Written Analysis #3

Written Analysis #3

Ashlee Mooter

Popular Culture

Professor Whitney Iles

July 24, 2014

Written Analysis #3

For centuries, people have looked up to Roman Gods, former political leaders, and humanitarians as heroes. These figures have been looked up to because of their leadership skills, bravery, and ability to jump into action. More recently, celebrities have become a large part of popular culture. These celebrities, whether they be actors, sports stars, or musicians are looked up to now more than every by society. While they may be for different reasons than heroes, they may still have some of the same qualities.

Members of the LGBT community are fairly new in the celebrity culture. This is not to say that they did not exist, but not nearly as many were open about their orientation as there are today. In television sitcoms, like in Glee, it shows gay, lesbian and transgender teens and young adults. These celebrities could be considered heroes by other teens and young adults who are maybe struggling with their sexuality or coming out to their family. They may be considered heroes because they show their bravery in being open about their sexuality, and leadership skills in being someone others can look up to.

Not only are these celebrities just actors, they can be athletes too. In 2014 was the first year where an openly gay man entered into the NFL draft. Michael Sam, the football player who was the first to open up about his sexuality, can been seen in the same light for other athletes. Because he was the first man to be open about his sexuality in the NFL, he showed bravery and leadership skills and could be seen as an inspiration for other athletes who are in the same situation he was in before coming out.

What I have learned from this analysis, is that individuals’ views or opinions of what a hero is can differ in everyone. Depending on what you are going through in life, what your religious views are, or even the communities you live in can change your views of what is heroic. Being a hero does not necessarily mean that you have put yourself in harms why, are physically strong or indestructible, but that you are a role model and someone that other people can look up to.

Stereotypes of the LGBT Community

Written Analysis #2

Ashlee Mooter

Popular Culture

Professor Whitney Iles

July 20, 2014

Written Analysis #2

            Although there are still many people who are against or do not believe in the things the LGBT community is doing, their presence is increasing each year throughout the media. With shows that give examples of all types of people in the LGBT community, such as Modern Family, Glee and Orange is the new Black, it is becoming more and more accepted.

            The LGBT community is faced with stereotypes not only in television, but in the real world as well. Some people do not believe in their personal lifestyle and do not want to be associated with anyone who is a part of the group. Some believe that it is contagious, and that they will catch their “disease”. Others are more focused on the religious persecution of the individuals.

            Each subgroup of the LGBT community has been the victims of stereotypes. Lesbians are sometimes referred to as “butch” if they chose to dress in clothes that are not typical for the average woman. But on the other hand, lesbians who do partake in girly fashion are referred to as “lipstick lesbians”.

            Gay men receive their fair share are stereotypes as well. Some are often called flamboyant because of the way they dress, their mannerisms or even the way they talk. Another myth that is often associated with gay men is that people believe they all carry the HIV/AIDS virus because they often have unprotected sex.

            People who identify as bisexual are often criticized as well for their sexual orientation. Some people in society don’t believe that you can be attracted to both male and female, so they accuse them of being confused. Transgendered people are often stereotyped as well. Just like other members of the LGBT community, they are accused of being mentally ill because of the way they identify themselves.

            Hopefully, due to the increasing presence of the LGBT community in the media today, there will be a better understanding and acceptance of the people who identify with the group. It is almost guaranteed that there will always be stereotypes against people in the LGBT community, just like the misconceptions that “all blondes are dumb”, or “all Asians are smart”. The constant criticism and judgments are some things that will never go away, but let’s look forward to less of it.

Written Analysis - 1

Myth Analysis

The myths regarding homosexuality and other members of the LGBT community are too high in number to count. Because of most of these myths, the portrayal of the LGBT community in mainstream media was few and far between until recently. Although there are still many people who believe most of the myths, the acceptance of the community is increasing daily.

            There are a large number of people, who claim to be deeply connected with their religion, that believe people who are not of heterosexual orientation will be “damned to hell” and that they are not practicing in “God’s way”. Now not everyone who is religious feels this way, and it is becoming fairly common that these people let it be known that they are not homophobic like others who practice the same religion.

            There are also some people, quite a bit more that I had realized, that believe that you can be cured because homosexuality is a disease (Cruz, Dr. C, & Aberle, C, n.d.). Some even believe that being gay or a lesbian is contagious and that heterosexuals will “contract” the disease if they are around them. People who claim to think people can be cured, believe that people of the LGBT community can just go to a therapist and they will walk out having feelings for the opposite sex. That is like me saying I can talk to a therapist and I will walk out of the office changed into a dog, sexual orientation is not something you can just change back and forth as you choose.

            Since there is a growing number of people who are members of the LGBT community portrayed in the media now, people may believe that what the actors are portraying represents all people. What people need to realize is that these people are actors, they are acting. Just because they show people in an exaggerated manor, does not mean that is the norm in real life.

            Just like with most other things discussed in life, not all decisions and assumptions should be made based on others views or myths that have been passed on through word of mouth. Not everything that you hear is reliable, and not everything can be trusted. It is not always the best idea to make judgments based on myths.

References

Cruz, Dr. C., & Aberle, C. (n.d.). TWU Counseling Center: Myths & Assumptions about LGB people. Retrieved from http://www.twu.edu/downloads/counseling/D-3_Myths_about_LGB.pdf.

Icon Analysis

When I think of a pop culture icon, I think of something that the majority of a group of people can recognize. It is something that surpasses all other competitors in its category, whether it be some type of fashion, music, or movies.

The first thing that popped into my mind when thinking of an icon was Clark Kent, otherwise known as Superman. Superman was a fictional comic book character who is widely identified by his costume, which consisted of a blue suit, red cape, and red and yellow "S" emblem across the chest. Superman is known not only as a comic book character, but has been featured in movies, video games, cartoons, and blockbuster movies. He was my first choice for those exact reasons, he was not just featured in one category of pop culture, but in a wide variety.

Kurt Cobain, my second choice for a pop culture icon, was a musician and lead singer for the rock band Nirvana. The band was most widely known for their chart topping single, "Smells like teen spirit". This song was popular in its time, and still continues to have a cult following. Kurt was married to fellow rock star Courtney Love, and sadly suffered from a heroin addiction. Ultimately, Kurt's life was cut short at the young age of 27 due to suicide. I chose Kurt Cobain, because not only was he viewed as an artist ahead of his time in the 1980's and 90's, but that legacy has continued all the way through the new millennium.

My third and final icon, that I believe is probably more widely known by our society that political issues, it "E.T. The Extraterrestrial". ET is a film directed by Steven Spielberg that premiered in 1982. This film held the title of highest grossing film of all time for more than 10 years. It was also the breakout role of actress Drew Barrymore. This was an easy choice for me, because even though this film came out 8 years before I was even born (yes I am showing my young age a little here) I still think of it as one of the most well known movies of my time. Even 20 years after, the movie was still so popular that it was re-released!!

To me, an icon is something, which can be a someone, a thing, or even an idea, that has retained continuous popularity through changing times. All three icons have been through many decades since their beginning, and have still kept their following!


Retrieved on July 10, 2014 from http://www.comicvine.com/forums/battles-7/superman-vs-guardians-of-the-universe-1532563/



Retrieved on July 10, 2014 from http://www.mtv.com/artists/kurt-cobain/



Retrieved on July 10, 2014 from http://tjhouston.com/category/et/
 

What is Popular Culture?

What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you?

To me, Popular Culture is what is around us in our everyday lives. These are the things that that we base our actions and attitudes around. Popular Culture is one of the biggest influences in peoples lives. How does popular culture influence our everyday lives you ask? Lets think about fashion, there is always new trends replacing the old. If you are still wearing a trend that is "not cool", typically, you will move on to the next trend. Stores frequently updating and changing their stock, this is to stay with the trends of what is "in" and what is "out". What about television shows? You can't turn on the TV this day without their being some type of reality show on. Some follow the lives of families, some are competitions, like who is the best chef, or who can remain in the Big Brother house, or who can find love. Social Networking has also taken the world by storm. Some people can't even go one day without updating their Facebook status to tell everyone an exact play by play of their daily activities, others keep everyone informed on their "OOTD" (that's outfit of the day for those who don't follow fashion blogs) on Instagram. And back to "OOTD", another example of Popular Culture in today's society would be the language that is used. Slang terms and made up words have taken over the vocabulary of most. Its not uncommon to hear the terms "selfie", "OMG", and "LOL" spoken, out loud! Celebrities, advances in technology, and the media around us are all influences that I would consider to be Popular Culture.

Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?

Popular culture is relevant in most business settings. Almost all businesses today have some sort of web page, and some even have Facebook pages. This allows their information to be spread across the world, with just one "share" of a post, or a paid advertisement on the side. This allows millions of people across the world to see what you are charging people for, pretty smart if you ask me!

While I am in school, I am a nanny for two wonderful children, so that I am able to stay at home with my own daughter. If I would have never found Pinterest, I would probably be in a corner rocking back and forth while the 5, 4, and 2 year old tore the house apart. I have found so many arts and crafts, educational, and cooking activities geared toward pre-school aged children that I would have never been able to think of on my own. That app allows me to come up with something new for the children to do each day to keep them entertained, and allow me to keep my sanity!

After school, I will be returning to the workforce to obtain a job in the Human Resources industry. Because of the invention and popularity of the internet, most job applications are now done online. There are now apps for smart phones that allow people to search and apply for jobs with the tap of a finger. Once employees are hired, most companies are starting to keep records in a computer record. None of this would be possible without the popularity and easy access of the internet. 

What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?

An artifact of Pop Culture would be something that you can see or hear, and know exactly what or who it represents. If you saw an image of a red leather jacket and one sequined gloved, the first person who would come to the minds of many would me Michael Jackson, because this is the type of clothing that he was seen in. If you would here the phrase, "That's hot", most girls and maybe some men would be able to identify Paris Hilton as the culprit for that annoying catch-phrase. 

With the rising, and continuous fame of reality TV, most watchers would be able to identify the shows The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette based solely on a picture of a red rose and engagement ring. We are able to identify the red rose with this show, because on each episode, all contestants who will continue on the journey of finding love are given a rose and a non-creative named Rose Ceremony. The show originally started with Bachelors seeking love, and was so successful that it branched off and created a show just for the Bachelorette's, hence the names!

Retrieved July 3, 2014 from http://abcallaccess.com/show/the-bachelorette/

Retrieved July 3, 2014 from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313038/