Assignment 5-1

Skateboarding has gained much popularity in recent years. A 2002 study by American Sports Data estimated there were 18.5 million skateboarders worldwide (Skateboarding, 2010). The sport has continued to grow in popularity with the development of new material and equipment as well as the creation of thousands of skate parks worldwide. The sport has been popularized in movies like “Gleaning the Cube”, “Grind” and “Lords of Dogtown”. “Transworld Skateboarder “ and “Thrasher” are two magazines devoted to the sport. Today the sport even hosts professional skaters with corporate sponsorships and June 21st each year is designated as “Go Skateboarding Day” by manufacturers and suppliers. There are several skateboarding video games available for X Box, Wii, Play Station and Nintendo game consoles.
The board itself has evolved tremendously since its early beginnings when skateboards were mostly homemade creations built from pieces of roller skates and wood. Skateboard manufacturers began using lightweight plastics in the 1970s along with purpose built wheels made of polypropylene. Later, aluminum and fiberglass were used for increased strength. These improvements made possible many new tricks for the skateboarder. The strength and abrasion resistance offered by the manufacturers allowed skaters to perform jumps, aerial maneuvers and to slide along curbs, handrails and such. As a certain degree of difficulty is mastered, the hardcore skater seeks new challenges. This quest resulted in the use of empty swimming pools with curved walls and bottoms to develop new tricks. There are now purpose built structures in skate parks worldwide specifically for skateboarders to hone their skills or emulate their favorite professional.
Skateboarders were initially seen as a nuisance riding their boards on public sidewalks and streets. Skateboarding was banned for a time in Norway for fear of injuries. Popularity eventually won favor as municipalities began constructing and maintaining skateboard parks to get them off the streets and sidewalks. It appears as if skateboarding will remain popular in near term.
References:
Skateboarding (2010). Wikipedia. Retreived June 21, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboarding

Assignment 1-4 Week4

The internet café is a popular cultural phenomenon which has gained an amazing worldwide following. The internet café is generally a small public gathering place which has computer terminals for internet access. The first internet café was begun in San Francisco in 1991 (Wikipedia, 2010). It began as a small chain of coffee shops with computer terminals where those without home or business computer or internet access could go to conduct research, business or for personal use at a reasonable cost. The internet café provided web access to those who otherwise could not afford computers of their own or where internet service did not exist.
The cafes were first popular with students who already gathered at coffee shops to socialize and study. Cafes continued to gain popularity with the expansion and growth of the internet and now most provide wireless access for visitors who now carry laptop or notebook computers with them. The internet café concept has spread to other countries worldwide where they are gathering places. Businessmen in Third World countries use them for business when they can’t afford an office and don’t want to bring clients into their homes. In countries like China they provide primary access for those in areas where there would otherwise be no availability (BBC, 2010).
The cafes abound in the U.S. but popularity has begun to wane due to the almost universal availability of internet access in homes and businesses. Many have now adapted into the video and computer game arena. High speed access and gaming computers allow visitors to connect with other gamers around the globe for multiple player games. The cafes have helped introduce the world to the internet. They will continue to grow and adapt to the needs of society.

References:
BBC. (2010, January 6). Around the world by internet café.Retreived June 12, 2010 from http://www.pri.org/science/technology/around-the-world-by-internet-cafe1818.html
Wikipedia. (2010). Internet Café. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_caf%C3%A9

Assignment 1-3

Supersizing America: Fatness and Post- 9/11 Cultural Anxieties compares vulnerabilities created by the culture of fast food consumption to weakness in America following the events of 9/11. The article is based heavily on the John Spurlock film, Supersize Me, but often refers to writings such as Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Aimed at the public in general, the review is of particular interest to those who is concerned about the potentially unfavorable effects of fast food and anyone with an interest in the benefits of good nutrition.
The central theme is the vulnerabilities caused by overindulgence in fast food create weaknesses primarily in the adult American male who is seen as the protector. His body is observed softening and weakening throughout the film as he consumes only fast food. This softening and weakening is compared to the softening and weakening of the defense capabilities of the United States as a whole leaving it vulnerable to economic and environmental threats as well as another terrorist attack (Journal of Popular Culture, 2010).
Focused mainly on the detrimental effects of John Schlosser’s 30 day fast food odyssey, the article makes many cultural, religious and social references to obesity. Schlosser’s fast food adventure begins showing him as a healthy, American male and follows his change in lifestyle for one month as he consumes only supersized fast food meals. As a result, he gains 25 pounds during the month and is in poor health. This is an exceptional contrast to the current reality shows like The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover where the participants already have an overweight or cosmetic condition which is remedied on the show, Spurlock creates the fat unhealthy condition through the course of the film through unhealthy eating habits and then reverses the condition through diet, hard work and exercise.
The article proposes that since Spurlock was able to change from thin and fit to fat and unhealthy that anyone should be able to accomplish the same results through will power and favorable practices. The majority of Americans are overweight (CDC, 2010) and the trend continues. The author compares the overweight condition to America’s overindulgence in other areas. It alleges that the tendency to overeat is the basis for overindulgence in the choice of cars, houses and the corporate takeover of the world. The article emphasizes hard work and exercise as remedies for the overindulgence in unhealthy fast food. The author also examines the difference between the unhealthy, lethargic lifestyle to that of the dieter whose practices eliminate the need for compensation by never having practiced the overindulgence in the first place.
The article throws a Christian religious twist to the story by comparing Spurlock’s sacrifice of his previously healthy body to the suffering of Christ and his sacrifices for the sins of others. The tendency to eat fast food is considered sinful while embracing healthy, organic food and exercise as acts of redemption.
There is a comparison of good health, healthy, organic eating habits and attractive looks to good citizenship. The author suggests that healthy habits and thinness equate to a person being a good citizen in that the healthier condition eliminates the public burden caused by poor health. There is less need for public assistance and medical care for those who practice a healthy lifestyle versus those who overindulge eating fast food and acquire the resulting health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Recent medical research and social awareness most likely support this premise but the decision to observe a healthy lifestyle is ultimately a personal one.
The overindulgence and overweight conditions in America are seen as symbolic of greed and bullying by Americans. Though the article is verbose and riddled with complex phraseology, there are some good points made. The conclusion is that the tendency to overindulge and become more powerful in all aspects of American life is also the ultimate cause of weakness and softening of Americans.

References:
Bailey, C. (2010). Supersizing America: fatness and post 9/11 cultural anxieties. Journal of Popular Culture, 43(3), 441-462.
Center for Disease Control. (2010). Obesity and overweight, data for the U.S. Retrieved June 10, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm

Assignment 3-1

What is the fascination with reality television? Survivor is one of the better know reality shows today. It is filmed in exotic, remote locations throughout the world. The players are stranded in some remote locale and must survive there. The show features a collection of players from very diverse backgrounds brought together and divided into two or three opposing teams. The teams are required to perform various tests of skill with the winners receiving some type of reward and the losing team being forced to vote off members. Eventually, as tier numbers decline, the teams merge and the elimination continues. The sole survivor receives $1,000,000. That doesn’t sound very realistic for a reality show. Big Brother is another reality show where a group of strangers come together and live in a large house for several months. Cameras placed inside the house record all the activity inside. It highlights the interpersonal relationships and conflicts which develop among the contestants. The list of shows goes on, Temptation Island where married contestants were placed into tempting situations with single members of the opposite sex presumably to test the strength of relationships. The show was cancelled after two seasons. Perhaps there was a little too much reality.
More than 51,000,000 people watched the first season finale of Survivor (Nielson, 2000). Reality television shows have continued to gain popularity and there seems to be no limit to what can be made into a television series. Survivor provides unique scenery and exotic locations while others offer large mansions or travel. They all have some kind of monetary reward for the winner.
So why do people choose to watch reality shows that aren’t very realistic. Viewers are able to identify with the some of the participants which are presented as regular people. The diversity, social and economic backgrounds of the players give the audience a sense of realism and they appear to be just like everyone else. (Reiss, Wiltz, 2004). Everyday life can be boring and mundane. Viewers can feel emotions through the players. There is a sense of being there through the weekly show. It allows the viewer to escape from his or her everyday reality vicariously through the participants.
References:
Reiss, S., Wiltz, J. (2004). Why People Watch Reality TV. Media psychology,6, 363-378. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Neilson Ratings, 2000
“Survivor” logo downloaded from http://vectorlogo.blogspot.com

Assignment 2-1

I chose the pop singer Michael Jackson for this week’s analysis. Michael was born in 1958 and grew up as a member of the Jackson 5 family act. While still a member, he also began his own solo career in 1971. In his career he holds the Guinness World Record as “Most Popular Entertainer of All Time”. He has more single hits than any other male artist in the “Top 100” era and sold an estimated 750 million records in his career. He has been called “The King of Pop” (Jones, R., Brown S., 2005) since 1989. His outrageous stage costumes have influenced clothing designers and his dance steps have inspired other entertainers. His shows have included spectacular special effects and extreme dance moves. He has performed all over the world. All this has made him a popular cultural icon for more than 30 years. Michael Jackson died in 2009 of cardiac arrest but his popularity and music will continue. Along with his accomplishments as a musician and showman, he definitely represents America in the eyes of the world. In my travels I have seen numerous images of Michael Jackson in some of the most remote places on the planet. In Afghanistan, one of the more charismatic local national contractors who did business on the base chose “Michael Jackson” as his business alias. He knew the importance of having his customer identify with his name.

Reference: Jones, R., Brown, S. (2005) Michael Jackson, the man behind the mask: an insider’s story of the king of pop. Select Books.

Assignment 2-2
The three contemporary icons I chose for this week’s assignment are Elvis Presley, The Grand Ole Opry and Rocky and Bullwinkle. An icon can be a visual representation of an object or event or even a feeling. I chose these three because they are each rather unique in what they represent.
Elvis Presley symbolizes the beginning of rock and roll music for the masses. There had been other rock and roll musicians before him but Elvis broke away from these suit and tie wearing musicians with his extreme hip gyrations and outrageous showmanship. His performances blended aspects from many styles and ethnicities during a time when racial segregation and prejudice were the norm. Musical performances would never be the same. I grew up with his music and Elvis passed away while I was in High School. When I hear the term Rock and Roll, I think of Elvis.
The Grand Ole Opry was my second choice because it is considered the home of Country music. It is actually the longest running radio show in history. There has been broadcast from several locations through the years and its current home is the Grand Ole Opry House in downtown Nashville, TN. Rarely is the building shown as a representation of Country music, more commonly seen are performers on stage during a show. Membership in the Opry is considered success in the world of Country music. Though I don’t really listen to the show, it represents a type of music I enjoy.
The third icon is the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon show. The series only appeared in two versions from 1959 to 1964 but has been seen by several generations in re-runs and new productions. The first shows were more than just cartoon entertainment for children having been based on the concept of good and evil. An interesting thing about these early shows was the Cold War undertones. All the villains had had names like Boris and Natasha, commonly used Russian names. The villains always worked for the Evil Empire, a term later used by President Reagan in a 1983 speech to describe the Soviet Union. There is no way to know if this was the intent but this one kept me fearful of Russians into adulthood.

The popular culture artifact I chose is Harley Davidson. The Harley Davidson brand name is found throughout modern society not only in the United States but in many other countries as well. Harley Davidson has attained a following which is present in almost every occupation and income level. The name Harley Davidson or the simply abbreviated “Harley” is recognized as more than just a brand of motorcycle. For some, it is lifestyle. Following World War II, Harley Davidson was the preferred motorcycle brand of motorcycle clubs and was associated with outlaw biker gangs of the ‘50s, ‘60s and into the ‘70s. Musicians, professional athletes, actors and others capitalize on that bad boy image to help establish their own. The signature V-twin engine found on nearly every model of Harley Davidson has been copied by many Japanese motorcycle manufacturers in an attempt to capture a broader market. Though, in many cases, technologically superior, the copies have not effectively taken market share from Harley.

References:Brown, R. B. (2005). Profiles of popular culture. Madison, WI. : The University of Wisconsin Press

Assignment 1-2
Pop culture is the sum of whatever beliefs, practices or traditions which define a group of people. Pop culture is constantly changing and evolving based upon current needs or wants or simply by what is considered acceptable by a society.
I have recently returned from an Islamic country with an extremely rigid cultural base. In casual conversations with local nationals, I was told on several occasions Americans have “no culture”. Arguments to the contrary were pointless since there was no convenient way to alter this opinion. The statement did cause me to consider what exactly makes up the culture of the United States. In an isolated area in eastern Afghanistan, there is little opportunity for travel or exchange of information. It was basically a closed society with very strict cultural expectations. Pop culture in this area is simply whatever has been the tradition with little change over time.
Modern information systems and our highly mobile society have provided cross cultural opportunities causing rapid changes in American pop culture. Today there are few areas where cultural traits cannot be examined and evaluated. An understanding of pop culture and what influences it is important in business and education since it helps to understand motivations and values. Today there are few areas where cultural traits cannot be examined and evaluated.