Assignment 5-1 Children of the Polygamous Compound in Texas

My current pop culture blog for week 5 is about the children, whom were rescued from the polygamous community in Texas. There are so many opinions and judgmental views of the children’s protection system, and a big problem is people are paying more attention because of the large number of children. Well, when you think about one family at a time, and if you knew that a father was sexually abusing a young girl it would seem different. The difference is these women and children, were raised to think this was the right way to live.

The way people brain washed and made to obey these crippling ways of life are horrendous. A problem that I have with this is remembered watching 20/20, when they investigated the compound a few years ago. Well, it is hard to understand why it took this long to remove the children. The state is responsible to step in, and when the parents aren’t doing the correct job as a parent then children are moved for protection. I read comments on Good Morning America’s web site, and opinions are divided about removal of the children. Some suggestions were that the children and women should have not been removed, but that the men should have been.

There is no good solution, to such a terrible cult like existence in which the families were living. The damage that has occurred, to the women and children alike are not easily erased. The psychological trauma, and physical abuse will be with them their entire live. Some of them will adjust and improve their lives, but probably a majority of them will have a tougher time. It is a sad situation, and honestly this could just be the beginning. Investigations into more instances of polygamous communities could mean more men being held accountable for what they are doing to children and women.

Assignment 1-3 Journal Analysis

"The Songs That Fought the War: Popular Music and the Home Front, 1939-1945."

In this article, “The Songs That Fought the War,” the songs that fought World War II were songs from the hearts of song writers. They wrote songs about the soldiers who fought, and songs of lonely girlfriend's and wife left behind. John Bush Jones, a retired Theater Arts Professor collected some 1,700 songs about the war. Songs were found on sheet music, from movies, in war time songs, and musicals.

This article tells that in 1942, the American Federation of Musicians declared a strike and recording ban, which came in the middle of the war. It didn't stop songs from being introduced by Tin Pan Alley writers. The effects of the Cold War, and the years following the War were uncertain times. Jones realized that in WWI there was a favorite song “Over There”, yet in WWII there was an enormous collection of good songs. In the article, it is said that Jones gave examples of songs from different nationalities, and women also.

The audiences of Americans, of the 1940s were the judges of which songs would be popular. Patriot songs were written like "God Bless America" in 1938, and songs were written about the different branches of armed forces, and the songs written for F.D.R… John Bush Jones was said to think that the sentiments of war songs being written were not necessarily mushy and sentimental, but supportive of the American soldier. The Office of War Information was not in agreement, and their argument was the fear of the moral of the soldiers would be compromised with the songs. The belief was that the music would lower the will of the soldiers, sadden the girls left at home, and just lower American morale period. This did not turn out to be true, because personalizing the war gave the troops more fighting power and a reason to fight.

There are words used in the article which give you a sense of the world of that time. Terms like “engraved on his consciousness”, meaning that the songs of the war were memorized by john Bush Jones. He had grown up as a small boy hearing some of them. More wording which caught my attention were, “the music industry looked like stony soil for music sale” which didn’t mean times were good for the industry. The American public had an “insatiable appetite” for new songs. This would explain the numerous songs written, as two thousand new war songs were written. This Jones thought influence the American Home Front culture.

Although, several different groups tried to discourage the efforts of the song writers, and to stop the production of new war songs the writers would not be influenced. They were good Americans from what I got out of the article. The people of America whether they were fighting in the war or on the home front for their rights they all had the same feeling about the need, for the songs that fought the war.

I believe that the article was well organized, and gave details about the songs of the war, and how the right to write the music was tested. The article followed a time line I believe with out jumping around. The article was ok to read, but maybe breaking it down in to more paragraphs would have given it a better flow. The key idea in the article which I have gotten, is as Americans we have the right to speech and music is a part of that freedom, so no organizations should be able to stop us.

References

(2006). The Songs That Fought the War: Popular Music and the Home Front, 1939-1945, 560-561.

Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren Assignment 4-1

Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren Assignment 4-1

This week’s current popular culture topic for me is grandparents raising their grandchildren. This syndrome is at a record high, and I am a part of it since my husband and I have had our two grandsons’ for 5 months. I have to admit at first, it seemed like there was no way that we could do it. With a few arguments and time, we all adjusted to it. But, no matter how the kids adjust we are not mommy and daddy. It is hard to hear one of the them cry for mommy, or Shaun our 7 year old grandson say that he misses when they all lived together. Our 6 year old grand-daughter Chloe, is with the daddy at his mothers house living. If you herd their father talk, he believes that he did nothing wrong.

For seven years our daughter and son-in-law lived together, and he worked maybe a year. Our daughter work even less, and so everyone else payed the bills and the reason was to help the small children. Now our son-in-law wants our oldest grandson to live with him at his mother’s house, and his main reason is so that he can avoid paying us child support. It makes me angry, and all we have is a piece of paper that gives us power of attorney. At anytime either parent of the boys can come and take them. When 5 months have gone by, and neither parent has made major advances we don’t feel that they deserve any of the children.

For anyone reading this blog, if you are going to make babies then please grow up first. This epidemic needs to make a major adjustment, and the real parents need to step up and take responsibility. We did our parenting and when this happens, all we can do is reflect back and ask ourselves what we did wrong? There is website after web site dedicated to grandparents, and facts that can help you to know what help is out there. AARP which is centered on senior citizens is the most helpful web site.

I couldn’t sleep at night if I let my grandchildren go to a foster home. This is best for the kids, and I really don’t see their parents changing their behavior. So, if you read this and feel discouraged search the Internet for help.

Assignment 3-1

Assignment 3-1 Weekly Analysis

My current pop culture weekly analysis is on Reminisce magazine, and the Reminisce web site. Reminisce magazine is a pop culture artifact, which is full of pop culture artifacts from the past. People from all over the country send in articles, and these articles are true stories of events in their lives. It is very educational, and interesting to learn about past events. A really nice feature of the magazine is the pictures that people send in with their articles. Myself, I have seen pictures and read articles about antiques, that my own mother or grand-parents had.

The magazine has used updated current technology, and they now have a website for the magazine. So, now I can sit at my computer, and read the magazine which is really convenient. Another plus, to the web site is the link that they have to another web site, named Backwhen.com. People can share their stories from the past through online video stories. Adults can leave their memories, for their children and grandchildren. I recommend to anyone who likes reading, or hearing stories from the past to look at the web site.

In conclusion, these current pop culture artifacts are a great way to look at, and read about past pop culture. The magazine is so interesting, that you can read it from cover to cover. The main audience for the magazine is more likely to be older adults, but young adults can get a good education from the stories. The website is great for visual, and audio learners.

Assignment 2-1

My current pop culture topic this week is the Good Housekeeping magazine. As a child growing up in the 60's and 70's, I was exposed to the magazine by my mom's reading of it. I often read stories that were true or romantic stories. I enjoyed the beauty makeovers, and if you think about the fashions and the hair styles you have to laugh. Bell bottom pants, halter tops, long haired men, and girls with teased big hair styles. The magazine is an artifact of past and present pop culture, since it still exists and continues to attract women of all ages.
Good Housekeeping is known, for putting it's seal of approval on many items which Americans then trust to use or buy. When Good Housekeeping recommends an item, then people know that it has been tested by competent hands. The advertising ads in the magazine have changed with times, and you will still find exercises to get you in shape. The best recipes for any season, and pictures of the food to make you hunger for a taste.
Finally, the many true stories can save a life. Sharing your house with America, if your a famous movie star or athlete is what readers want. The back of the magazine is filled with at least four or five pages, of ads for vacations, or a job that you can work from home. Good Housekeeping has been important for many generations of women, and I feel that it will be around for more years to come. It is a part of our history and our past and current pop culture.

Assignment 2-2 Icon Analysis

The icon's which I have chosen, are three family type television shows. The first icon family is the popular show friend's. Although they are not relatives with the exception of Monica and Ross, the group of friend's are together in everyday life existing as a large family. Friend's is realistic enough to be really funny. Basically people in everyday life are ridiculously silly as the friend's are, but we chose to ignore the strange members in our own families. Secondly, is the Roseanne show which was not only funny, but sometimes so close to reality it could be a true revelation. Yet seriously, who in their right mind will admit it? My third icon choice is Home Improvement, and here is a family of two working parents and their three sons. This family could be close to normal, but then this would mean Tim Allen wouldn't be on the show. Home Improvement would be boring with out Tim. He adds spice, and a lot of laughs to the series.
I choose these three television show, first because I like them all for different reasons. friend's seems like a great way for adults to have close relationships with their best friend's. They live together or next door, but they all seem to be able to respect each other. Rosanne is one of my choices because she reminds me of my own mother sometimes. Not being rude, but being in charge and with any apologies. The show could get pretty bizarre at times.
In closing, here are three television icon shows, and each one is about family life. There are so many varieties of family ways, yet each one of these icon's are examples all in there own category. Friend's, might be a family of friend's that we all wish we knew. Roseanne, is not someone which most people would want as a neighbor, and then with her crazy family I think I would move out! Lastly, the Home Improvement family is a close family, and as long as they can survive Tim Allen's ultimate repair or upgrades to appliances or whatever else he works on then they will survive. Icon's can be good, or they can be not so good. It is up to the individual and how they want to look at things..

The Government Rebate Check

Assignment 1-4

Rebate Check

As an example of current popular culture, I choose the rebate check which Americans will start receiving in May of 2008. The United States has a failing economy, soaring gas prices, and the housing market in shambles with millions of American’s losing their homes. Is $600 for each adult and $300 for each child rebate really going to fix anything? From talking to people in my every day life, and listening to interviews on the news I have heard no one who agrees with this as a quick fix. The money will go back into the system, as people begin to use it for gas, food, and other necessities. It is meant to reinforce the middle class, and to create jobs and to turn the economy around.

Time will tell, whether the rebate money will boost the economy or not. In forums and blogs, Americans are saying that they will pay bills and save what they can. Many people are angry, and sarcastic when asked what they would do with the rebate money. Americans say that they will use the check for toilet paper, or frame it and put it on display. The American public needs the government to step in and lower gas prices, and then other costs would come down. The rebate checks are a good idea, but to little too late as the saying goes.

In conclusion, when you get your check decide carefully where it will be better spent. Will saving it be in your best interest? Do you need to use it, and get it back into the system? Americans will spend, save, or invest the money however they wish to, and the government has no control over it. However anyone feels about the checks, we will be getting them and we have no choice. So, enjoy the money the way you see fit.

Life Goes Bye: Popular Culture

Life Goes Bye: Popular Culture
LIFE GOES BYE

Popular Culture

Popular Culture to me is something or someone that is accepted by society. For example: Barbie dolls are am item of popular culture, or the Leave It To Beaver show. A Popular Culture artifact, is important in some way to the society in which it is presented. Popular Culture is relevant to me because in my Web Development career the computer has shrank in size, and the Internet has grown in size. The computer and the Internet are both popular culture artifacts.

A Popular Culture artifact of interest to me is the Brady Bunch show. I grew up in the 1970's, and it was very popular for children, and my self. I would choose the Bady Bunch for an artifact, because it was easy for me to accept and identify with as a child. The Brady Bunch was a popular tv sitcom which started in 1969. It was a story about two people, who were each raising three children on their own. When they meet and fall in love they are married. In the early 1970's there were not as many families with step children, so they seemed unique to society.

My First Blog

I hope that when you visit my blog you will find it interesting enough to come back. My goal is to present myself as interesting enough to receive comments from viewers.