Popular Culture

Cultures

2012-04-23T16:48:00.001-07:00

In thinking of ideas for this weeks blog I stumbled with what the book was trying to explain of youth and resistance. Life is contemporary and so are ideas, the youth is young because they will the future. The author seems confused on how times have changed along with the culture of you- maybe I cant relate because I am young. However, along with anything else in life cultural youth is always changing and learning and adapting to its contemporary effects of war, drugs, music and the MEDIA. As I try and take a “ADULTS” perspective of this chapter, I become… maybe baffled thinking the adult reading this should know they went through this. So this leaves me with the thought of what is Barker trying to say. Really.

Lets explore space and urban place - now time is space is more appealing and the evolvement of ENTIRE cultures/societies so separate, but merging within each other as if their linked. Linked by what? The Media in western culture and its Orientalism along with its signifiers in society. The film we watched “Lost In Translation” shows us how western culture is exchanged japan, western culture is seen being involved japan such as the karaoke and the commercial that Bill Maury was filming. An American was promoting an American drink- Whiskey! The clashing of the cultures is the cause of globalization.

Annie Hall

2012-04-15T22:16:00.001-07:00

The film Annie Hall can be considered having postmodernist ideas. The self-narration by Woody Allen is an interesting approach to conveying such concepts. Lets begin by saying this film should be watch with passivism, however the comedy already does create this for us. Postmodernist ideas are brought by the exploration of Woody Allen’s sexual relationships along with the multiple topics he openly expresses. Woody Allen speaks of literature at one point, the next he speaks of political issues, then of drugs, sex and lobsters. He has something to say about almost everything, this type of exploration makes the film comically interesting. The film never concentrates on one topic, it’s always changing and the material evolves with the scenes. Even the approach the film was created is postmodern filled with ideas and a plot where an incompatible couple ends up together. The couples catharsis also leads into post-modernistic ideas of the curative relationship they share. Throughout the film it appears as if they explore and heal each others past emotions of relationships. There are moments in the film where it seems as if we are exploring the characters subconscious mind, most of it seen in the narration. We can assume that a little bit of Freudian is seen in this area. Yes, I feel as if Freud can be considered post modernistic along with most of his theories. Freud’s way of thinking scientifically rather than Religiously or with Dogmatic ideas and concepts makes him a postmodern man. What I do like about this film is that it explores the lives of adults but in a childish sense, the whole time we see them with no responsibilities or no major commitments. This allows a large audience to relate to the character(s), no matter what age you could relate to their relationship. Annie Hall is refreshing in its own category, it’s a well thought out film, filled with PERSISTENT sarcasms, irony and loads of honesty- its definitely a classic!

Romantic Comedy

2012-03-19T17:15:00.001-07:00

The Romantic comedy “10” could be considered a trendsetter. The film has a sexual ideology of how sex in the 80’s may have been perceived. The main character George Webber a married man is seen as an escapist, who has reached a midlife crisis and searches for sexual exploration. He becomes interested in younger women and stumbles into a young beauty that is soon on her way to be wedded. The comedy here soon develops as George falls in love with this woman and follows the couple to their honeymoon in Mexico. In Mexico George saves the woman’s husband life and becomes a hero. The husband out of the picture due to his sunburn injuries the two are then off into an evening of escapade. After a long night Georges wish of having sex woman finally comes true, but only to be disappointed by her confounding behavior in bed. George then returns back home to his true love.

This film is contemporary to its time and that’s where its success has derived from. The characters are all sexually contemporary as well; especially the young girl. She is who is most explored as we can describe her as a casual, sexual hippie. She may also be considered as a symbol of that time and age. Georges character is what makes the entire film comical. Georges imagination gets the best of him, as he seeks for a perfect woman. George stumbles into this young beautiful woman who he then follows to her wedding then to her honeymoon. Throughout this, we see George as a hopeful towards love. In reality this act would considered immoral, however we fall for this character and maybe because we have all been there and have had escapades of finding or thinking the IDEAL girl/boy is out there. As George finally has sex with this young girl the plot is developed. George realizes that he has made a mistake and the perfect 10 wasn’t whom he throughout it would be. Georges sexual realization is now settled, he then heads home as he attempts to rekindle his true love.

Technology in films.......

2012-03-11T13:39:00.001-07:00

As I read Images of Technology I became uninterested of its purpose and message. I personally love and enjoy sci-fi and action movies. I truly dislike how this reading picks apart some great movies, however I do have somewhat of an understanding to what is trying to be said. it seems that scientist/engineers haven’t been depicted as they should in films and I do agree to an extent. However, this concept of misconstruing such a profession is false and society actually accepts these professions of a higher status towards knowledge and of course income. For example, many dislike and speak badly of dentist, but we all know it’s a reputational profession.

Now back to motion pictures, who wouldn’t want to watch a laser cut trough 12inch thick steel as it reaches its victim. This is possibly far from reality, but interesting and thrilling to most audiences. These ideas come from imagination; no one wishes to watch a dull film with genuine acts of technology. Imagination gives us the ideas of stimulating and futuristic technological advances that are used in todays Sci-fi & Action films. As a fan of these two genres, I could think of two characters from a technological profession. The first character is Spock from Star Trek; he plays the role of a Science Officer/Pilot. Star Trek is a futuristic space film series that portrays images of technology, but Purely Fictional and shouldn’t be held to judgment -- of this sort. Spock however is portrayed as having only a sense of logic and no feelings (or at least half). This could be considered as a negative association towards scientist, of being ONLY literary logical. I choose to differ becasue I see Spock as a genius, a hero and an icon of science. Lets switch to something recent, modern and relevant - the new Iron Man movies! The character Tony Starks who is Iron Man, is an engineer of military special weapons. He however portrays the role of an arrogant ladies man but his creative intelligence has led him to create his flying iron suit. We all know that this type of technology is unrealistic to date but it makes a very interesting plot for a film. Watch this short clip to see the amazing Iron Man.

As like Spock, Tony Starks is also a genius, a hero and an engineering icon. Though these professions are sometimes mocked or portrayed differently in movies, we all wish to be the scientist that finds the cure, the astronaut in space or the one that builds the flying suit. Lets not forget the majority of these films are only fictional and not documentaries.

You Asked For It!

2012-03-05T18:21:00.002-08:00

For our Casino Royale Presentation the group will be covering many ideas throughout Bonds Era. From Connery to Craig, from Casino Royale to Dr. No and others. However, I will be presenting information & ideas of the books acceptance in the 50’s. Such as where its success developed and how conservative views and lifestyles accepted a plot with so much sex, violence, sadism, gambling, womanizing, espionage and more women! The book was sophisticated and brutal considering the 1950's the normative family consisted of a breadwinner father, homemaker mother, and several children, all living in homes in the suburbs on the outskirts of a larger city. In the 1950s sexual expression was supposed to be restricted to marriage, and premarital sex was taboo. Where nearly everyone conformed to a pattern of early marriage and several children. Casino Royal’s success may have came from the sense of the Man Who Saved Britain-he had a license to kill, the secret agent who saved civilization from a series of nefarious villains while staying in the world's fanciest hotels and romancing a multitude of beautiful babes. In addition, After the war 1951 women were asked to return to the role of a mother& wife, they wanted to stop feminism and bond helped with that message. The truth is that all the bond girls had great professional careers – some pilots, CIA, business owners, Spies --and they all did extraordinary things. They were progressive.

Bond Who?

2012-02-26T21:51:00.003-08:00

Dr. No and many other James Bond films share similar concepts. The first being the exotic atmosphere, riveting stories and plots. Then there’s also Bonds exotic women and even more exotic are their names. However, disagreeing with the idea of Ian Flemings novels creating racial sovereignty in eastern cultures. The books and films can only be held accountable presenting an idea of Oriental/Eastern cultures. The novels are fictional along with the Hollywood films that were made to follow them. The interest of learning about a new culture shouldn’t be grasped by an action film. Sensitive idealist need to keep in mind that the true conventional ways of eastern cultures along with western cultures wouldn't be as interesting if they weren't dramatized. Possibly the only thing to judge from the novels/films are the female character and their roles. It seems as if every film and novel there’s a significant amount of sexism and anti-feminism. The names given to the female characters are offensive enough - correction they cant even be considered names but actually more of an object than anything else e.g. Pussy Galore, Honey Rider, Octopussy. Ian Fleming pushes the boundaries of sexist material in his novels. If this material now considered offensive, you could only wonder what were the effects of the books when the first of the series was released in 1954!!!. How could society accept these ideas in a time when its current culture was so conservative? The novels are provocative and filled with sex, alcohol and gambling. Ian has gone against the social norms by exploring into a secret agents life of danger and exotic fantasies. His success may have been developed by this same reason, as he has created a remarkable franchise of entertainment.

--Producer Defends Bond Girls--

Barbara Broccoli, the joint owner and producer of the James Bond franchise, has publicly defended the depiction of women in the secret agent's early adventures.

She told The Sunday Telegraph: "The women were unique for their time. Pussy Galore, for instance, was a female pilot. A lot of them were sexual predators who gave as good as they got. They had professional careers and did extraordinary things. I think the early women were very progressive."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/3024355/James-Bond-girls-are-feminist-icons-says-Cubby-Broccolis-daughter.html

Cat On a Hot Tin Roof

2012-02-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

This week in class “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” group summary & analysis was very interesting. They chose to involve the classroom with questions and for every correct answer you’d win candy or a prize. I did however enjoy their PowerPoint and short screen plays, it was very creative of them.

The groups interpretation of the characters and motifs where similar to my ideas. The major characters in the story were of development from each other. Maggie’s actions are caused by Bricks refusal towards her; this makes her who she is anxious, annoying and childish. Maggie throws herself onto Brick - posing and undressing, hoping for desire but Brick wishing nothing from her and the role she plays is like a cat on a hot roof. Then there’s Big Mama she is also developed by another character, her husband Big Daddy. Big Mama could be considered as the other cat on the hot tin roof, except she has come to except her role as the quiet housewife. Big mama is unconsciously feeble of her own marriage, big daddy also does not desire her and this makes her who she is. The easiest character to identify is Big daddy, where the majority of his energy and interest is concentrated in his business and materialistic items, as he leaves LOVE for his family in second place. Then there’s Gooper a carbon copy of his father as they share many similar traits. The most interesting character in this story is Brick, we know that he has much more! Well at least to the eye… he is handsome, charming to those that know him, has a beautiful wife, he is well known and popular. However, these same qualities only show signs for the wanting of acceptance, that of his fathers. Brick is however introduced to us as a drunk with a broken leg. The crutches may be a symbol of his masculinity, we see that he is week with crutches like his masculinity and therefore hides himself in alcohol; for this same reason he has no desire for Maggie. As he breaks his crutches, his masculinity is also broken and his love for Skipper is revealed. The relationship that he shared with Skipper was the one that he never had with his father. As he has searched for his fathers acceptance Brick distanced himself from the same thing he was looking for, all he found were substitutes.

The Music Man “You Got Trouble”

2012-02-04T16:20:00.001-08:00

“You Got Trouble”

While a quiet subtle town goes about it’s rather normal evening the center is suddenly disrupted by what appears to be a sales man… and what is he selling? He is selling fear and soon enough the town turns into a musical number. In this musical, the man expresses how the new billiards will turn this town upside down; their young boys will turn immoral towards corruption. The chorus goes like this, you’ve got trouble… Right Here in River City… Yes trouble… with a capital T. The man is inventing fear in this small town to create a need for his band.

The ideology of this clip may represent how media affects society. This musical clip gives us an idea of how well media affects everyday society, but in a small scale in a small town. Now lets imagine if this fear was created in a national scale to develop or police a way of life, culture and media. In our class reading Literacy Theory: An Anthology, chapter 1 describes the various culture theory’s of society. The most relevant theory to The Music Man “You Got Trouble”, may be the Marxist and structuralist semiotics theory. It describes how the media “Policed” economic crises by portraying the world in a way favorable to those in power or how working class youth resisted their assigned social roles through rituals of dress, dance and music that offered a counterpoint to the work routines of modern economic life.

The Clip of the music man can be analyzed extensively in its meaning. However, he does create a fear of a possible change in the towns economic life, a possible change of their culture. He then says the billiards in hand will turn their sons into immoral cigarette smoking gamblers; the town indulges in his fabricated freight. By successfully creating a favorable system for him-self he is in control of power, the next step is to simply introduce his product music. --The Music Man himself is our everyday MEDIA.

The 1920’s

This movie was created in the 1960’s; The Sixties conveyed a beginning of complex cultural and political trend’s that where seen across the globe. The Music Man by Meredith Willson may have been seen as a comedy against/towards the 1920’s. I believe that Willson mocks the 20’s for its delicate nature of being so reserved and subtle where in the 60’s things were fiery and the media was out there with music, news, love, war, drugs and the Beatles. Her message may be to show a comical and liberal sense of the medias control over society of how it all began or of how it is now.

Would the Beatles made it Across the Universe J if corporate media wasn’t involved ???

2012-01-30T18:26:00.000-08:00

What is popular culture?

I believe popular culture is a type of Phenomena that is spread by various corporations that tell us what to like. This is a Fad does not last a long period, but can be repeated throughout time in society. My favorite fad is the sleeveless Bubble jacket, it just keeps reappearing. Released sometime in the 70s and every decade it becomes popular again. I’ve never owned a sleeveless jacket myself so I’m unaware of its benefits; but apparently people enjoy buying them. One fad I do wish was over very soon is the Kim Kardashian reign. Their reality show is interesting and I understand why its so popular for many reasons that I will not list. However, they are somehow sending signals to society of what is popular. Their ways have caught eye to many women where replicas can be seen walking at the malls, driving around and at grocery stores. This is due to the various types of Media signals of how we are told or shown how to speak, walk, dress and even eat; along with numerous things that we may possibly not be aware of because it has become a part of mainstream Society.

COOL THEN... & COOL NOW???