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.