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.