I Forgot My Phone…

By Trinity Thomas & Heather Doyle

We chose this video because it encapsulates the typical day of the average person who lives in this technological era. It’s impactful because the story doesn’t revolve around a lazy, introverted teenager (the stereotype that new technology is usually associated with), but rather an outgoing, healthy young adult woman. This video presents the idea that technology isn’t only affecting the younger generation but also those who were in the generation before us; we are all still struggling to find a balance between using technology and being able to “unplug.”

The video displays the point of view of a woman who spends all day around people wrapped up in their cell phones, and how that affects her relationships with them, or lack thereof. The irony is, social media and technology are a huge controversial issue with strong justifications for either argument, but it is clear in this video that the woman feels she is never allowed to stand up to her friends. If it truly is a controversial issue, the woman might have felt confident enough to tell her friends that they needed to “unplug” for the day. However, she neglects to speak up for worry of being rude, but aren’t her friends the ones disrespecting their time together? This just proves that people don’t practice what they preach: although many argue that we must use our technology less and appreciate spending time with loved ones, we don’t see anyone giving up their phone for something as simple as taking a hike. In addition, the ones who actually act on that ideal are the minority at this point, and feel that they would be the bearer of bad news if they were to encourage others to “unplug” as well.

We chose this video because it really forces its audience to think about the “so what?” side of this controversial issue. Although nothing is ever spoken directly to the audience from anyone in the video, their actions speak louder than words. It is clear that the woman is irked by her friends’ constant use of their beloved cell phone, and yet, for some reason feels that she is not allowed to speak up and tell them that she feels ignored.

So what? What does this mean? It means that as a culture, we have developed an addiction. Dictionary.com defines addiction as, “The state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming.” When we read over that definition, one word in specific caught our attention: enslaved. It sounds so negative, so dark. Some might argue that using that word to describe the act of being addicted is an over- exaggeration. But, is it, really? Looking at that video, it seems as though the woman is fighting against the cell phone for the attention of her friends - the people who are supposedly spending time with her, but instead being overtaken by their tiny, personal computers. The woman recognizes that forcing them to put down their phones will only fix the problem while she is there to monitor it. Once she and her friends depart from their outings, there is no one there forcing them to free themselves from their technological obsession. Because of that factor, this video presents the idea that this addiction is never going to truly be cured because the people who truly need to “unplug” are the ones who don’t have enough will power to stay unplugged once they are alone to make the decision for themselves.

Our hope is that this video will spark some interest in the class because it is a familiar topic to them and they can relate very easily. In addition, we hope that this video plants a seed in our classmate’s minds to think “so what?” and come to the realization that this addiction really does matter.

’tis the Season

by Rachel Head & Selig Freeman


Merry Christmas! Tis the season for people to drink hot coco, have awkward family get together, and of course the ever favorite experience of corporate carnality. Step into any shopping mall in the USA and you will be greeted with Christmas cheer and gumdrop sugar fairies as the speakers blast twenty different versions of the same over-played, tired, holiday song about how great snow is. Now, all of this is great and totally appropriate... In December. But what happens when Christmas is advertised way to early; say after Halloween? We choose to discuss the over-sold, under appreciated topic of Christmas. This holiday has been transformed from a family friendly, and quite frankly religious experience to ‘who can get the most stuff this Christmas?’

The first celebrated Christmas was December 25, 336 AD. But, the members of the church who celebrated that first night would not recognize what we have transformed the holy day into. In fact they wouldn’t have the slightest clue what we were doing. Something they might start off with is “Why is there a tree in your home?” It wasn’t until near the eighth century in Germany that the now well know Christmas “tree” was introduced. Sometime later we started to create stories about this popular holiday. In England, Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843. What makes us so focused on this holiday? How many books about the Forth of July can you name? And that is our country celebrating its birth! Flash-forward to now, America 2013, we can buy anything and everything Christmas. Towels, music, lamps, dish wear, clothing, candy, everything Christmas. Where did we go wrong? Where did the religion leave and Wal- Mart step in?

Now, we are in no way saying that Christmas should be restricted from those practicing other religions or lack thereof, we are just suggesting that it should be less focused on the consumer aspect. So many people have this ideal that they deserve their Christmas gifts. You spend 364 being good just so you can spend one day getting presents. When it comes to gifts it’s always what do I want, what am I going to get, I sent my Christmas list yesterday. Our culture spends so much time focused on the future of opportunity it forgets to remember the days leading up and the people in those days. I know that personally, my mother always seems to shut others out during the holidays, not because it is intentional by any means! She just gets caught up in the stress of wanting a perfect holiday with perfect gifts and perfectly happy children who adore what she got them.

Why do the holidays have to be so stressful? What we should be focusing on during the holidays is others. And NOT just what should I buy them so they will like my present more than what this other person is going to give them. The use of Christmas and the surrounding holidays as a way of profit shows quite a bit about our society in general. We as a culture value success, whether it is monetary or social, over family and religion. Sure, there are some individuals who go against the grain and really show a good case for traditional Christmas family bonding and love. But let’s face the facts- you don’t care how much Great-aunt Barb likes your sweater you gave her as long as she likes it more than what your cousin gifted her.

We would just like to wish Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year everyone. Enjoy the family quarrels and disappointing gifts of socks. We know we will enjoy ours. And maybe, just maybe, take a moment to breath and truly enjoy your family. Not everything has to be about money you know. Happy Holidays to all.

What’s the Skinny?

By Erica Cornelius & Waylan Stevens

Society’s fascination of living a healthier lifestyle has become a huge part of popular culture during recent years. The celebrity endorsement has shed some light on numerous diet crazes along with “get thin quick” schemes. Most of these diets can be very harmful to the body and take a toll on your lifestyle. Along with diets a new wave of wacky exercising equipment has started to be developed more. These equipment advertisements promise easier gain in muscle or toning with little to no effort put forth. Most of these workout equipment is made so there can be profit made opposed to people’s lives actually being changed to be healthier. The whole healthy lifestyle craze is fueled by the social pressure to be thin and attractive in order to be accepted in society. These norms have been fueled throughout the last two decades through celebrities, media portrayal of beauty, and stereotypes about weight.

The Trim Track and the Ab Circle Pro are two unique exercise machines. They are not usually found in gyms. Therefore, people are forced to buy these types of equipment. So many people who are dying to lose weight are willing to spend quite a lot of money on machines like these, even though they can get the same results by simply working out at the gym. Going to the gym would probably be either the same cost or less as these fancy workout machines, but people are so obsessed with their body image and desperate to lose weight that they automatically believe the good results that they hear. Some of these machines, like the Trim Track, are not so bad and might be easier than going to the gym every day. This machine provides strength and endurance training and is very robust and resistant. It is also attractive, appeals to all ages, and can even be fun to use. On the other hand, machines like the Ab Circle Pro can be very misleading. Like many other expensive machines that are not found in gyms, the Ab Circle is falsely advertised. People watch these commercials and instantly believe what they see and hear because it apparently works for the celebrities that are endorsing it. However, odds are that these celebs are already super fit and are just doing it for the paycheck.

Weird diets have been on the rise for many years through celebrities endorsing harmful body thinning secrets. The diets have ranged from the popular Atkins, Zone, and South Beach diets to more harmful Master Cleanse, Cookie, and Liquid diets. Celebrities use wacky diets in order to lose weight fast for movies, photo-shoots, or award shows. The only reason they choose to do these strenuous diets is to lose weight fast, not necessarily to keep weight off. One of the harmful diets is the Master Cleanse diets where the dieter only drinks a lemonade mixture of lemon, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper along with laxative tea in the evening and a glass of salt water in the morning. This Master Cleanse diet was made famous by Beyoncé when she was trying to lose weight for her role in the movie “Dreamsgirls”. Another extreme diet is the liquid only diet done by Matthew McConaughey in order to lose weight for a role in a movie. The actor would only drink liquids all day including protein shakes, smoothies, and water for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These are examples of some extreme diets done by celebrities to lose weight fast for important events. These diets are often taken to the extreme in society where people do them for a long amount of time to lose a large amount of weight. This can cause unhealthy consequences to the body and, in some cases, death just to pursue a social accepted body.

Weight has been a huge controversy in social issues for a while. There have been many stereotypes toward body types along with the way media portrays beauty. Some stereotypes are based on one’s appearance. For example, a skinny person would be seen as mean, conceited, hardworking, and confident. On the other hand, a bigger person is stereotyped as passive, nice, lazy, and insecure. All of these are judgments that are made just from the appearence of a person opposed to what their personality is like. Adding to these weight stereotypes, the media likes to shed light on a healthy, attractive America where everyone is thin and happy. In every type of commercial for a product or advertisement there are young, thin people integrated into the advertisements so there can be a social connection built. Through this false display of beauty in media, there is an image of a “healthy” body etched into society’s mind.

Whether it is wacky exercise machines, extreme diets, or media’s portrayal of healthy, society’s fascination of living a healthier lifestyle has become a huge part of popular culture. Celebrities play a huge role in endorsing certain diets and workout systems that may not work. The popular media advertises with attractive, thin people in order to move toward a healthier America. Stereotypes on body image still remain a factor in everyday life that can play a role in how people are perceived. Healthy lifestyle choices are still fueled by social pressure accepted in society. These norms have grown tremendously throughout the last two decades through these factors. So the real question is: What’s the skinny America and why do we have to be thin in order to be accepted?

From GTA San Andreas to GTA V

By Austin Jesse & Brittany Kier

From the time of time Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was released, to the release of Grand Theft Auto V, society as changed. The first noticeable difference is in the prostitution part of the video game. In San Andreas it is shown behind closed doors, or it shows you a rocking car. In Grand Theft Auto V it shows you inside the room. Not only are you in the room, but you can choose the view you want, and whether you want to flirt with her or touch her.

The second major difference is the drug culture. In San Andreas, drugs are part of the culture, but they are mentioned seldomly. In Grand Theft Auto V there is a character named Trevor. Trevor’s whole character is based around using, making, and selling meth and consuming alcohol. When you switch to this character he wakes up in random areas with random people, stumbling around because he is drunk. There are missions where you kill competitive drug cartels, and you save his business. There is a side character you meet in a few missions, who is referred to only as chef. This is Trevor’s meth cook, who runs his operation.

As time has progressed from the release of San Andreas to Grand Theft Auto V the players age has gotten younger. When San Andreas came out it was played mainly by adults and older teenagers. Due to the violence and sexual content of the game parents did not want their children to play this game. With the release of Grand Theft Auto V the people playing the game got younger, now it is mainly teenagers, and middle schoolers. Even though Grand Theft Auto V is considerably more violent and has more sexual content than Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, parents feel more comfortable with their kids playing this type of game because it is socially acceptable today.

The graphic content of this game has progressively gotten more violent. In San Andreas It was more of a kill from a distance type thing. In Grand Theft Auto V it is up close and personal with different way to kill people, such as curb stomping their head and lighting their house on fire. Not including the mission where you kill a whole family, just because they a Trevor’s rivals, or that there are missions where you become a hired assassin.

San Andreas has been out considerably longer than Grand Theft Auto V, but Grand Theft Auto V has already sold more than 2 million more copies. Grand Theft Auto V was just released in September, whereas San Andreas was released in 2004. This is a prime example how some of the scenarios and ideas portrayed in this video game have become more acceptable through the years.

In the time of just nine years, the release of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas to Grand Theft Auto V, something that was once frowned upon by society can become widely accepted.. Just take the examples of violence and sexual content portrayed in this game. It has gone from a few followers to a nation. The age of the player has dropped through the years as this game has become more accepted by society. The sales for this franchise have also jumped considerably from just a few years as this game of violence, drugs, and prostitution is now accepted by society.

Body Shots

By Kyle Bardel & Bekah Bamert

Athletes in the heat of the game are never worried about their appearance or image. It most likely is the last thing on their mind, the only thing on their mind is their game. However, when off the field, court, track, what have you, their personal appearance is very important. Typically, athletes are perceived in specific ways, but why is this? Male athletes in their photo shoots tend to appear as dominant, or in control. Females are always positioned in erotic and sexy poses or stances. Very rarely are the situations switched. The way these athletes are depicted says a great deal about our culture. There are plenty of occasions where our culture is putting men on a pedestal, leaving women depicted as less significant and this is one of them. A man being more dominant then woman is a theme seen in pop culture for as long as pop culture has been around, it is our species’ backbone per se.

In the male photo shoots, dominance is the common factor in every picture. Never is the man seen in a fragile sense, or at a disadvantage. The male is constantly in control and the main focus of the image. Women on the other hand are very rarely seen in that way. While women may be in similar situations, the aspect of control and dominance is taken away by her pose or stance. When in a photo shoot with both men and women, this theory stands true. Not only in photo shoots is this concept true. We see it every day in advertising. Magazines, billboards, television, newspapers and social media all have examples of this. In an article by Dr. Nerdlove this topic was discussed thoroughly. Women are not viewed as women in these situations, in the image itself women become things or objects. Men are the important figure when viewing these images.

Not only are men viewed as more superior then women in imagery. It also happens in day to day life. Whether it is in relationships, in the work environment, or in literature men are the focal point and superior being. A popular occurrence involving relationships is that often the question raises of who wears the “pants” in the relationship. The “pants” refers to the more dominant partner. The male is definitely expected to be the more dominant partner. When relating to the work environment, women are facing issues regarding salary. Women in the work force are always lobbying for equal pay. The issue with pay is that although a man and a woman may have the same title or job, it is thought that the male still does a better job, thus earning more pay than their equal co-worker. Literature is also holds great examples of men over women. One form of literature that exemplifies this theory is comic books. Male and female superheroes have very contrasting appearances. The women superheroes are always seductive and in more revealing outfits. The superhero Black Widow’s main super power is her ability to seduce men and persuade them into either giving her information or doing what she wants. Most often in a sexual and non-dominant way. Male superheroes are often given super powers like super strength, quickness, or other supernatural abilities.

All of these examples of pop culture exhibit men being more dominant or superior than women, and there are numerous other examples. Maybe this depiction of men and women is true in most ways, but perhaps it is false. There are many different views on whether or not this representation of humans should continue to be made or not. Acts and protests against this type of portrayal have been increasing in the last few years, causing high debate on this subject. Perhaps in time this idea of men and women will fade away, and a new perception will become the norm, however with the amount of examples seen still today that is highly unlikely.

Lorde's “Royals”: There Is No We In Luxury

By Eric McCarter & Laura Hackfeld

For this cultural artifact discussion, We decided to focus on the significance of the song “Royals” - co-written and performed by 17 year old singer-songwriter Lorde. The song has become popular , crossing-over from New Zealand to America in the past few months. Upon first hearing the song, you can establish that it is a catchy song because of the simple beat that is heard throughout the entire song. You may not understand instantly what Lorde is saying within the verses, but after listening to it a few more times it becomes clear that the intent of this song is to bash the system that is brain- washing us. Lorde's voice is no different from any other pop voice the general public hears today, but the message behind this song is sure to offend our representatives in pop culture. It is clear through the lyrics that Lorde is representing those people who do not care about the care-free, luxurious lives of celebrities, including herself. She makes references to that of Beyonce and Miley Cyrus, stating in her lyrics “You can call me Queen Bee (Beyonce) and Baby Ill rule... Let me live that fantasy” (Chorus). Lorde references these artists to announce that we hold these celebrities on a pedestal because they enforce into our minds that we can all live these luxurious lives and act with a care-free attitude because there won't be any penalty. It has become so common for these celebrities to have these lifestyles that it almost seems mandatory in pop culture for them to live that way. What Lorde is saying in her song “Royals” is that there are people in this world who do not care to live that lifestyle, nor do they care about the celebrities that live that lifestyle. “And will never be royal (royal)” Everyone cannot live the luxurious life and that's what pop culture is leading the general public to believe. In effect people will try to live as similar to a celebrity as possible.

This artifact was chosen because this has taken a toll on pop culture. For Lorde she has been labeled as a feminist and many other social titles because of the meanings behind her songs and who she references within her music. Compared to most pop stars presented in the music industry right now, Lorde is possibly one of the most exceptional pop stars in terms of her songs. Lorde was able to lure the pop culture into a trap which allowed her to ridicule the fantasy lifestyles and publicize that there are people in this world who have cracked the code and realized we can not all live that life and it's okay if aren't. We will never be royals.

There is still this idea that artists in pop culture are enforcing into our minds that we should live the luxurious lives and by listening to performers like Miley Cyrus and Rihanna we can receive instruction from how they act in their videos and in their everyday lives. It is a system for these modern pop stars, they have to brag about their luxurious lives and represent their hometowns in their music... they have to dress in name brand clothing , and if they are in a relationship it is important to stay open to the public about the quality of the relationship. People who are absorbed by this are those very people who raise these celebrities up on a pedestal and empower them to believe that they are near invincible. Thankfully Lorde was able to send out this rebelling message. She used the components of a average, simple pop song” and altered it with her empowering lyrics, letting these pop stars know that everyone does not hold them above their heads.

The Evolution of the iPhone

By Jake Wagner & Jimmy Kruse

The iPhone has been a part of culture since 2007 and has quickly taken over the world of “smart phones” since its release. The iPhone has been at the forefront of technology since its release because of its ability to adapt to our ever-changing cultural needs. The people at Apple know exactly what they are doing and have created a device so convenient and smart, that hundreds of other companies have been able to make a name for themselves through the needs of applications and other aspects of the iPhone.

When the iPhone was first released it wasn’t the sleekest looking device. Its physical features were bulky, curvy, semi high-definition resolution, and mostly made from plastic. As the years have progressed however, the appearance of the iPhone is constantly becoming more futuristic and incredibly sleek. It now has sharper features, a bigger screen, higher resolution, and is made out of aluminum and glass. From the original “slide to unlock” to the new “touch I.D.”, which is a fingerprint scanner on the home button of the iPhone, Apple has been progressing their technology at a very fast rate. The iPhone 3Gs was the first hand held camera phone to able to take outstandingly HD photographs and that was released in 2009. In 2005 people would’ve never imagined being able to talk on a screen with somebody anywhere in the world, be able to record HD slow motion videos, have HD panoramic photos, see the inside your house at any time, or simply scan your fingerprint to unlock your phone. But now, having the FaceTime feature is just apart of our culture. You can have face-to-face conversations with a person that you would never be able to meet in person. I mean...WE CAN LOOK AT PICTURES OF SPACE IN OUR HANDS. iPhones have and will stay in the lead of the smart phone game for a long time.

How are these huge technological advancements affecting our culture though? Yes, many of the advancements greatly help the business world, gaming world, and photography world, just to name a few, but what exactly are the side effects? The generations growing up with this technology as the norm will never actually have to pick up a book again or actually speak to anybody in person. The technology in iPhones has completely eliminated ever waiting for a message, ever having to go to a library, or even going to a store to purchase something. Apple is creating a device that can run the world from the palm of a person’s hand. This creates a precarious situation for our youth. They have the ability to get everything they need on one device so why should they go out and still be social? Could the iPhone destroy actual social interactions with only online social interactions? The iPhone is forever changing and effecting everyday life as previously stated. It is just up to us as a society to decide when, where, and how is the appropriate time to use this technology given to us. There are also pros to having this technology in our society. For instance, though some may think it’s bad for kids to not have to look things up in a library anymore, now assignments can be given more often and require more detail. The amount of information that one can get in a matter of seconds now is insane. The processor in the newest iPhone has the same capabilities as a standard laptop. Many solutions to everyday needs now can be searched on an iPhone and answered immediately. So, should Apple slow down with their technological advancements? The only real answer is that it depends on what we as a society use to our advantage. We can either sit on our butts and take selfies for instagram all day, or we could send a person to the moon using our thumbs and an iPhone.

Blurring the Lines

By Hanna McClard & Taylor Nave

I’m sure everyone in society nowadays has listened to or watched the popular music video “Blurred Lines” by artist Robin Thicke. If you check the view count it has 212,970,985 views (increasingly adding over time). Why did we choose this video? Blurred Lines is the ideal example of how society and the music industry has gone downhill. The video for the Billboard 100 chart-topping track, which features T.I. and Pharrell Williams, shows three beautiful women dancing around half-naked, while the three guys are singing and prancing around in their suits saying provocative things. Lyrics like “I can give you something big enough to tear you’re a** in two” and “the way you grab me must wanna get nasty” show the gender stereotypes of pop culture and how women are seen as sexual objects to men. Women in music videos have started dressing more provocatively and dressing less to be seen as attractive for it’s viewers. In this music video, they are doing exactly that while the men in the music videos are exerting male dominance. This just shows how shallow our society has been towards women and that they aren’t seen as actual people. Although the song is catchy and has a good beat, the lyrics have no deep meaning and it is degrading towards women. Compare this to songs a little bit older and you will notice more profound lyrics.

In Christina Aguilera’s song “Beautiful”, released in 2004, she discusses the true definition of beauty for women and encourages female empowerment. The music video shows people who are outcasted in the society or look different and lets them know that even though our society isn’t very accepting of them, they are still beautiful inside out. She encourages everyone to be confident in themselves and has a real message that is positive and uplifting and treats all women like people that should be valued as beautiful individuals regardless of the standards of beauty. Lyrics with “we are beautiful nomatter what they say” implies that everyone is equal no matter what race, sexuality, gender, looks, etc. I believe that the society cares less about the meaning of music now and has become more superficial in lyrics and towards beauty.

Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” video contrasted with Christina Aguilera’s older video “Beautiful” is the perfect example of how we as a society, have spiraled downhill. Christina’s video, although it has over 40 million views, still doesn’t measure up to Thicke’s 212 million. What does this say about our generation and what people want to see? Songs should have much more meaning than they do, and we should value women more for their appearance.

The Godfather

By Zack Ploen & David Rhodes

The Godfather is a 1972 film detailing the disasters and triumphs of the Corleone family, a family of Sicilian-Americans who make their living from organized crime. Michael is the youngest son of the Corleone family and the focus of the plot. The story begins shortly after Michael returns home after serving in the Second World War. The viewer first sees him content with his decorated uniform and sophisticated girlfriend (who is not Sicilian). Shortly after the brutal assassination of his father, the criminal boss of the Corleone family, Michael decides to take over the family business. The more involved he becomes, the more he discovers that he has a talent for criminal activity. By the end of the film, Michael successfully overcomes his family’s enemies and replaces his father as the criminal kingpin of the Corleone family.

A major theme throughout the film is the idea of loyalty. The veteran Michael, once loyal to country, becomes loyal to his family. To Michael, going against the law is a minor offense compared to going against the family. It seems only reasonable to the viewer to support Michael’s decision. The family enjoys a luxurious lifestyle consisting of beautiful homes, extravagant weddings, and plenty of children. The women of the Corleone family, who are not allowed participation in the family’s “business”, appear happy to enjoy a rich lifestyle they do not have to work for. Underneath this façade, however, lies an ugly reality. The majority of men in the Corleone family do not live into old age. In fact, most of them meet incredibly violent deaths. The pressure of death in one case causes a man to physically abuse his wife. This causes even more violence and tension within the family. Michael’s choice to take over the family business, therefore, seems like an unwise choice. He was a decorated soldier with a loving girlfriend. Why would he give up everything going for him to become a criminal? The answer is simple – family.

Michael’s actions prove that he is loyal to his family above all else. It does not matter if his family is full of ruthless criminals destined to die gruesome deaths. This prompts the viewer to question their dedication to family. What lengths I would I go to protect my family? Is loyalty to family a just cause? At what point does loyalty to the family become harmful? These questions have no simple answers; it is up to the viewer to determine. The concept of loyalty also applies to communities outside the family. Michael Corleone was once a soldier fighting for the United States military. In a sense, the military was once his family – the American family fighting the German family. The film often hints at the similarities between the New York mafia and the US government.

The Godfather challenges the viewer to question the legitimacy of their loyalties. These loyalties can be towards family, country, or something else. In the case of Michael Corleone, his loyalty to his family overrides his own personal ambitions. He transforms from a carefree soldier and boyfriend to a mob boss characterized by violence and deceit. In class, we have discussed the idea of an archetypal hero: a crusader who is loyal to king and country. Oftentimes this loyalty is disguised by the term “patriotism”. The fact that it shows the negative consequences of this loyalty is what makes The Godfather significant to our class and to modern culture. It is a warning to viewers that, should they follow Michael’s example, they too can become lost.

Examination of the Trend of Movies Based on Books

By Alex Cain & Christopher Gabbrants

The first movie based on a book was released in 1896 and was titled “Tilby and Little Billee.” Since then, book movies have been an increasing trend with “Ender’s Game” being one of the most recently released big name book movies. Both books and movies are huge contributors to our modern culture. There has always been the debate if the books are better than their movie counterparts and whether the movies do the books justice. This would be if the movies did more good than harm to the book or series. Movies based on books can either help the author’s book or do harm to it.

A key aspect to a successful book movie would obviously be sticking to the book. A more unsuccessful book movie that strayed from the book too far would be “Eragon.” The book series, known as the Inheritance Series were well received books in the early 2000s during our childhood. The movie version, released in 2006 failed to continue the reputation that the books had created; receiving only a two and a half stars on IMDB and only one start on Rotten Tomatoes. Aspects that contribute to the poor ratings would be that the writers of the movie left out important factors, such as key characters and situations that were required to continue the series successfully. While the movie was only 104 minutes, the book itself was 544 pages. When it comes to the debate of movies doing books justice, does the time length play an important factor of the quality of the movie?

The amount of content that can be packed into books does not have a page limit. So when it comes to book movies, time length is a large factor, because the writers want to get as much stuff from the books into their movies as possible without it being too long. Even then, the better book movies are usually very lengthy, such as “Lord of the Rings.” Each “Lord of the Rings” are roughly three hours. Even with the amount of content they already packed into the movies, they still left several things out because they can only do so much. With the topic of length and quality being out there in the community, we are now starting to see producers take extra care into making good quality book movies. A prime example would be the “Hobbit” since they are splitting a small book, in comparison to the “Lord of the Rings” books, into a three part movie series. Besides the length of the movie contributing or hurting the quality of the reputation of the name, the fact that the name is now being publicized in a medium more widely perceived. Thus reaching to a larger audience and bringing people back to the book.

Publicity can do a lot for a title. For example, I had first heard about “Ender’s Game” when I watched the trailer for the movie about a month ago. The fact that the name is a movie and a book benefits both the movie industry and the author. If I were to enjoy the movie, that would spark my interest to search for a deeper experience through reading the book. If the movie does well, it will benefit the book with a new audience but it can also go reverse. Fans of the book can be pushed away due to the inadequate display of the movie such as the book movie “Eragon.” While people who had never heard of the “Ender’s Game” books would be considered a new audience when the movie was publicized. The publicity of a movie can benefit or harm the reputation of the book.

When people talk about “does the movie do the book justice” there are few aspects that contribute to such a statement. Such aspects would be how well does it stick to the book and keeps it at a reasonable length while maintaining acceptable quality. Movie publicity is also a big factor that will either attract or detour a new audience that will bring them to the other cultural works that are books.

Sources:

• First Book Movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204000/
• Eragon Ratings--
• IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449010/
• Rotten Tomatoes: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eragon/

Battle of the Sexes

By Cherese Hamp & Kia Latting

The topic of whether men are better than women has been one of the most debatable topics. Whether it is professional business, education, music, or even the simplest things such as who’s stronger, no one can fully agree on one gender. Norms of a woman is define as being feminine, weak, air heads, trophy wives, dependent upon men for financial means, and submissive. However, men in society are considered as being a protector, provider, strong, and so forth. Though this is so, there are women who go against the norm of being defined by others opinions.

The topic of men versus women was chosen because the society has created what the ideal man and woman should be. In many cases, people try to live up to the being man the provider and the woman being the wife and stay at home mom. Sometimes even the man being more stronger than a woman from an emotional/mental content or even ranking higher throughout various categories. The debate has caused what we now know as “double-standard”. This development has made it hard for women to even become more independent. Two artist that show the emotional aspect of the male versus female are Beyonce and Ciara. In Beyonce’s song If I were a Boy, she talks about a man living the “single” life though he is in a relationship and how they switch roles. When she talks about switching when she says

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I’d be a better man.
I’d listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he’s taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

she is saying that she would provide the affection that the man does not show. It sort of makes the generalization and support the characteristics of the ideal man lacking emotion and being the one to hold things together.

Furthermore, Ciara talks about switching up the roles as well and pulling all of the stunts of being secretive and lacking affections as well to making the guy see what she’s feeling. In her second verse she states as exactly quoted:

Girl go head and be...
(Just Like Em')
Go run the streets
(Just Like Em')
come home late say sleep like em'
Creep like em'
Front with ya friends
Act hard when you're with em' like em'
(What)
Keep a straight face when ya tell a lie
Always keep an air-tight alibi
(Keep Him In The Dark)
What he don't know won't break his heart.

When she says “Just like ‘em”, she is referring to doing everything that males do. However, it raises the double-standard issue. It becomes the if he can do it why can I not do.

However, it is not only in music, but in sports. The WNBA ( Women’s National Basketball Association), have many great players like Lisa Leslie, Skylar Diggins, Candace Parker, and Candace Dupree. These women have matched the skill of many male athletes like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, any many more. But, no one talks about the woman as much as the men. The fact that they are women and are professional sports players show that they worked just as hard as the men did. For example, it is okay for men to do whatever because they are guys, but women cannot because of the controversy. As a result, it is okay for men to do things that women cannot physically, mentally, and emotionally because of the mindset of society.

Untitled

By Monica Falconer & Jessica Zamarrόn

Now a day, most rap music made by male rap artists use degrading lyrics towards women, and women are not only dancing to it, they are also singing along. It is becoming more and more popular to the point that now female rap artists are using their lyrics or appeal to degrade themselves in order to sell just as many records as male artists. In order for female artists in the music industry to sell more records, they feel like that they have to go above and beyond, whether it is done by dressing provocatively or not dressing at all. Even their lyrics become just as explicitly degrading as male rappers’. For example, the female artist Khia came out with a song called “My Neck, My Back” during the year 2002 and received over 500 thousand views on YouTube. Although she had clothes on during the video, she was still half dressed with tight clothing showing off her body. Also not only did her suggestive dancing and clothing make her look unappealing, but also her explicit lyrics. Remind you that the song is called “My neck, My back” and in the song, she only talks about oral sex, telling whomever how to perform such action. Not only is she making other female artists look bad, but she is also degrading herself for the purpose to only sell her music. As well as, showing that the opposite sex can be just as vulgar as men. Another example is Miley Cyrus being the most talked about in todays media. Her new song “Wreaking Ball” is one of the top songs listened to today. The time difference between Khia and Miley is a few years, and we see how things have not changed as much, just a little worse. Miley’s video has received over 200 million views on YouTube. Even though her lyrics are not as explicit, in the video, she is naked siting on a swinging metal ball and seductively licking sledge hammer. Compared to Khia’s video, she’s degrading herself by swinging on a ball naked to draw attention to sell her music. Neither of these artists has set a good example for the upcoming female generation. Not only are they making themselves look bad, but also they are setting the bar for the next upcoming female artist who may have to do something more outstandingly better than them.

The music industry is all about competition and today’s female rap artists have been constantly raising the bar doing ridiculous things to arouse the public who would then publicize insignificant topics. Of course the more mature a person is, the more likely he or she will find the insignificant news a waste of time, and the opposite is true. Young female adults are being suffocated with trashy ideas, images and music provided by many female rap artists on an everyday basis. It is everywhere in the media, and a good example of a current artist is once again Miley Cyrus. We all know her past when she was child star; and from that, she has gained many young female fans, and unfortunately, her horrid transformation brought a lot more followers. She has dove into other categories besides country and this has given her much attention. But the examples that she and other rap/ hip hop artists set in the media not only degrade women, they affect the attitudes and behaviors of people in real life. These people are the next generation of the world. Young females watch, listen, read, dance, and even sing along to these songs which reveal that women do not really care that they are constantly being degraded. Not only do they not care, but they are allowing men treat them like an object they have authority over only for sexual pleasure. Women are slaves to this ugly image given off by the media especially artists of rap/hip hop music, and it is only getting worse.

LeBron James

By Nick Buono & Craig Phillips

We chose to write on one of the most controversial icons in pop culture, LeBron James. The reason we chose to do our presentation on LeBron in particular is mainly because when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat everyone went crazy. No one thought that he would leave his home town where he grew up and had support from everyone his whole life. Players in the NBA and players from other sports leagues move from team to team all the time, but the reason that everyone gave LeBron so much trouble for it is because he went to another team where he would be playing with two other very dominant players in the NBA. The other two dominant players that are on the team are Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, and both of these guys are incredible athletes. Now it looks even worse because now the Miami Heat has another superstar Ray Allen, and he is also known as the top 3 point shooter in the league.

The company Fathead lowered the price of LeBron’s fathead sticker after he left the Cleveland Cavaliers and went to the Miami Heat from $99.99 to $17.41. Another thing that happened to him was that every time he played that year he would get booed by the fans every time he touched the ball, it was very brutal. As of August 2013 LeBron is the second most hated player in the NBA right behind Dwight Howard moving back from first after his decision.

Joining the Heat in 2010 they have been to 3 straight NBA finals. Losing the first and winning the next two, trying to go for a 3-peat this year. After this year though, LeBron is once again a free agent and he has yet to comment on anything about free agency. For LeBron the decision he made to go to the Miami Heat was clearly not bad because he went from having zero rings to having two rings. Other people may think that he is wrong for changing teams just so he had a better chance to get a championship ring, but for him that was the best thing to do.

Some more reasons that LeBron is hated are because is the best player in the game and people are jealous that they are not as good as him. Or maybe because he acted like a princess doing an interview about where he's going to play next year, even though his and peoples only arguments to him doing that is all the proceeds from it went to charity. Another reason he is highly hated is because he always complains about fouls on the court even though some of them don’t get called when they really should.

Our LeBron presentation adds to our course conversations because our class is all about pop culture, and sports are definitely a big part of our pop culture here in America. We also talk a lot about how people represent themselves and how people look at others and LeBron is a great example of that. Like when he switched teams all of his fans from Cleveland just turned on him even though he is a grown man and has the right to make his own decisions like everyone else. People are always making fun of him for his decision and a great example of that is the picture of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan all wearing Miami Heat jerseys. The picture says we were about to do this but then again we can win championships on our own.

Trends Today

By Jasmine Collins & Stephanie Barr

Materials in today’s society are a big deal; they themselves set trends around the world. Trends of today are name brands and designer clothing. What you wear says a lot about who you are in today's society. You are labeled by what you wear. If you have these nice things you are considered to have money and swag, while if you don't live up to these standards you are considered to be an outcast. Designer clothes such as: True Religion, Robin jeans, North face, Michael Kors, Ugg Boots, and Gucci belts are what's "hot" right now. People spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of jeans, shoes, or a belt. These hundreds of dollars could go towards a bill or their school tuition but to them that is not what is important. You have to be fly to fit in is what people tell you. Looking cute is what becomes important to try to fit in. This shows that people today value material things (necessities) more than important things. People value the phrase "You Only Live Once" (YOLO). People will buy things that make them look good just to impress people rather than spending money on things that are more useful.

We chose this topic because we felt as if it was what people make to be an important part of society today. People would rather be known for their appearance instead of their respect. They would buy all these name brands clothes just so people can notice them as a person with money and benefits. But, in reality it is just some clothes with a label on it. If we would put an image on the screen of some clothes that did not have a label or wasn't made by a famous designer my implications along with others would change from those are expensive clothes or those are cute to well those are just clothes. We also chose this topic because we know what it is like to be pressured by society and what fits in and what doesn't. People try many things to make you feel like an outcast and manipulate you into thinking that certain things are more important than others. It is just like you see in the movies that we talk about in class. This shows how people form cliques. People hang together because they have things in common so if you want to fit in you try to uphold these standards to become a part of something.

The values that Americans have about reputations are so high that they would spend lots of money just to fit in, in today's society. As talked about in class it is all a cycle to which designers are labeling and advertising their products through people to make more money. Designers use people as walking models to give that casual/normal look to everyone, that it is the trend that is in. Like most Americans they might see someone with a name brand on and judge what that person has on and go buy it, because it is the trend that is "in". It is all a cycle to which designer design it, Americans buy it and wear it, and the next person see it and also goes and buy it. And that is outrageous because, while these things are just objects to the designer they use people as non-profit models just to get a couple hundred dollars out of other people. So the more we give into this cycle the more money designers get and the less money people will have because they used it to try and buy their way into the “in” crowd.

How Skaters Became Bad Asses

By Crystal Prusek

When someone is seen riding a skateboard they are automatically thought of as being a “bad ass” or the “cool kid”.  This shows that in our culture we associate an object or an activity with a stereotype.   Also the evolution that skateboarding has gone through shows America’s devotion to sport and the tactics industry uses to make money off of a new hobby.

Skateboarding has been a part of pop-culture since the 1950’s where it was simply an experimental sport for young children, so how then has the stereotype of the reckless no fear skater come about?  As skateboards began advancing so did the skaters.  For example as stated before in the 1950’s skateboards were  very crude homemade toy for kids, people would take an old piece of wood that they had at home and nail outdoor roller skate wheels to it.  The problem was that these makeshift skateboards had steel wheels which would make the skater fall right off the board if any bump or rock was hit.  But the motivation to keep skating and the fact that many more people were beginning to pick up the hobby made the need for an improved kind of skateboard.

In the 1960’s people were beginning to figure out that if you took indoor roller skate wheels and put them on a shaped board you would get more control.  With this new style of board skaters were able to move around easier which now gave them the interest to cruise down hills. One may notice also that this was the time where the skateboard moved from being a child’s toy to being more of a past time for teenagers.  Once again though this skateboard was not good enough it needed to be improved.

The 1970’s began the freestyle movement which radically changed the picture that a skater evoked in people’s minds. With the invention of the urethane wheel (a softer wheel with more control) skaters were becoming gustier, skating bowls and doing launches.  This is also the time when skateboarding was being recognized as a sport and means to make money.  Because of this you can see that skateboards became more intricate design and performance wise.  Also the boarders of this time were developing their own style having really long hair and wearing sweatbands.  One last thing that one may notice about the 1970’s is the fact that this was the last time that children and female skaters were really seen as equal competitors to the rest of the population.  This is because the caliber of the tricks they were doing was difficult but not too dangerous so it was safe for everyone to skate together but the 1980’s changed this.

With the closing of many skate parks skaters where forced to the streets, this is where the scary “bad ass” skateboarder stereotype came into play.  Without the bowls and wavy concrete parks skaters and skateboard companies had to come up with a way to keep skating alive so they began street skating and the “skate and destroy” movement.  This was the time when the stereotype of a skater was a dropout kid that smoked, vandalized, and had really strange haircuts.  With this you can see that the boards themselves changed they became wider so there was more stability in landing jumps and grinds.  Skateboarders at this time were seen as a nuisance, scary, and unapproachable, which they totally ran with.

Finally in the 1990’s, which is the modern style that we currently skate in, both forms of vert and street skating were widely accepted.  Tricks were becoming more complicated and the shape of the skateboard thinned out giving it pop on both sides.  The ideal skateboarder of the early 90’s was the kind of stoner kid who would just chill and skate every day.   As you can see skateboards and skateboarding has changed so much over the years.  The most interesting though is what is thought of the skaters and the fact that a piece of wood and some wheels can define a person.  Also through this evolution one is able to see that American industries latch onto these “new age movements” in any hobby and improve performance and appeal in order to sell a product.

The Zombie Apocalypse

By Mikael Ashley and Alex Graham

Cell phones are a big part of today’s culture in America. They are very helpful and make our everyday lives easier. They also improve safety, and can even just keep someone entertained while they are in the waiting room at the doctor’s office or while they are on the bus. However, cell phones have caused the actual zombie apocalypse. The cell phone is a disease that is spreading and becoming more severe all the time. Cell phones today have affected the dynamics of our culture completely.

The cell phone is a portable device that fits into one’s pocket. In recent years, cell phones have evolved into something called a Smartphone. This is something such as an iPhone, Android, or Samsung Galaxy. People stay in contact with friends, observe social networks like Facebook or iFunny, listen to music, and even sleep with their phone to use the alarm in the morning. Some businesses give their employees a cell phone for work purposes. The employees then use the cell phone to work through. The work they do on their phones could be something as simple as a phone call or something more complicated like checking their email, if they have a Smartphone. The people that use the Smartphone for fun can upload a picture of their supper to Instagram in just a few seconds. It is sometimes a free and effective advertisement for businesses, especially for businesses that create applications for the Smartphones. Applications such as Candy Crush, Fruit Ninja, and the constant need for contact with friends are what have led us to the true zombie apocalypse.

The creation of the cell phone has turned our generation into a bunch of zombies. It has made us very antisocial and lazy. Kids do not talk to anyone besides their close family and friends when they aren’t at school. Having a cell phone makes it easier to communicate without face-to-face contact all day. It makes it to where there are fewer things to talk about in person. All of this new technology with the Smartphone also makes it to where kids are less motivated to go outside and play with their family and friends. We become so distracted by all the crazy things the Smartphones can do we barely pay attention in the classroom anymore. We love to text and get on Facebook and Twitter in class and while doing homework. Cell phones are one of the reasons why kids procrastinate while doing their homework or studying for tests. People are so connected to their phones that they feel the need to text and drive. They put themselves, and other people surrounding them, in danger by using their phones while driving. The generation of today’s adolescents is a huge offender of using their phones and driving. Smartphones are also a good source of ignoring friends or parents when they tell a story or a long, drawn out lecture. Not only have Smartphones caused laziness, but it has also caused a different kind of person.

Posting our life and interests on social networking sites makes the stalker’s job easier. This stalker can be a number of things: the average creep, businesses, or even the parents of the teen. If someone posts where they are on a daily basis it would make it so much easier for a stalker to find them and possibly kidnap them! Furthermore, people also want to be careful with what they post because their future employer can easily go on to their Facebook page and see the kind of person they could possibly hire. If someone posts inappropriate things they could easily be out of the job. Teen’s parents will also be keeping a close eye on what their kids are posting and make sure they are not getting into any bad things with bad people. So even though you think it’s cool to be doing drugs in the parking lot behind Wal-Mart, just remember that people can see the things that you post and they could quickly turn around and have some serious consequences.

In class we have been talking about pop culture and how it has been changing. Cell phones have modeled America’s culture to the point where there have been laws made for safety. There are few people in America that do not have a cell phone, let alone a Smartphone. It has become an essential and common part of today’s society that if cell phones were to “go extinct” then the country would go into a crisis.

Toby Keith: American Soldier

By Colin Bishop and Gregg Boomer

The idea of dedicating a song to the American Soldier and what it stands for is an amazing thing. Something that does not even come close to saying thank you for all they do for this country. However, pop culture and the media play such a big effect on how we see things a nation and music is no different. In the Toby Keith song American Soldier he sings about the average soldier and the things they do to protect this land and what they stand for. Being a country artist, generally white southern people listen to country. This makes a specific target to show the video to and aim towards even though;  we know that men, women, and black, white, and all other ethnicities can all fight and die side by side for this country but the video for this song gives us a very different image. It shows us strictly white men defending this country. No women, showing an image that they are not fit for war. This is disgraceful the all the women who serve our country today. Also, the video does not show any African American men or women, or any other ethnicities for that matter; for a country that has put race behind us we tend to show otherwise quite often. Some lyrics from the song give us a beautiful imagine in our heads, “beside my brothers and my sisters, I will proudly take a stand.” This is great, gives you goose bumps on your arm, but then you realize they are showing you that all his brothers are white and his sisters are not there. White men, white women, black men,  black women and other races alike  all fight and die for this country so when we depict an image of the American Soldier we should include men and women of all demographics because they are all true American Soldiers and pop culture and media should not get to show that any other way.

Glee Tribute to Cory Monteith

By Kelsea Cline & Addison Frederick

On July 13, 2013 Glee actor Cory Monteith unexpectedly died in a hotel in a Vancouver hotel. The believed cause was an overdose of alcohol and heroin. Cory, known as “Finn” to Glee viewers was only 21 years old at the time of the tragedy. He struggled with substance abuse from the age of 12 and left school at age 16. He made the decision to seek rehab attention at the age of 19 after family and friend intervention. Cory’s death affected so many people who loved him, and supported him whether apart of his family, friends, or the viewers and fan of the show.

The reason why we chose this incident as our cultural artifact is because it is so relatable to young people today. Almost all of us know someone or of someone that has passed away because of a drug addiction. What the person may not realize is the amount of people it affects. The video we chose to illustrate this showed the grief that all his loved ones experienced because of that one decision Cory made. His mother weeped, “How do you go on being a parent when you don’t have a kid to parent to?” His peers at his high school decorated his locker knowing that there will never be another time he will open that locker again. Additionally, his girlfriend Lea Michelle known as Rachel on the show was also his girlfriend in real life. She did her own song dedicated completely to Finn by the artist Adele entitled “Make you feel my love” that was very emotional. Not only in this video, on the Emmy’s they did a tribute that emphasized how Cory was apart of the acting world’s “family” and from his death they lost a member of it. This shows how although one may not realize it, there are so many people out there who love and support you even when you are feeling low and like you can’t take it anymore.

In our culture, it is increasingly popular for young kids to intake drugs because they think it is the “cool thing to do” or everybody is doing it. Peer pressure causes young people to do it because they think that surely a tragedy like this one won’t happen to them. But it can happen to anyone. Young people are so naïve to what the drugs actually do and the effects they can have. Most importantly, one doesn’t have to necessarily look like a drug addict or make it known to others that they are. Cory for instance, didn’t look like a typical drug abuser, but he was and that is what was shocking to everyone when they found out about his death. The only thing to do is make young people aware of what can happen, educate them, and hope they won’t fall into a similar trap.

We talked about in class how often times girls feel like they have to act or look a certain way because of what our society pressures them into thinking. They have to have flawless skin, be skinny, and be desirable to men in order to be beautiful. If they aren’t they feel unimportant and ugly to everyone else. This incident builds on this idea of “fitting in” and societal standards that are placed on young adults and adolescents who feel they have to do these things to themselves to fit into the norm. Taking just one pill surely can’t do much harm right? That’s what they’re told when they fall into the trap of abusing drugs at least. Cory will be missed by many people, and the hope is that his tragedy will prevent others in the future.

Pretty in America

By Ketyra Taylor and Shawneka Burch

Today’s society dictates a certain physical appearance. The image for women depicted in
various forms of pop culture such as television and magazines is long, straight hair, a slender body, and a smooth glowing skin. For men, this is a muscular body, high end clothing, and great charisma. Our artifacts represent just how much people, specifically women are willing to pay for this great image. Some things that they buy are are makeup and cosmetics, hair extensions, and nails. Some women will not even leave the comfort of their own home without their hair, make­up and nails done. We will be explaining just how much it costs for women to keep these parts of their appearance together. We will also explore why these things have become so important to women, and why women no longer feel beautiful in the body they were born with.

Vendors take advantage of American women’s insecurities by offering them many varieties of hair, nails, make­up, eyelashes, and everything that they can think to enhance. These artifacts are a part of many women’s everyday lives. The artifacts have made it so women can get any look, as long as they are willing to pay for it. The question is: why are American women so ashamed of the hair texture, skin, and features that they were born with? It seems that everyone is looking over at their neighbor and trying to get whatever they have instead being satisfied with what they have and considering themselves beautiful.

This question can be answered by looking at various social trends. For example, in the 60’s it was popular for African American women to walk around with an afro in order to show their pride for their culture. Nowadays, most African American women are chemically altering the texture of their hair in order to make it straight. Other women with curly hair have invested in expensive flat irons that use heat to straighten the curls out of their hair. This is because society depicts images of women with straight hair as if it is the norm. This is influential to women in that those with thick and curly hair feel inferior and thus conform to trends by turning to relaxers and flat irons.

We feel that sometimes, taking steps to enhance what you already have can be positive for self esteem and overall well­being. However, there is a thin line between taking care of oneself in order to look presentable and being obsessed with your appearance. When women become so obsessed with their appearance they no longer find anything about themselves beautiful, problems can arise. Suddenly, manicure and hair extensions can result to considering surgical procedures. Because society’s standard for women continually increases and such things as plastic surgery are becoming more affordable in America, women are more susceptible to rely on them in order to feel comfortable in their own skin. Nevertheless, women should have some sort of control on their spending when it comes to their appearance. Cosmetics should not be seen as bottles of confidence. Healthy consideration for appearance is essential, but an obsession for appearance only creates additional problems. These problems can range from self esteem issues to financial issues.

At an early age, women find that the better they look, the more attention they get. So they tend to connect attention with appearance and strive to be the best looking woman, so that they can get the most attention. Even in the workplace, women are expected to be pretty in order to be taken seriously by their coworkers. This way of thinking has distorted the way that women today look at themselves in the mirror, and led to every woman looking around and trying to find a way to look better that the woman sitting next to her. These artifacts represent a new era of women who rely heavily on them for self esteem. Today’s women need to learn how to look in the mirror, and call themselves beautiful.

Beyonce – "Run the World"

By Philip Ganley and Matthew Poncer

This songs is what Wordpress calls “a hope in this so stereotyped world of music.” The song repeated states how girls run the world. In all reality, this is a false claim. It is a known fact that women are suppressed in society and have been for hundreds of years. This song is attempting to be progressive and telling women to take control of the world and to break free from the chains that they have been bound with by men.

In most music, hip-hop specifically, men usually talk about women like they are sex objects. Women are looked at as nothing more than pieces of meat. In some hip-hop songs, artists sing that women have no real value in the world except for sexual pleasure. Men’s songs constantly discuss women’s body and their appearance, specifically. Women’s songs tend to have more meaning behind them, and some seem to focus more on actual “love.”

This song is endorsing what is called “imperial feminism.” It is not trying to make men and women equals, this imperial feminism wants to make females the dominant gender. This concept is almost a revengeful mindset that is trying to get back at men for holding them down their entire lives.

In reality, men are constantly recognized as the dominant gender. One perfect example is that a woman will only make three-fourths of a man’s salary for the same amount of work. Housework is commonly divided unevenly. The gender stereotype is that men are known as the ones who go to work and women stay home, do chores, and take care of the kids. At the end of the day, even though women may work harder than the men, men still get the credit as the hard workers.

Beyonce is showing in this song how she wants women to step up and take control of their lives, and the world. She wants them to show people that they are the dominators and they can do anything, and more than a man can do. Even the music video is trying to portray females as powerful. In the video, Beyonce is all around the men and she is the one in control. There are scenes displaying her in powerful positions such as holding two hyenas on a leash, standing over them.

When all is said and done, has this song really made an impact on the totem pole that compares men and women? Perhaps in other countries such as Germany, where a women is the equivalent of our president. However, has this or any song promoting imperial feminism had an impact on our nation? If so, it is a significantly small percentage of women who have taken songs like these and have achieved more than most women. Women in our society today are still seen as the “sidekick” to the men.

In our society today, women will always be seen as the “sidekick” to men unless women start making greater advances in the workforce, so much that it is impossible for men; “the ones in control,” to look past the fact that women are equal to men across the board. It is sad that women are still put in the light of being the trivial counterpart to men, but it is true. Although overtime conditions will improve for women, just as they did for African Americans.

New Pop Culture Compared to Old

By Boyd Miles and Brandon White

When you think about Miley Cyrus, you think about her performances. Not because they are the best, but because she is always dressed so inappropriately. That is if she is even dressed at all. In her new hit “Wrecking Ball” she is completely naked dancing around. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad song, but that video on YouTube has almost 228 million views and that would have never got that high if she wasn’t naked. Also she had a very memorable performance at the VMA’s that was very exposing and not appropriate. This video has almost a total of 3 million views. You may ask why she would ever do that, but it’s all about the money and what will attract people attention. She made a ton of money just of all the views on YouTube, not even counting her sales for the songs. People may criticize her and say it is disgusting, but she is not complaining due to the fact that almost everyone can say they have seen her videos. While people criticize her for this I think she is having fun and just enjoying life making her videos they she wants to make them. When she does these inappropriate videos, people talk about it saying you have to watch it and what not. Not only does Miley do it for the money, I think she also does it to diminish her old Hannah Montana image. Although the Hannah Montana’s image was very successful for her she has become more mature and by changing up her image will show everybody that she not the same innocent girl.  She used to be such a young innocent woman that all little kids looked up to as a role model. Now parents do not even let the kids watch her performances. She has successfully got rid of that image though. No one even really remembers her being like that. I think she would have been way smarter to keep both images and sell to both age groups.

Now if you look at Mileys performances and Missy Elliott's you will see a very different type of performance. Missy’s performances usually consisted of dancing, but were always fully clothed and kept it clean. (On the most part)  If Missy would have did what Miley is doing in today’s videos she would have been hated and no one would have bought her music or even acknowledged her. It was just not acceptable to act like that when she was in the business. Videos back then was used to show the intentions of the song, but now they are just used to draw more attention to the artist. It shows how much society has changed over the years, and Miley is just doing what is going to make her more money. I have a feeling that Missy would do the same, but maybe not so extreme. Although you might think Missy would be more successful due to her classier behavior, we looked up the prices of their net income. Miley is worth 150 Million dollars, and Missy is only at 50 Million. If Miley would have performed back in the day though, she would not probably be as successful as she is in today’s pop culture.

At the end of the day you look at Miley and ask, “Why does she do all of this?” Then you think, maybe it is all for show and to just make money. You wonder if maybe all the older pop stars would be doing the same thing if maybe it was acceptable during their time. You never know, all you know is that although she is very provocative, she is raking in the cash due to the attention she is receiving.

An Analog Memento in a Digital World

By Matthew Gremo & Brittany McKinney

In today’s society we are seeing more and more throwbacks to “the ways of old”. People seem to constantly be going out of their way to do things in which most would consider inefficient and outdated. Whether that’s purchasing an old muscle car from the 60s that may just get 10 miles per gallon or the very topic of this analysis, the newly rekindled love for the old way of listening to music.

With the resurgence of vinyl records, as with a market to anything older than a decade, comes the social stereotype of the “hipster”. The common perception of this breed of individual is that of a pompous elitist standing outside a Starbucks with a five dollar specialty brew while they flick the butt of their clove cigarette in to the gutter. While they may claim to understand the inner workings of this world, their actions in saving it become incredibly selective. However, their most defining trait is a usually false passion for the old ways of doing things that they won’t hesitate to tell you are so much better than the modern world’s way of doing the same things. In fact, the Oxford- English Dictionary states the first usage of the word all the way back in the 40s as “a know it all”. The attachment of records to the hipster persona brands them with the unfair stigma of being just as fleeting as any passing fad. But what gain would an individual receive to the image of how others perceive them by collecting something that is nearly impossible to keep on his or her person? Or more importantly, what is it that drives someone to cling to the old ways of doing things in the first place?

Jack White, front man and one half of The White Stripes, believes that we aren’t so much clinging to records as we are simply trying to preserve them. Back in 2001, while seeking a location where he could store his equipment and practice, he stumbled upon a building that today has transformed in to Third Man Records. Standing not only as a record store and venue, White has actually created an environment where live performances can be pressed to vinyl as they are performed on stage. It is his belief that music should be heard as it is recorded and by eliminating all aspects of editing and tweaking that exist today, that can be achieved as it once was on vinyl records. This belief, sadly not held by many musicians of our generation, represents an era in which the responsibility of technology was well understood and not abused as it is in modern times.

While your stance on the kind of person who purchases records and your opinions on why they are still being pressed are likely to vary greatly from the person sitting next to you, there is something to say about the fact that they simply still exist. It isn’t as easy as claiming it’s more cost effective to purchase the digital download of an album as opposed to the record, the same way it isn’t so simple explaining why you may write your grandmother a letter instead of an e-mail or why you sit down to play a board game with your family instead of loading the same game with an app on your phone. In a world that is hungry for more and more technology we are losing what it once felt like to actually possess an item. When every book, movie, and song you own is floating in a “cloud” somewhere waiting to make sure you have permission to view it, sometimes it’s just nice to touch a needle to vinyl.