Journal Article Analysis

Children are fascinated with many things; from animals to toys, even many different types of television shows. After reading through a number of articles, one really caught my eye about a set of four animals, turtles actually. These turtles have been around since the early 1980's and were founded by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. While working in a seafood restaurant, these two men started drawing pictures of animals, some were turtles with superhuman powers.

Once published in 1984, the men wanted to maintain the presence of the turtles with a great store line. With this, they named these animals the Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles. With four turtles and a rat, the story line provokes the young mind by creating a story about four young turtles and a rat were exposed to radioactive waste (in New York City's sewers) which made them grow, walk on their back feet, speak, gain vast intelligence, and learn various martial arts. In addition, the rate that was also with the turtles at the time of the exposure also grew large and more intelligent. Also, since the rate was from a martial arts expert, he was able to train the turtles to learn more about the art of ninjitsu (Bisges, 2008).

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are mainly for children in grade school. Some of the antics include things such as 'kicking butt', eating pizza, and becoming shy around girls. Although the turtles have been around some 25 plus years, they are still popular in today's time. In addition to the original comic (1984) and movie (released in 1990), the turtles have been in a sequel (The Secret of the Ooze-1991). Even though the turtles have seen their fair share of the spotlight, people could not get enough. At one time, there were action figures and sets, home decor, cartoons, and also clothing, all representing the turtles and their adventures.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a classic example of good versus evil, were good always prevails. The turtles are subjected to a variety of adversaries and always end up on top. Through their adventures, the turtles are able to fight the evil clan people called "the foot" and their leader who they refer to as "Shredder" (Database, 2010). With all of this excitement, the turtles want nothing more than to protect each other, their mast sensei rat named "Splinter," and eat as much pizza as they can.

The article brings about more than just ninja fighting turtles. The more you read into the article, the more you can understand that these turtles are into protecting others against harm. They treat the rat as if he were family, and demonstrate courage to face their enemies and fears. I feel that the movies, cartoons, and comics help children to do just that; protect your family and face your own fears. With the assistance of Eastman and laird, the turtles come to life through various ways, including the big screen and the television screen.

As the turtles continue to dominate the sewers and any evil which passes by them, we are reminded that is is important to protect people, especially your family. Keep your friends close and depend only on those you trust. While doing so, be yourself and face your fears. It is easier to conquer your fears once you have faced the reality of what they are and how you can overcome them.

References:
Bisges, J. (2008). Turtle Power!: How Four Mutant Teenagers Nuked the Entertainment Industry. Journal of Popular Culture, 41(6), 918-933.

Database, T.I. (2010). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100758/

Petracca, M. & Sorapure, M. (2007). Common culture: Reading and writing about American Popular Culture. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Weekly Written Analysis 5

Whether you like Taylor Swift or not, she is considered one of the most recognized young pop music artists of the year. Swift slowly started to become popular when she released her song "Tim McGraw" in 2006 that went multi-platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (Fabian, 2010). This pop star began her career as a country singer, creating new songs with a pop/country take on each song. Slowly her songs became more than country, they started airing as pop and general pop, and her new releases can be considered either, depending on which radio station you tun into. If you turn on a pop radio station, you will surely hear one of Swift's songs.

Growing up, Swift was a victim of bullying and attempted to find a way to express her emotions without hurting someone. Finally, she learned to play the guitar and started writing her own songs. These songs were about her emotions and things which were going on in her life. With this, she turned her bullying life into music that expressed everything from love to hate. If you listen closely, all of her songs are about something in her life, whether if was good or bad. Swift one stated that "if you listen to my albums, it's like reading my diary" (Hirschberg, 2009).

People in today's society have mix feelings about Swift's music; either you like it or you don't, there is no middle. The extremely personal nature of the songs have drawn people to liking her and her music because they can relate and it doesn't matter what generation they come from. People feel that since Swift can express her feelings into music (unlike them), they have been drawn to her lyrics and how she expresses her emotions. On the flip side, those who doe not care for Swift thinks she is overrated and not as good as what others say, including the critics. Some even think that her songs should have stayed country and never become pop music.

Whether you like Taylor Swift or not, she has entered the pop world and her music is hitting record highs. She is one of the most popular singers, song writers, and even actresses of today, as she has even had a role in Valentine's Day along side Jessica Alba and Kathy Bates. Swift has made her way up the music billboards to be where she is now and people in society are helping her continue on her career path to the top. On October 25, 2010, Swift released a new album called 'Speak Now', and is said to be the biggest sold albums in opening weekend of this year in the United States and creating new records (Scott, 2010).

References:
Fabian, S. (2010). Taylor Swifts Biography. Retrieved October 27, 2010, from About.com:Country Music. http://countrymusic.about.com/od/taylorswift/p./taylorswift .htp

Hirschberg, L. (2009, December 3). Little Miss Sunshine. New York Times. http://nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06well-swift.html?hp.

Scott, K. (2010, October 27). Taylor Swift Speak Now Album: Taylor Swift Creating Records. Retrieved October 30, 2010, from Star Celebrities: http//www.starcelebritys.com/2010/10/27/taylor-swift-speak-now-album-taylor-swift-creating-records.

Weekly Written Analysis 4

As the months pass on, so does life. Since it is October, we celebrate National Brest Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) as we have for the past 25 years. In today's society, we are faced with many difficult decisions and news about various illnesses is in abundance. Cancer is becoming more prevalent and people are dying at younger ages. One of the most talked about and discussed cancers is breast cancer, with an estimated 192,370 new cases is expected this year alone (Organization, 2010).

Since this is a current pop culture topic, there are many avenues to this disease. From information to statistics, breast cancer is a topic which every woman thinks about at one point in their lives. Although there are an estimated 2.5 million survivors, there are a number of people who do not make it. Moreover, this disease is not picky; it affects both men and women.

Every year throughout the United States, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure makes a difference. There are races, fund-raising evens, and partnerships that are led by the sister of Susan G. Komen, Nancy G Brinker. She made a promise to her sister that she would continue the fight against breast cancer, even though her sister Susan could not. After Susan's death at the age of 36, Nancy continued her promise that she made to her sister and started a foundation raise awareness so that others could live. Nancy started the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Since 1982, Nance has continued to support her sister through her will power and dedication to overcoming this harsh disease. "Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world" (Cure, 2010). As the race continues, so do the donations as the foundation continues to create new ideas to bring about awareness to everyone.

Each year, Columbus hosts the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, as participants from all over the country gather in the streets of downtown Columbus to race for the cure. The participants pay an entry fee and are provided with a shirt and a race number. Even though many people consider this a true race, it is more of a race for the ultimate cause, a cure for breast cancer. Since each participant pays an entry fee, most of the proceeds go to fund breast cancer research and each participant can also donate more to the cause, above the race entry fee.

Since many people know a little about breast cancer, there is a need for donations to continue the research. The Susan G. Komen foundation is only one of hundreds who are striving to fund the research. One of the most important quotes that Nancy G. Brinker said was "could one person really make a difference?" (Cure, Susan G. Komen's Story, 2010). The answer is simple, yes; everyone can make a difference no matter the donation. It could be in form of money, volunteering, or even becoming an activist.

For more information about the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, visit www.komenoc.org/ or http://ww5.komen.org/default.aspx.

As many people have heard breast cancer is suddenly being heard of more and more now days. A popular celebrity, Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. Once she found out she had breast cancer, she did something about it and came public about her breast cancer to raise awareness to everyone in the world. Christina Applegate is now an advocate for breast cancer and is helping others who struggle with this cancer. Another great example would be Heather Pick, a news anchor from 10TV Central Ohio news. Heather struggled for years with this cancer battle. Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and beat the deadly disease, but then in 2005 the deadly disease suddenly returned and claimed her life in 2008. Heather fought a great fight and brought many awarenesses to many people watched the 10TV news. As many know, there is now a special team set up as 'Heather's Team" for the race for the cure Susan G. Komen's race in Columbus, Ohio. Many people have joined her team and run and walk with pink wigs in memory of her. Just to name one other hero that has raised awareness to breast cancer and lost her long battle is Stefanie Spielman. Stefanie lost her battle to breast cancer in 2009. As awareness for breast cancer increases, so will the lives in which will be saved.

References:

Cure, S.G. (2010, October). Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Our work. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from the Susan G. Koman for the Cure: http://ww5.komen.org/AboutUs/OurWork.html

Cure, S.G. (2010, October). Susan G. Komen's Story. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from Susan G. Komen for the Cure: http://ww5.komen.org/AboutUs/SusanGKomensStory.html

Organization, N.B. (2010). Disease Information-Breast Cancer. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Organization: http://www.nbcam.org/disease_breast_cancer.cfm

Weekly Written Analysis 3

As reality television shows become more of an interest for many families, people are drawn to drama series just as much as comedies. In today's pop culture, people still watch MTV (Music Television), but not for the music videos from times ago. From teens to middle aged adults, people are drawn to some of the shows, one including Teen Mom.

The MTV drama unfolded a little over a year ago with four couples who were pregnant and expected their first child; life as a teenage mother. As the show continued on, each of the women made different decisions based upon where they were in life and what would be the right decision for their family. In addition, one of the four mothers and fathers decided that an open adoption would be the best fit for themselves and their new child.

People are drawn to the drama which unfolds each week. From the fights which the couples get into to the arguments which they have with their parents, people want to see what they are going to do next. This is true with popular culture; people are curious of who is going to snap, who is sleeping with whom, and who is and is not marrying this week. From stereotypes to rituals with each family, society is following them each and every step of the way. In addition, tabloids do the same things as the shows on television, but more of an 'in your face' as you check out at your local supermarket.

Last week, Teen Mom was on the cover of on of the tabloids as I checked out at the grocery. It stated that Teen Mom followers wanted to see more and know more about the mother's lives and what they are doing now. The way our culture is now, people are more interested in someone else's lives than they are of their own. Turning into the show assists us in relating to these teens as people want to see how they can relate in their own (viewers) lives. As drama unfolds, people are there to see what happens and where life takes them, both positive and negative, and the maturity level they initiate as they grow into loving parents.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - Journal Article Analysis

Keeping up with today's times are hard, and oftentimes expensive. Looking back at all the technology 'stuff' that I have bought over the past ten years sends my stomach into a rotation of utter dismay. Take for instance DVD's; I have bought over 300 movies on DVD over the past decade. Glancing back on this, as new formats have abruptly appeared, it would appear that in the near future, non of these will play in anything. As digital formats and Blu-Ray disc have emerged, regular DVD's are on a slow decline in sales and the new configurations of home movies are beginning to boom.

After reading a recent editorial, it is a very true that I am not alone. Many people who invested in things such as "vinyl records, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, and CD's" (Hoppenstand, 2008), assisting in boosting the economy, but underestimated the long term impact of their decisions. People buy electronics such as games, music, and movies based upon impulse. The way I feel is that ten or twenty bucks is not going to financially strap my family for something that I really want and would love to own. This is certainly a way to look at other things too such as plants for the house or the yard; people want their homes to pretty and nice and spend money on plants which will last a couple months. Some people even pay to have this done, spending money on things which are for today and possibly gone tomorrow.

Reference:
Hoppenstand, G. (2008, June). Editorial: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow. Journal of Popular Culture, pp. 369-370. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-5931.2008.00535.x.

Culture & Society: Interactioni - 1800's MUSIC

AMAZING GRACE

1.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.

2.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

3.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brough me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4.
The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.

5.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the viel,
a life of joy and peace.

6.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
that when we first begun.


Reference:
http://gbgm-umc.org/disc/poems/amazing.stm

Weekly Written Analysis 2

An iPod is a music storage device which stores music, movies, photos, and other items within a small case to fit into a pocket. When the iPod first came out, Apple (the manufacturer for the iPod and iPod Nano) came up with a slogan in 2001 to market their new music machine. The slogan was powerful enough to send millions of iPods into the hands of consumers all over the world. As Apple stated, "1,000 songs in your pocket" (Frommer, 2001), the interest in the petite electronic device soared.

Once iPod created a name for itself, Apple went on to develop even smaller iPod items such as the iPod mini, iPod Nano, and now the iPad. Each of these items has created such interest that Apple marketed them worldwide. As other mp3 manufacturers struggles to keep up, Apple continues to raise the bar and add things such as a built in radio and also built in camera.

The iPod Nano has been around for almost six years, redesigning the way consumers listen to music. Designed to hold music, movies, and photos, the Nano is one of the most sophisticated music devices of the time. The small, but sleek design attracts many people and the variations for colors can assist a customer in choosing the right color which matches their personality. Every two years, Apple (the creator of the iPod) comes out with a new design and color combinations for their products. In addition, the company also re-evaluates the memory size based upon customer needs and feedback.

In addition, the new and current Nano is half of the size of the last model and is square. On September 1, 2010, Apple unveiled this new iPod to the public. The latest Nano weighs less then 3/4 of an ounce and is available in seven colors. Since the company is all about efficiency, they removed the built in camera and people who have cell phones have a camera built in, Apple manufactures decided to allow the consumers more space internally for more music. This is a great gadget for people who on the go and want to take their music with them. In addition, since Apple has become a household name, it is easy to find compatible items to go along with any of your Apple items.

References:
Apple. (2010, October 9). Apple Inc. Retrieved October 9, 2010, from Apple Inc: http://www.apple.com/

Frommer, D. (2001, October 23). Business insider SAI. Retrieved October 9, 2010, from The iPod's Amazing Evolution: http://www.businessinsider.com/ipod-evolution-2010-9#oct-23-2001-1000-songs-in-your-pocket-1

Petracca, M. & Sorapure, M. (2007). Common culture: reading and writing about american popular culture. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Icon Analysis

There are a number of great contemporary icons of today's time. A few of these would include Micky Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, and also Big Bird. Mickey Mouse has been a household name for more than 80 years. His creator, better known as Walter Disney, created Mickey Mouse as an inspiring airplane pilot. As times changed, so did Mickey Mouse's character into a lovable, free-spirited cartoon. When Winne the Pooh was created, kids were able to associate bear as 'loveable and huggable'. Associated with Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin also became a name which was often linked with Winnie. Lastly, Big Bird was created by Sesame Street in 1969. The television show aired in homes across the country for toddlers and young children, which showed a large (8" tall yellow bird) who sang and taught children the alphabet.

Each of these icons has had an important role in teaching children may things. The icons have been around for a number of years and two were the creation of Walt Disney, one of the most recognized people of the twentieth century. Growing up in the 1980's, I watched the Mickey Mouse club and dreamt of one day being on the show. I watched Big Bird on Sesame Street and felt as a part of the cast as I acted out the alphabet with Big Bird singing with me. And as of Winnie the Pooh, I loved reading about him and his adventures with Christopher Robin.

As each of these icons have played an important part in my learning and also creating an ability to play without care, and dreaming of sunny days without clouds. Reading more intensely about Winnie and the journeys with Christopher Robin as I watched what they would get into next. Lastly, I chose Mickey Mouse since I always believed in what he stood for and the good natured charm that he possessed. One day, I will make it to Disney World and have my picture take with one of my favorite childhood icons.

Each of these characters has played an important role in my life. From reading about the various adventures, to wondering what will Mickey do next, each icon demonstrates a different time within my life. With the history of these characters and how I associated them with my life, it will be something I will always cherish and pass on to my children.

Picture References:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/moviemom/mickey-mouse-10.jpg

http://alwaysanimated.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-pooh-for-you-by-john-lassetter-too.html

http://www/.heatingoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/big-bird.jpg

Weekly Written Analysis 1

A current pop culture topic which interest me would be Facebook. Facebook is a social networking website that is geared towards meeting new people, re-connecting with old friends, and keeping in touch with those who are in your inner circle of friends. It is a great way to see what people are doing and also play games with others who may be half a world away.

Launched in February 2004, Facebook was founded by a college student (Mark Zuckerberg) at Harvard University (Wikipedia, 2010). He, his roommate, and several other computer science students created this website for the university to assist in learning. Zuckerberg's main objective was to connect students with classes and be able to post blogs at anytime from anywhere.

The original plan was to make Facebook accessible for only Harvard students, however many other universities and schools became involved. As of July 2010, there were a reported 500 million users worldwide. However there are limitations on who can join the social network. Some of these limitations include that the user must be over the age of 13 and not be in or from several countries including: Pakistan, Syria,, Vietnam, Iran, People's Republic of China, and also North Korea (Wikipedia,2010).

I was a little surprised to see that there were limitations to who can use Facebook, especially with the understanding of how America utilizes freedom of speech. Since Facebook is a way to express your feelings and beliefs, anyone should be able to use this informational tool to connect with others from around the world. On the other hand, it is quite possible that these countries will not allow their citizens to exercise their rights, or it may be illegal to use any social networks in other parts of the world.

As far as social networks are concerned, many people throughout the world have concluded that Facebook is a great way to make personal profiles, 'add' people as friends, send messages, update your personal status, and also post different things which you are doing at that very moment. A user can also join other networks, including places such as schools, workplaces, and groups. Facebook's mission is "to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected" (Facebook, 2010). This is a great way to summarize what Facebook is trying to accomplish, and with over 500 million users, it would appear that they are doing a great job.

References
Facebook. (2010, September 30). Facebook: Detailed Information. Retrieved September 30, 2010, from Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/facebook?ref=pf/r.php?local=en_US#!/facebook?v=info*ref=pf%2Fr.php%3Flocale%3Den_US

Wikipedia. (2010, October 2). Facebook - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved October 2, 2010, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook

What is Popular Culture?

Popular culture is anything that is 'hip and now' in today's time. I see popular culture as a display of what people are interested in and how people perceive them. There are many items associated with popular culture and some of which are able to be touched while others are in a form of sound or even written.

Since times change daily, so does the meaning of popular culture. Something which is in demand today may not be as popular tomorrow, or even a month from now. In a business form, take for instance the Ty Beanie Babies; at one time, these bean-filled small animals were in such high demand, people were willing to shell out big money to own one. Today, from a business objective, Beanie Babies would not be something to invest in or even be associated with due to the lack of interest.

There are a number of attributes which could be associated with popular culture, including a variety of children's toys such as the Beanie Babies. This would be an artifact that would be considered something of past which is just that...the past. Beanie Babies were very popular in the early 1990's and phased out within 10 years of becoming a multi-million dollar company. You can still find these items, however they are not as popular nor is the demand as critical as it once was.