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..