Assignment 5-3: Pop Culture Artifact

Artifacts can be described a mass-produced product, usually it is inexpensive object reflecting contemporary society or popular culture. I have chosen spy pen camera for my popular culture artifact. Recently, the people are willing to use the latest technology or inventions. As the time changes, the technology develops. The 21^st century pop culture spy pen camera is a new technology that makes the users to feel like a real spy agent. The spy pen camera is the world’s thinnest spy pen camera which functions and writes as a normal pen. Movie producers produce many spy movies, which actors are spying something by spy pen camera. Its appearance looks like ordinary pen, but the upper part there is very tiny camera that you can use for taking pictures or video recording. Spy pen cameras are different, some records video only, but the latest spy pen camera can do both audio and video (Samir 2011).

The latest spy pen camera is one touch color digital recording with video and audio capability. This unique design is helpful and most private and government agents use it for surveillance. The reporters who always try to get government’s secrets and even those who spy the celebrities are using this type of new technology as well. Spy pen cameras are not expensive, every individual like to have one for different purpose. In order o make money, the celebrity paparazzi use spy camera for catching the famous persons in illicit acts, or to simply spy on their everyday routines then they sell the recorded information or action. Spying camera can also use in research purpose. In addition, the government sets surveillance cameras at the intersection for monitoring traffic and catching anyone who is violating the traffic rules (Flattum, J. 2010). Some wealth families set camera at their homes to make sure that their children are safe and the person hired to watch them not to abuse the children when the parents are away from the home.

The pen located at the center hand top of the page is the icons for my artifact the spy pen camera. The function that my icon will serve is the recording button. Whenever someone sees how the recording button of this spy pen camera functions, they will know that they would like to look at it and then would love to have one. Individuals who are able to purchase the spy pen camera will be very impressed, even if they do not like to have one. The purpose of my icon is to show the people that this new technology is good for their surveillance.

Journal Article Analysis

Pimps Up, Ho’s Down: Hip Hop’s Hold on Young Black Women is an interesting article. The author is T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting. The article is about the hip hop culture and the young black women. The author addresses the ways in which the young black women connected to Hip Hop culture, she also appeals to an audience of young black Americans to review and understand its influences in their social relationships. The author eludes that if a young black male does not have sexist attitudes or behavior toward black women; by the time mainstream hip-hop spreads its influence the subliminal message of misogyny will affect him. Within her title the author gives subject-specific terms; Pimps Up, Ho’s Down as “America’s whipping girl and boy on issues form sexuality to declining family values.”  This article shares how the Hip Hop culture became an approved part of society for both the young men and women of black Americans.  The author explores the younger “millennium generation” that grew up in hip hop’s wake.  It is unfortunate that hip hop music has been twisted, perverted from its original beginnings and has corrupted the minds of young black men to have a Sexual violence and distrust toward the black woman. 

The author states that the success of hip hop is largely contingent on black women.  Young black men have joined a culture of music that promotes, and maintains a negative image of black women.  When viewing the hip hop videos it is obvious that black women are seen in the hip-hop culture as nothing more than sex objects. Almost every hip-hop video has women dancing around men using very provocative and suggestive moves, not wearing much clothing.  The clothing that they do have on enhances their sexuality and the cameramen are focusing on any body part that would be considered sensual. While these images are being shown explicit lyrics are being rapped that usually suggest that women are not worth anything more than money. Hip hop describes the only thing that women good is for sexual relations and the singers or rappers portray themselves as being a pimp. Most raps are musical lyrics of young men celebrating the lifestyle of a rapper as a pimp, which at times gives the impression of the women to be prostitutes and suggest violent or harsh acts against women.

The author wants people to see with this image of black women being portrayed, it has affected the social relationships between young black men and women.  It also, promotes verbal, physical and sexual abuse for young black women. Unfortunately, it is evident in today’s society that some young black women have become captivated with the “bad boy” pimp illusion.

Sharpley-Whiting wraps up her article by stating she realizes that hip hop did not create the actual misogynistic attitude that young black men have toward young black women.  But the hip hop culture actualizes this behavior and increases the participation of this unacceptable lifestyle.  She also writes that white males are hip hop’s essential consumers.  With that point made the overall article clearly states the role hip hop plays within the social culture of the young generation of black Americans.

References
Sharpley-Whiting, T. (2007). Pimps up, ho's down hip hop's hold on young black women.
The Journal of Popular Culture, 41(4), 735-737.

Weekly Written Analysis 5

I found an interest pop culture article from the internet. The article is about a famous Jamaican reggae singer Dennis Brown, he was well known when he was young and he regularly sang with other Jamaican famous singers including Byron Lee when he was 9 years old. At age 11 Denis attracted many people include Coxsone Dodd, the owner of Jamaican music studio. Dennis begun recording his songs at age 11 and he received the nickname of “boy wonder of Jamaican music”. His first album was “No man is an Island” many people revealed that Dennis is a talent young man far beyond his age. Dennis is very famous and he had more influences to the young generation. His followers listens his songs one after another without feeling boring because of his sweet voice and the lyrics of the songs. Dennis amassed a loyal and loving through his entire career. 1970s was his busiest year, he developed his unique style and made majority of his famous recordings. Dennis dead by the age of 42 and he recorded more than 100 records.

Dennis songs still have more influences to the Jamaican young generation. They believed Dennis was the best thing that ever happened to a reggae song. Dennis legacy will be more than today's celebrity and more supplier of popular culture. He remained popular for 30 years. Reggae music has more influences to the popular culture. Today reggae became the most popular music in the world, most young generation enjoys listening reggae music in every country of the world. Reggae songs mostly focus on the issue of political freedom and poverty. In addition, some reggae songs also focus on religion issues, while other reggae songs advocate the use of drugs such as Marijuana that has caused controversy in the public media. 

My Favorite

Guess who” is my favor movies. It is a comedy movie about a race stereotype. The first time the movie released was 1967, but they also remake it in 2005 “Guess who is coming to Dinner”.  The name “Guess Who” reflects the story of the film. The movie covers a white man dating a black girl, instead of black man in relationship with white girl. The major stereotype character in the movie is that how the race differences develop stereotype based their race and color. I like the movie because it interprets the social problems in our society. Even though we live in democratic world, still many of us are learning to agree to see relationship between male and female with different backgrounds or accept any type of interracial relationship.  No doubt, every community or groups has their own beliefs, cultures, and their own way of life. Four or more decades ago it was hard to believe that a white man falls in love with black girl because of social conflicts between white and black people in America. When everyone hears this comedy story of “Guess who” the first thing comes to his/her mind is how parents of both sides feel about the relationship between their children. The movie attracts the audience and brings the attention of that interracial relationship and its affect to our society. Still many people believe that the man should marry a girl with similar culture in order to avoid any problems caused by culture clash. Some people like to stick on their own cultures, and they don’t want to make their mind open and learn other cultures. 

The interesting part of the movie was when the girl returns home with a new boyfriend. Her parents did not like her white fiancé because they were not expecting their daughter will fall in love with a white man. Although her father was not happy with her fiancé because of he is white, with the help of his personal attitude he tries to hide his feelings as much as he can. Before the father let the white man came in, he step out and start looking around incase his neighbors seen him. One major social factor that contributes to the appearance of today’s stereotype is how the society we live with have influences to our lives.  Stereotypes are typically formed on the basis of assumption that individuals received by the society. Stereotyping is challenging and makes hard for the people to understand one another. The father did not talk about why he is treating his daughter’s fiancé very unfair, but he always brings the white man’s story on the table. Many scholars are described in their books that the Black Americans are violent, poor, and uneducated. In the movie, the black American family is educated and rich, and they are celebrating wedding anniversary.

Even though “Guess who” produces and released in 21^st century, it is incredible that the stereotype character still persist and affect our social lives. After decades of these negative stereotype behaviors, the today society should chose what they want based on their desire. Our social condition and individual perceptions are controlled by what we do and how we do it. Today most people perceive things through their sense and develop a reality where they can function (S. Elaine 2008).

One thing stereotypes fulfill, the people should understand the affect of stereotyping in our society. What every individual is doing is something based on his/her culture or belief, which is stereotype character. So the people should not focus on what others are doing. The other stereotype fulfilling is does the person feel better by criticizing people because of their behavior, culture, and beliefs. Not necessarily all types of stereotyping are negative, some can be a positive stereotype based on how we see it or group it.

The movie “Guess who” examines the hardship of mixed race marriage; the movie was produced and released when interracial marriage was illegal in many places. The centre of the stereotype character in the film was when she came home with her fiancé and began introduction of her boyfriend to her father. All these negative stereotypes have long lasting affect to our young generation. 

Assignment 1-5: Culture and Society: Interactions

The movies of the 1950s expresses the events occurred 1950^th such as the win of World War II, and the time of economic growth. 1950^s was the time of freedom and changing the separation of the races in United State, and the beginning of relations between the races. 1950s was the era of television, every family begun to set a television in their homes, most elderly people stays at home and watch TV instead of going Theater for watching films. It is also the middle class era. I950s has great influences to the young generation, it is the time young couples felt freedom and begun to go cinemas, while the elder people stays homes and watch TV. Most films were idealized during World War II, it is the time Hollywood produced more films and responded the demand of the audiences. One of the great comedies produced in 1950s include Harvey. It is a comedy film; Elwood P. Dowd is the actor of Harvey, the film is about a unusual man whose best friend is invisible rabbit. The film was very interested in its era. An Affair to Remember was another popular movie and it is produced in 1957. It is a romance movie between Cary grant and Deborah kerr. the couples were fall in love each other while they are on vocation. Godzilla is a monster film, and it is produced in Japan in 1954. the film is about a radioactive monster with the power to blow to some sort of destructivenuclear plasma.The movie attracted many people and achieved enormous fan base.  The Godzilla reproduced three times and the fourth one is expecting to release next year. 1950s was also a Rock and Roll era where many young people became famous in the movie industry. This decade was not good for parents because most young generation get freedom and joined to movie industry. The 3-DVD movies were created in 1950s.

Weekly Written Analysis 4

I found an interesting article from the internet (What a sick world when women yearn to look like girls and little girls are dressed to look like women). It is really an interesting topic to analyze and discuss. To discuss about how the people dresses up is sensitive issue. People dresses differently based on their culture, religion, beliefs, and their desire as well. The article describes the differences between the dressings style of the young girls in the past comparing with the young girls of today. Mothers have the responsibility to train their daughters and teach them the best way to dress and their role in the future. Mothers can fail to understand the consequences of the improper style of dressing that encourages to the sick desires of pedophiles, because they don’t pay attention the girl’s dressing behavior. Fashion industry, Celebrity culture, and lack of mother’s role have created the problems. In the past, the girls had best dress and some grown-up cloth for special occasions. Today’s girls like to wear sexy clothes that are suited to a street-walker. I can say there is no boundary between childhood and adulthood. Every fashion store sells a sexy cloth with affordable price that makes for the young girls to buy these horrific cloths. The celebrity has influence how the young people behaves and every young girl wants to dress like them. The dressing is always changing and indirectly reflects the change of popular culture. A person’s fashion identifies who they are and the way they live. Teenagers adhere to dressing style to develop their identity and express who they are.

Weekly Written Analysis 3

Debates about the Somali-American community have been on TV for the last one year. Many young Somalis were arrested in Minneapolis by authority for suspecting of supporting Somali extremist groups in Somalia. These reports result many people have perceived bad images about the Somali-Americans and they believed that the Somalis are violence people. Many individuals ask themselves why few young guys trying to join the extremist in Somalia would determine the image of the community.  Many Somalis want to go to Somalia for visiting their families and friends have cancelled their trips because they feel unsafe. This particular issue creates a stereotypical image that affects Somali community in US. This stereotyping also affects the attributes of other communities toward Somalis. No doubt, many Somali parents want their children not adapt other culture. They want their children to keep the value of their beliefs and culture, whic creates stereotyping and makes them not to integrate with other communities. The   Stereotyping style increases the differences between the diverse communities.

The Somali leaders have mobilized to eliminate theses stereotypes by cooperating with authority, educating young people, and creating positive relationships between the Somali community and other communities.  The culture background reflects the broad range of our lives; I believe the negative stereotype has long lasting effects, and the best way to eliminate theses bias or false stereotype images is to promote programs for integration of diverse communities to one another 

1-4: weekly written Analysis

   

For week analysis, I have chosen Erykah Badu. She is famous singer and she also songwriter. She is best for her playing of music including hip hop and jazz. Erykah is recognizable for colorful dresses, especially head wraps for attracting he audience eyes and musical sensibility as well.    Erykah released many albums, one of her famous albums was released in 1997 and it reaches many places in the world.  This shows how music play important role to the popular culture. Erykah received positive notice for her jazzy, lyrics, and her bass sound. Her wonderful style of singing attracts many viewers or listeners. Erykah took break from the Hollywood stages for raising her children. She back in 2000 and released an album more sophisticated in sound than previous albums. Her albums were ell welcomed because of its content. One of her albums was recognized the best R&P for three months.

Music influence the way people act and lives, when some people think about popular culture, music is the first thing comes to their mind. Some people like to listen to music because they liked the content and want to copy their favorite words. Hip hops are popular music in public. On the streets, you see many teenagers who wearing same dress o wearing similar caps. Music has influence the way people live. For example, those who listen hip hop, especially boys interest to wear jeans, riding cars with loud music, and those who listen pop music especially girls interest to go malls, and bleaching hair. The fact is music has more influence the way we act and carry our selves. Most young people like to copy the way music artist act and fit in with others.

2-1: Weekly Written Analysis

    

The thought of popular culture is different than how it was decades ago. In the past, the popular culture reaches to the people through writing and printing. This results the popular culture become limited to those who have a time to read. Today popular culture reaches to the people through different ways such as movies, radios, and script. The voice of singers and musicians, and films are everywhere in the word that the society have never experienced. I have chosen Michael Lynch for my weekly analysis. Audience or viewers always vote for who is the best singer and remaining in the business industry. After Michael failed to win the competition and received the least vote, he and his friends decided to work hard and make progress to attract the audience eyes. Even though, Michael gets the least vote, he believed that he will remain on the show long enough. This shows how some people are blissful to remain in competition, while others get disappoint and leave the stage with gloomy face. Many people liked Michael’s songs and always push him to make improvement and  become one of the top singers. It was great night when Michael came to the stage trying to attract the eyes of millions audience, but Michael did not achieved his dream. He believed people is fickle creature and never give up hope. Michael loves his task and created many of his own songs, he put albums together to remain in business industry. I believe American Idol has significant influence to popular culture.

2-2: Icon Analysis

 

There are many icons that have different meaning to the different individuals. The three icons I have chosen are Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, and Emeril Lagasse.

Abraham Lincoln was icon in his time, president Abraham Lincoln fought for freedom and he was against slave trade.  During his campaign, Abraham expresses that he is limiting expanding of slavery to new areas. Many people were not happy Abraham’s policy, but after long term struggle Abraham’s ideas works and black people got their freedom.  I chosen Abraham because the importance of freedom, imaging what is happening many places in the world, especially middle east and some areas in Africa. People are fighting for their rights including freedom of rights, democracy, economic change, jobs, and constitutional reform.

The second choice for my icon is Barack Obama; he is the first black president of United States. Obama’s presidency surprises many people in the world because they did not believe that majority of American people will vote black man for president of the United States of America. After he was elected most international community welcomes his presidency. I believe Obama is the American icon at the present time.  I have chosen president Obama because he changed the history of America. Most Americans voted for Obama because they want change. Obama’s election shows the value of democracy and I hope American people will be a good example to the rest of the world.

 Emeril Lagasse was a man of creative, he was a chef and he opened cuisine in New Orleans. Emeril decided to make different traditional foods in his restaurant in order to attract more diverse customers. In short period, Emeril’s restaurant becomes the best restaurant of the year. After few years, Emeril published his book, which is about his creativity approach. He become famous man in cable television programs finally Emeril created a TV show, few years later his show become one of the top ten shows on TV, and his show become popular on the media. I have chosen Emirel because he understood the opportunity of diversity. His ambiguous enables him to succeed in the business.

Assignment 1-2 Popular Culture Blog

Popular culture is referred as a socio-cultural matter that majority of society practices in a particular culture. Popular culture describes the people’s thoughts, beliefs, opinions, and behaviors that the society shares in. Popular culture can also define what is happening in the society every day and the behaviors that the people portray every day. For example, watching TV, what we eat, watching favor films, and clothing style, all these are part of popular culture.

Understanding of popular culture is very important in business process because both business and popular culture have tremendous relationship with one another. Each one depends on the other one in a friendly collaboration. When business organization is selling their services or products, they should advertize it by some kind of popular culture such as advertizing products in TV or magazines in order to attract customers and promote the business. Currently, I work with healthcare organization and we provide services to different people with different background. The understanding of popular culture will give me an opportunity to learn more about the different cultures, beliefs, behaviors, and opinion of our diverse clients that allows me to provide proper service to every client without violating his/her culture or behavior.

I selected world cup soccer for example of my artifact ebecause  it is a popular culture. The reason I chose this artifact is I believe the world cup is the most common popular culture that most of the countries participate during the world cup, which held once every four years. Many business organizations spend lot of money to advertise world cup, and the media broadcasts the scores and the situation of the game in general.