2009). Monster masculinity: Honey, I’ll be in the garage reasserting my manhood. Journal of Popular Culture, 42(3), 541-553. Retrieved June 6, 2009, from Ohiolink electronic journal finder.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Weekly Analysis 3-1
A ritual is any act carried out by an individual or group that has a symbolic value based on tradition or religion. Holidays and celebrations that we observe every year are examples of rituals. So have you ever wondered how Father’s Day became a ritual that we celebrate every June?
A special day was first proposed in 1909 by a Mrs. John Dodd who wanted to honor her father. William Smart was a civil war veteran and a single father who raised six children on a farm in the eastern part of Washington state (holidays.net, 2009). Mrs. Dodd realized after she grew up the sacrifices and courage that it had taken from her father to accomplish this task.
According to Holidays.net (2009), “The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington.” A presidential proclamation was signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1966 that officially declared the 3rd Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
We all have our special ways that we honor our dad’s on this day to let them know how much we love them and appreciate them but this day isn’t just for them but for every man who at times acts as a father figure to us or to someone else.
Reference:
History of Father’s Day (2009). Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.holidays.net/father/story.htm
A special day was first proposed in 1909 by a Mrs. John Dodd who wanted to honor her father. William Smart was a civil war veteran and a single father who raised six children on a farm in the eastern part of Washington state (holidays.net, 2009). Mrs. Dodd realized after she grew up the sacrifices and courage that it had taken from her father to accomplish this task.
According to Holidays.net (2009), “The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington.” A presidential proclamation was signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1966 that officially declared the 3rd Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
We all have our special ways that we honor our dad’s on this day to let them know how much we love them and appreciate them but this day isn’t just for them but for every man who at times acts as a father figure to us or to someone else.
Reference:
History of Father’s Day (2009). Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.holidays.net/father/story.htm
Friday, May 29, 2009
Weekly Analysis 2-1
Native American myths are a part of popular culture because they are the beliefs and customs of a particular group within society (Browne, 2005). These myths typically involve ordinary people, animals and places. It is the belief of Native Americans that all these things are divine (Livingmyths.com, 2009). Once such myth is titled White Buffalo Woman. According to Livingmyths.com(2009), “This is a major myth in which a culture heroine presents a code by which to live”.
This myth involves two braves that encounter a beautiful woman clothed in white buckskin. One of the braves realizes the woman is sacred but the other does not. When the unknowing brave approaches her, he is engulfed in a white cloud. When the cloud rises, all that remains are bones and snakes (Livingmyths.com, 2009). The woman goes to the brave’s village and presents the villagers with a sacred pipe and instructs them on the pipe ceremony. As the woman leaves the village, she transforms into a red and brown buffalo calf, a white buffalo and finally a black buffalo (Livingmyths.com, 2009).
As Livingmyths.com (2009) describes it, “The death of the brave within this myth represents material desire and the ceremony of the pipe is about the Native American belief that there must be an exchange of energy between humanity and the world of the spirit, and that this is symbolically achieved by the offering of tobacco to the Directions, and to the Great Spirit”. The smoke rises and reaches the spirit world.
References:
Native American myths (2009). Retrieved May 28, 2009, from http://livingmyths.com/Native.htm
Browne, Ray B. (2005). Profiles of popular culture a reader. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press.
This myth involves two braves that encounter a beautiful woman clothed in white buckskin. One of the braves realizes the woman is sacred but the other does not. When the unknowing brave approaches her, he is engulfed in a white cloud. When the cloud rises, all that remains are bones and snakes (Livingmyths.com, 2009). The woman goes to the brave’s village and presents the villagers with a sacred pipe and instructs them on the pipe ceremony. As the woman leaves the village, she transforms into a red and brown buffalo calf, a white buffalo and finally a black buffalo (Livingmyths.com, 2009).
As Livingmyths.com (2009) describes it, “The death of the brave within this myth represents material desire and the ceremony of the pipe is about the Native American belief that there must be an exchange of energy between humanity and the world of the spirit, and that this is symbolically achieved by the offering of tobacco to the Directions, and to the Great Spirit”. The smoke rises and reaches the spirit world.
References:
Native American myths (2009). Retrieved May 28, 2009, from http://livingmyths.com/Native.htm
Browne, Ray B. (2005). Profiles of popular culture a reader. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Assignment 2-2:Icon Analysis
Have you heard of The Beatles, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Simpsons? If not, what rock have you been living under? These are truly popular culture icons. They shaped our culture, entangled us in the battle of good vs. evil, and provided us with humor.
According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “The ‘Fab Four’ from Liverpool, England, startled the ears and energized the lives of virtually all who heard them. Their arrival triggered the musical revolution of the Sixties, introducing a modern sound and viewpoint that parted ways with the world of the previous decade.” They inspired the counterculture of “Beatlemania” and shaped the fashion, music, and politics of our culture.
In May 1984, the world was introduced to a group of terrestrial, reptilian brothers; Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Turtle power took over our imaginations while waging a battle between good and evil. It inspired a television series and three blockbuster movies (tmnt25.com, 2009). These brothers rid the world of small time criminals, crushed evil maniacs, and blasted alien invaders. They have recently celebrated their 25th anniversary and it doesn’t appear that these crime fighting turtles will be fading out of the spotlight. Cowabunga!
In 1989, the world was invaded by a yellow animated, dysfunctional family and twenty years later they are still here. Now the longest-running comedy in television history, THE SIMPSONS immediately struck a chord with viewers across the country as it poked fun of itself and everything in its wake. With its subversive humor and delightful wit, THE SIMPSONS has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture and has become one of television's most iconic families (thesimpsons.com, 2009).
The Simpsons. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.thesimpsons.com/index.html
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (April 2, 2009). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Kick off 25th Anniversary Shell-ebration in Native Home: New York City. Retrieved May 26, 2009 fromhttp://www.tmnt25.com/newsroom/2009/04/02/pop-culture-icon-turns-25.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Pontiac: An icon no more
Almost everyone has heard of Pontiac; a brand of General Motors (GM) automobiles that has been around since the 1900’s. Consumers had a love affair with the infamous muscle cars of the early years such as the Firebird, Trans Am and GTO. They could be considered the superheroes of the automobile industry. As Rogers (2009) stated, “It could crash through burning buildings, make a fool of any number of small-town Southern sheriffs, help save the world from giant robots, even take criminals off to jail while engaging in witty repartee with its driver” (para. 1). From “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Knight Rider” to as recently as “Transformers”, they have been immortalized in movies and songs (Rogers, 2009).
The brand has been losing its luster over the years. Consumer tastes have been changing with the times. Gas-guzzling V-8 powered vehicles are no longer desired and the move has now shifted toward more environmentally sensitive cars (Edmunds.com). GM recently announced that it would be discontinuing the Pontiac line. As the old saying goes, “All good things must come to an end” and so the once popular icon has reached the end of its road. Petracca & Sorapure (2007) wrote in reference to popular culture, “the ‘popular’ works of one era can become the ‘classics’ of another” (p 5).
At the end of the 2010 model year, Pontiacs will no longer roll off the production floor. It will live on in the hearts of consumers that will appreciate its value and in museums and songs.
The “death” of Pontiac is a classic example of how something that was once so popular so popular will slowly fade from the spotlight.
References
Petracca, M. and Sorapure, M. (Eds.). (2007). Common culture: Reading and writing about American popular culture. (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Pontiac History. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from http://www.edmunds.com/pontiac/history.html
Rogers, John (May 2, 2009). Pontiac, pop culture icon, hits end of the road. Retrieved May 19, 2009, from http://news.yahoo.com/a/ap.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Assignment 1-2: What is Pop Culture?
What is popular culture?
Popular culture is our way of life. It is what we know, what we believe, what we like, and what we do. It is a reflection of our past and present, and by studying and understanding popular culture we can learn so much about other social groups, cultures, etc.
An example of popular culture today, is the "Twilight Saga". All four books in the series are best sellers and the movie based on the first book "Twilight" was a box office hit. These books have appealed to a wide audience ranging from tween girls to grown women. I'm not ashamed to say, that at 41, I have read all four books twice. I saw the movie at the theatre and have since watched the DVD 5 times. I absolutely love it and can't wait for next movie based on book two "New Moon" to be released in November.
Reference: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com
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