Final Project Rough Draft

                When entering the world of pop culture, crazy, cult-like fans viciously supporting their favorite television show is an aspect one can hardly miss when examining media. Topping the list of devoted-base, Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer contain a fairly large number of not just fans, but devoted followers. These fans go beyond the rabid viewer, and delve deeper into the shows core, treating the show as a lifestyle, and not a form of occasional entertainment. However, these mythological and religious-based shows have not only attracted fans, but also hatred, being called blasphemous by various different religious communities.  However, these religious communities hardly differ from these devoted fan-bases including a parallel in devotion, a gathering of people with similar beliefs, and a center point of the gathering people that offers different interpretations of historical religious beliefs.  Therefore, with such similarities and a lack of a concrete definition of religion, are Buffy and Supernatural not, in their own right, a religion?

                Of course, before one can determine what constitutes as religion, one must understand the definition of religion.  Then again, is there a definition of religion? The answer is yes, there are many different definitions of religion that vary amongst people, cultures, and acknowledged religions.  One of the biggest issues, as Steve Bruce, a professor at the University of Aberdeen majoring in sociology, points out, religion is often defined by a person by the religious, moral beliefs of the individual.  For instance, if a person defining religion is Christian, than to be a religion, one must believe in one god. Christopher Peet, a professor at University of Alberta believes the theories used to define religion all have faults, therefore, one cannot say something is not a religion because the counter-views do not hold strong enough evidence.  Peet also continues on the theory that, to many people, something cannot truly be defined as religion if it is not acknowledged by the public and government as such. It becomes obvious when attempting to create a definition of religion that religion is a difficult word to define. With a subject so sensitive as religion, it will likely never be truly defined.  Therefore, to say a T.V. show center around religious ideas that offer different interpretations of these religious values is not a religion is simply wrong, seeing as religion not only lacks a concrete definition, but also because religion is a word used to describe a group of people who believe in similar ideas regarding the afterlife or purpose of life, and this description describes the majority of Supernatural and Buffy fans.

               

"Broken Promises" - Rough Draft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aboUHApz4TE&feature=relmfu  -- link to advertisement

             

             Throughout 2012’s Presidential elections Americans have witnessed endless verbal attacks against both President Barack Obama and his opponent Mitt Romney.  What such ads neglect to mention, however, are solutions to the issues he/she claims the other opponent is causing.  Yes, while watching the unavoidable attack advertisements that have been polluting television for the last few months, the American populous has heard many end outcomes that sound appealing like the creation of millions of job opportunities to lower unemployment rates, but what these advertisements lack is an explanation of how they will achieve such outcomes.  Another important aspect attack advertisements lack are the explanations of the attacks, and why what they are attacking happened in the first place.  An example of such manipulating advertisements is an attack ad against Obama regarding Janesville Wisconsin’s General Motor plant.

                At the beginning of this advertisement, one can automatically assume discouraging information will be presented.  Its washed-out, blurry coloring and the funeral-like piano background music adds to the advertisement’s worrisome, discouraging message it is trying to communicate to the public.  By having the picture of a power plant shot through a fence, with such colors and blurriness, makes this failed power plant look so much like an abused, mistreated project one can almost hear Sarah Mclachlan’s “In the Arms of an Angel” solemnly playing in the background.  What the beginning of this ad fails to mention, however, is why this project failed, and more importantly, what this project was about.  It could be easily assumed not many American citizens know much about the failing of the General Motors plant in Janesville Wisconsin, and this ad does nothing to help with furthering your knowledge.  It focuses more on ‘broken promises’ and dramatic appearance.  A big missing aspect in this advertisement is why anybody should care.  Did the failing of this plant directly reflect Obama’s ability as President?  Of course, a President cannot be without faults.  So why do so many people latch onto these faulty advertisements as evidence of political failure?

                The answer to this question can be answered by examining such ads themselves.  A person could conclude that any attack advertisement, especially the one I presented, uses a scare tactic to receive support, or to at least demolish the support of their opponents.  With the sepia-like coloring, and the depressing piano music, the message is already clearly a disheartening one.  To add emphasis to the discouraging message, this commercial overuses and emphasizes the phrases, ‘broken promises’ or ‘simple promise’ ‘broken’, to appeal to the public’s value of trust.  It is obvious that this advertisement is promoting and air of distrust towards Obama.  By listening to Obama’s speech given in the commercial, he does not directly make such a promise.  However, this ad sets up a straw man to encourage the misinterpretation of his speech in order to dissuade people to vote for him.

                Another obvious value such advertisements expose is the value of drama.  These ads lack civility, attacking their opponents with harsh words and suggestions.  Instead of respect, these advertisements sell the myth that strong and capable equals harsh and unyielding, even boarder line close-minded.  For a President, it would seem a country’s populous would fear such ideas as close-mindedness, but what these ideas also sell is acceptance.  A President, even in the wrong, that agrees with an individual’s opinion and refuses to change her/his mind makes this person feel accepted in a society that believes their opinions to be wrong, whether or not for good reason.  Each party tends to, but not always, focuses on the insecurities of American’s, whether it be race, gender, or religion, and twist that identity and make an individual feel insecure and secluded.  Then, such candidates offer support and understanding making the individual feel accepted, something greatly valued, by stating they will represent the underrepresented. 

                Though such advertisements often give information that may be important when coming to the decision of the upcoming election, it is important for each individual to fact check this information, and to make sure to hear counterarguments as well.  Understanding that an advertisement’s entire purpose is to persuade the audience is important when deciphering whether or not the information coming from such advertisements is legitimate.  The “Broken Promises” commercial is an attack advertisement, meaning it was probably fashioned with a one-sided argument.  This commercial was full of misleading statements, uncivil attacks, and neglectful in its detailed information.  It is up to the viewer to find the truth, or at least assorted opinions, and deduce your standing of the issue based on various, credible sources.

The Medium is the Message

            When a person hears a story they immediately understand the obvious meaning.  For instance, “Little Red Riding Hood” is an entertaining folk-tale; however, beyond the obvious means hides a story warning children of worldly dangers.  Much like these stories, new media has created numerous mediums that relay messaging to the populous.  Many people believe the information these mediums carry is solely important in deciphering meaning and cultural value.  However, rarely do they decipher what the medium of that message says about a culture, and what messages such mediums send.

            For instance, Facebook is a medium allowing people the means to communicate to long-distance friends.  New media has created many social networking sites, however, Facebook may very well remain the most popular.  Facebook alone relays many messages without the presence of millions of posts.  For example, one can conclude that American culture is a fast-pace society that values speed.  Information is readily given to a person with literally the touch of a screen.  Facebook updates are sent straight to your phone immediately after such updates are posted, relaying the message instantly.

            Facebook also represents the importance of communication in American society.  This social networking site is world-wide.  An individual can instantly communicate with someone from another country via Facebook.  However, this does not always result in positive outcomes.  New media, including Facebook, illustrates our cultural decline in face-to-face interaction.  Face-to-face interaction holds importance in communication, as bodily indicators, such as facial cues or body language, are important in understanding a person’s true meaning or belief.  With new media, virtual interaction often trumps face-to-face communication, and such a switch in values can cause many people to become socially awkward. 

            Another important message Facebook presents is the importance of acceptance.  This medium allows people the opportunity to connect to society by “friending” others.  An individual can unfriend just as easily.  This ability to choose who an individual communicates with gives people the opportunity to surround themselves with common beliefs.  If there is a differing opinion, a person can easily remove this person with the click of a button.  This ability allows people to feel accepted among others.  Facebook gives the illusion of acceptance through virtual friendship, and encourages the myth that by friending Facebook friends, a person truly has friendship in reality. 

            Along these same lines, Facebook also influences what information a person receives.  With the availability to choose what information you receive, and from whom you receive it, an individual can isolate themselves to only one idea by only choosing to “friend” a person who shares the same beliefs or “unfriending” those with opposing views.  For the many people who use Facebook as a way to receive news and information this leaves out a counterpoint, something I believe to be essential when determining strong opinions and beliefs.  Though this is not true for everyone, more and more people use this form of new media to connect themselves to other individuals sharing the same opinions. 

            Facebook is a means of communication to many, but what does Facebook communicate?  A famous quote by Marshal McLuhan states, “The medium is the message.”  There are many different ways to interpret this quote.  However, my interpretation is though an individual can decipher culture values through a retelling of information, the medium stands important because the medium influences and holds values of its own.  The medium can influence what messages are relayed, and with new media sources like Facebook people often receive only one-sided arguments.  Facebook, as a popular source for information, also reflects just as many cultural values as one of its posts.  Therefore, it is important to venture beyond the obvious when deciphering cultural values or deducting meaning.  Yes, stories, shows, and the news reveal many cultural values and determine what messages get across to the populous, however, the medium equates in importance when determining what message is truly being sent.

News

On September 28^th, 2012, Fox News broadcast a man shooting himself. Being filmed live, a car chase in Phoenix Arizona ended near the boarder of California when the man got out of his car and shot himself in the head.

Not often do Americans witness harsh realities such as suicide.  When such actions occur, it usually gets cut or edited out as to not upset the population with what government policies deem as too graphic.  By filming live, reporters commentate, but do not retell which inevitably leads to manipulation by personal views.  It allows people the opportunity to see what is happening around them, evaluate the situation, and come to their own conclusion on how they feel about such actions, without manipulation from people, media sources, etc.

                                News programs are supposed sources by which direct information regarding world events is offered.  Of course this is not entirely true.  Stories get twisted, and after being passed down and edited, people rarely hear unbiased narratives.  Rather, they get a manipulated version that attempts to twist the emotions of a population according to the network’s own values.  Of course, this is not just a stab at news broadcasting, but an inevitability of retelling accounts.

                                Television shows, movies, and news programs make it easy to observe what Americans value most, and that is what is seemingly inappropriate and socially unaccepted.  Though such sources provide Americans with the idea of murder, thievery, law-breaking, and sex as fun and adventurous, our popular culture, often influenced by Christianity’s stronghold, makes such values seem improper.  What do people want?  What they are told they can’t have.  News networks feel pressured into providing Americans with adrenaline-pumping live coverage.  Though I strongly support the protection of privacy, I also find unbiased news coverage a necessity in American society.  So if live coverage is the only way to meet this necessity, and with the ability to protect privacy, American government should not limit what can and cannot be shown live.   

Pop Culture and Media Influences on Society

                Ideas of grandeur, glamour, and luxury are sold to consumers daily in the form of advertising most level-headed people would disregard immediately as unbelievable.  However, even practical people are sucked in to the world of advertising.  Popular culture directly ties into advertising, and how advertisements persuade even the most realistic individual. 

                Popular culture standardizes how beauty is perceived, defines success, glorifies gender roles, and even manipulates a person’s judgment of others.  As human beings, each person needs acceptance and to feel loved by others in order to maintain prime emotional health.  In a culture where ads constantly advertise their conception of the ideal person, they not only sell products, but acceptance.  Commercials that advertise to young women, for instance, often show made-up, mostly white, skinny, smiling females surrounded by friends.  Not only do ads like these sell beauty, but by targeting personal insecurities, these ads sell ideas of acceptance and happiness as well as what happiness and acceptance requires. Advertisements and popular culture intertwine and manipulate the minds of millions with concrete ideas of gender specific qualifications that supposedly lead to happy fulfilled lives.

Michael Learmonth explains in his article, “Tracking Makes Life Easier for Consumers”, the effects of internet tracking, or web monitoring as a means to identify individual tastes and advertise accordingly.  Internet tracking supplies advertisers limitless access to each person’s likes and dislikes with total disregard to privacy.  With this new marketing technique, not only do advertisers have the means to target common insecurities created by American pop culture, but now advertising companies can target an individual’s specific insecurities.  This breach of privacy supplies advertisers with information to target each American citizen who uses a computer.  Internet tracking allows the advertising of items similar to purchases made by a consumer online; therefore, people attracted to these ads also absorb the ideas that come with it. 

This never-ending circle of pop culture, advertising, and consumers seems to constantly change American lifestyle yet actually changes nothing at all.  These prejudice ideas are pushed upon children and adults everyday, and have become seemingly acceptable in society.  Popular culture creates prejudiced ideas of perfection harmful to the emotional health of many people; however, it also sells ideas of acceptance.  Society would change drastically if these advertisements sold the acceptance in a form other than skinny, white, made-up people, and give children idols to which they can relate, not just conform.

Advertisement

            This Bare Minerals advertisement instantly attracts women of all ages.  I, for one, found myself charmed by this advertisement’s appeal to today’s popular focus, all-natural products.  I also desire to resemble the beautiful woman who represents this product. 

            However, when stripped of its primary allurements, this ad displays numerous underlying contexts.  For example, it’s influencing one’s perception of beauty.  This Bare Minerals advertisement is selling the idea that a beautiful woman is a relatively skinny, put-together, conservatively fashioned, bubbly woman, and creates a false air of elegance and happiness.  This ad creates the idea that by buying this product, one will be happy.  If you have this brand of makeup, you won’t have a care in the world, and will be as blissful and beautiful as the woman displayed above. 

            I must admit, though, these ads are quite persuasive, if my purchase means anything.  Running across this advertisement, in bold white letters, reads “BE A FORCE OF BEAUTY”.  This alone is persuasive in today’s popular culture.  Of course women of all ages will be attracted to this product.  Pop culture today projects an image that most people unmindfully attempt to duplicate.  Take, for instance, the smaller, yet more colorful phrasing above the previously mentioned statement.  This reads, “Pretty attracts us.  Beauty changes us.”  This phrasing speaks for itself, and alludes to the belief that a woman’s life in today’s culture dramatically changes for the better if she is pretty.   Among popular culture’s ever changing conceptions, a desire to be beautiful is an idea that has never changed, and this advertisement pulls the strings of the plentiful insecurities pushed upon women in today’s culture.

           

HON101

                In "The Rising of Popular Culture: A Historiographical Sketch," Leroy Ashby highlights the struggle for power within a segregated society and media’s importance in manipulating cultural beliefs.  Taking into account the elitist stronghold on the media, Ashby gives different examples of retaliation and agreement to these issues, along with the results they produce.

For example, Ann Douglas brings to light the gross lack of acknowledgement women receive in popular culture as capable people.  At the beginning of this class I never thought of popular culture past the definition.  However, I now see the importance of educating yourself in popular culture, and Ann Douglas’ statements make this clear.  In the 21^st century, entertainment still portrays women as an early 19^th century gender stereotype.  This class has broadened my knowledge on such matters, and I believe education is a powerful force in obliterating these sexist notions.