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.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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..
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..
Friday, April 4, 2008
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.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)