Weekly Analysis 2

The Last House on the Left is based on a true tragedy that happened to a family. A teenage girl is kidnapped from a public place and is brutally beaten and raped. She is forced to watch her best friend being stabbed to death. The girl is later left for dead as she tries to escape her captors. She was shot in the back when she runs for help, barely making it to her house alive. When her parents find her on the back porch, they are determined to find the perpetrators. They come to the realization that the perpetrators are the people they have invited into their home. Filled with anger and vengeance, the parents vowed to take any steps and measures to not let the people leave their property alive.
It was a very suspenseful and violent film. The movie gave very graphic details during the rape scene and when the parents took out their vengeance. There is nothing worse than a parent’s anger when something happens to their children. This movie was a very disturbing movie to watch, but it was an eye opener to the things that could happen if you are empowered by anger and vengeance.
Most people that have watched this movie were disgusted and outraged of the graphic content. A few parents stated once the rape scene appeared, they shut the movie off and did not finish (momslikeme.com). Others said they just turned away or hit fast forward past the rape scene. It seems that in today’s world it is easier to just turn our heads to the violent acts that are bestowed upon a neighbor, rather than help. The film was based on a true history of the girl and what her parents did to avenge her.
Movies have a way to enlighten, thrill or impress people with the story and content, but when the stories are true, people seem to shun or ignore the movie. In a society the shows violence every day, whether by the evening news or local paper, why will people turn away to a movie that shows the graphic details of what is happening. My question to the readers is “What would you do?” Would you call the cops in hopes the legal system would convict the people, or would you avenge your daughter and take matters into your own hands?

Journal Analysis

Emma Tinker discusses the hit T.V. series “The Office”. This article is trying to determine why audiences find the show funny. The show is based on a British working environment. The show has the impression of a reality television show focusing on the workers. The show focuses on the workers that have uncertainty with their social and work status. Emma goes on to discuss the issue of the shows comedic ability or if the attitude of the show is changing the view on the human form.
The Office is considered a hybrid, spinoff that closely resembles a documentary. The show is a drama based television show that gives an impression of a reality television show. The show is defined by the script and action within an office environment. The camera follows the actors throughout the day at the office, but never follows them into their home lives. The actors are aware of the cameramen and know they are being filmed. The main actor, who is considered the supervisor of the show, will often try to impress and show off for the camera (Tinker, 2009).
There are two effects of the self-awareness of the actors being aware of the filming. First, it produces a more realistic feel to the show and second it gives the awareness of the artificialness of the show (Tinker, 2009). There is a close relationship between tabloids and reality television because audiences do not want to watch reality type shows, but want to watch television shows that are a type of narrative. People enjoy watching imitations of fiction from the basis of modern lives.
The models of behavior in the workplace will give an uncertainty about the limited public and private status of the workers. There have been sociological studies performed to determine how the individual workers perceive themselves in the work environment. The study gave the conclusion of the complexity of the workers within the environment. Work and social structure organization have been erased, while lifestyle is now reflexive choices based on options and signifiers (Tinker, 2009). It has been stated that there is a fine line being drawn between the boundaries of work and non-work. The choices of personal and professional are now harder to distinguish.
The boundaries of work and non-work are becoming less apparent, so is the quest to find personal meaning (Tinker, 2009). Individual people perception of themselves becomes more focused on the body, versus the mind. The characters in the show have difficulty with their self-identity. The struggles are becoming meaningful because the characters are trying to attain fulfillment as an individual. Critics point out the internalized corporate power by actively constructing systems of control.
The Office does not make any mentions of the social or political events of the outside world, but the members are aware of the events by popular culture. The Office is deeply embedded into world of their own, creating a community that is solely of the people of the office. The people within this community do not understand the basic status for themselves or their coworkers.
The type of documentary has a different way of expressing the post humanism and brings the question of what will constitute as a human existence or a human body. Most people define humanism with empathy, humane treatment of others, and basically everyone is the same. The character who is portrayed as the supervisor stated in an episode “my professionalism is only as important as my humanism” (Tinker, 2009). The supervisor was trying to give himself the image of a people’s person. Post humanism is not concerned with popular Comic Relief-style humanitarian as it is will obtaining the distinction between human and non-human.
The characters in The Office are in constant battle for their social status within the community. The characters look for relative differences in others and as well themselves. The office is filled with a variety of nonhuman or questionable bodies. The Office has some toys that have no operating functions such as a broken singing bass fish, or a talking cookie car. The computers and telephones are considered extensions of the person only when that person is telling a story of themselves that is embarrassing.
The show is a series of people in an office environment where the boss seems to not fully understand the functions or needs of the employees. The boss’s linguistic breakdown is severely fragmented and is a reflection of serious emotional conflict and social dysfunction. He is trying too hard to be liked by his workers and trying to fulfill the loneliness he feels. The viewer’s perception of this show will either obtain laughter from incompetent boss, or will not see the humor behind the man.

TINKER, E. (2009, August). Talking Cookie Jars and Tongue-Tied Bodies: Posthumanism and The Office. Journal of Popular Culture, 42(4), 756-772. Retrieved August 25, 2009, doi:10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00706.x

Icon Analysis 2-2

Popular icons are considered to have a distinction that will make that particular person or item stand out. Many popular icons leave a lasting impression on people. The icons are remembered for what was achieved, whether it was a song writer, actor, or a specific show. Those icons can be singled out by a simple phrase. Who do you think of when you hear the songs, “Aint nothing but a hound dog”, “Purple Haze”, or “I can’t get no satisfaction?” Most people will state The King, Jimi Hendrix, and The Rolling Stones. Each had their own style of singing that brought many fans wanting more and more.

Elvis Presley was a shy child who grew into fame. He sang black blues, rock and roll, pop, and rhythm and blues and even starred in a few films. Elvis has been thought of as the doorway for black musicians and the doorway for rock and roll. Little Richard stated he was a blessing. Although he never learned to read music, he played the music by ear. He is still considered an icon where many people still flock to his home in Graceland. He was considered a sex symbol that has created conflicts by his the words of his songs and his dance moves. After Elvis died, President Carter made the statement, “Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable……fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture.”

Jimi Hendrix is considered one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock. He learned to play by listening by watching others play, receiving tips from experienced players, and listening to records. Hendrix was fond of Elvis Presley, and was seen at a concert of Elvis. Hendrix was the first to experiment with stereophonic and phasing effects for music. He was also the first person to be inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame.

The Rolling Stones were an English Rock Band that was formed in London, but they became a sensational hit in the U.S. in the early 1960’s. The band was known for their various musical genres that made the style their own. They sang American Blues, country, folk, reggae, and dance. The Rolling Stones were known for their rock, but it the later years their music began more American Blues. The bands made more musicians think of singing the blues.

Each of these singers had their own way and style of singing and playing instruments, but all of them had a big contribution on the way music is heard and sung today. Many people still idolize each and every one of these people. Their music will forever be instilled in the greatest musicians of all times.

Weekly Analysis 1-4

Leonardo Da Vinci was a well known man in the late 1500’s. He was born to a wealthy man and a peasant woman. He grew up to become one of the most famous artists of all time. Although, he only painted a handful, two of his famous paintings were the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He was always famous for his scientific abilities. Many call him a genius of both worlds, the art world and the scientific world. He was a brilliant person in his time, having many ideas that most people felt were foolish or inaccurate.
It has been said that Da Vinci was a prankster. Many people believe that his work had hidden meanings. They felt like he was trying to tell people a story by using encryption within his paintings. I believe that it was brought on one of the bestselling books, “The Da Vinci Code”. The book talks about Jesus as a mortal man who marries a woman named Mary Magdalene. Jesus and Mary are said to have a child, thus creating a bloodline of Jesus Christ. If this would be accurate, there could be a descendent of Jesus among us today.
The author Dan Brown wrote the Da Vinci Code and it caused many Catholic Churches to shun the book. The Churches made many websites revoking the writing of Dan Brown. The Churches created a boycott when the book and the movie were published, stating the book is far from the truth and had many inaccuracies. The Churches have brought up their religion on the basis that Jesus was immortal. A Man who could walk on water and turn water into wine.
For a book that is stated as a fiction novel, it has brought about many conflicting debates. Many churches are refuting the details and information that is listed within the novel. I do not know of any other book or movie that has caused so many arguments. Is it because there could be some truth to the novel, or is the Catholic religion in fear of losing people who do not fully believe?. We might never know the answer, or maybe some do not care to know.

Popular Culture

Popular culture is the range of attitudes, behavioral patterns, beliefs, customs, and tastes that are apparent of any given culture. Popular culture does not necessarily mean what the entire mass media deems as a favorite, it just has to be popular within a big group of people or followers. Popular culture is all around everyone. It helps shape ideas and feelings in every aspect of life. I believe the television and newspaper ads play an enormous part on popular culture. Every advertisement, every commercial shows a new product with the latest technology.
Every industry promotes the same general theme, “You can’t live without it”. It is up to the media on whether or not the product or idea will survive. No matter if you open the local newspaper or watch the evening news, you will hear about a new product or idea that is being presented to the media. It seems the most talked about item is how technology advances new and improved ways to play games.
Businesses promote on the newest technology for their products. They will listen to what the majority of people want in any system, whether a computer or a video game console, and try to make the system better than the competitor. Businesses need to keep with the every advancing technology if they want to succeed. Most consumers want the newest and latest items that are available, which means the businesses need to adhere to the current popular culture of that society.
Everywhere you look, you see a new game for Playstation or Xbox, which has every child or adult rushing to the stores to be the first one to have. There is a constant battle between Sony’s Playstation consoles and Microsoft’s Xbox. Each year the gaming technology becomes more advanced. You can buy a video game console and talk to people all across the world.
I have chosen the PS3 as my popular culture artifact. The PS3 has become a new way to play games with people all across the world. Contrary to the earlier versions of the Playstation console, the PS3 is more like a computer. You can play Blue Ray movies, play games online with anyone with a PS3, and voice chat during game play. The internet access from the PS3 is free; you just have to have to carry internet access. PS3 has now become one of the best game consoles. The sales have even superseded the earlier model, the PS2.
Some people might feel video games are nothing more than useless cup holders, while others state the video games will enhance motor skills. It all depends on the group of people and whether that group enjoys video games.