Weekly Analysis 5

This week I am discussing the current 'formula' used in the crime and CSI-type shows. After reading the key points for Mod 5, I found myself thinking about the way that today's detective shows have a newer, but over-used formula. On the old "Columbo" shows, the viewer always knew when he was talking to the guilty person at the end because he would say, "one more thing, Mr. ....". This was the fomula followed in that show. About 18 years ago, when Law & Order became popular, it was a new idea to have a twist in the plot right at the end of the show. It kept the viewers on the edge of their seats. Now, almost 20 years later, this seems to be the formula followed. It would be silly to turn off CSI: Miami 5 minutes before the end because you just know something else will come up and change the outcome of the case. On some shows, like The Sheild, they have interestingly reverted back to the cliffhanger endings that were so popular in the 50's and 60's with the Batman and Superman shows. This seems to be the 'new' way to get the public to tune in for the next episode. It is compelling to think about how these formulas, just like everything else in our culture, seems to go in and out of style.

Assigment 1-3 Article Analysis

In the article, “Don’t ask me, I’m just a girl”: Feminism, Female Identity and the Simpsons, author Matthew Henry (2007) takes on the task of interpreting The Simpsons with an emphasis on the feminine roles portrayed there. This publication is geared toward the academic side of popular culture, looking at the everyday events and going beneath the surface to uncover how these things reflect our culture. This article, for example, draws out the feminine and feminist issues discussed on the popular Fox Network cartoon, The Simpsons. It is intended for an audience of women, talking about the different roles that Marge Simpson, Lisa Simpson, and Selma Bouvier play as a mother, wife, friend, employee, sister and woman in this long-time running show. It may also draw in hard-core Simpson fans who are interested in any insider information on their favorite show. It also analyzes Homer, the near-Neanderthal husband of Marge’s and father to Lisa and how he treats the women in his family to illustrate the role he plays in how they think of themselves, whether good or bad.
In the beginning of the article, the author goes into some length describing the relationship that Marge and Homer have. He discusses the dynamics of their marriage. They seem to have a good relationship but in two back-to-back episodes they both involve themselves in some almost extra-marital affairs. In one of the episodes, Marge is gifted with a bowling ball that Homer assumes is going to soon be his because a woman has no place at a bowling alley. Marge takes offense and decides to keep the ball and get lessons and is then wooed by her bowling instructor. She almost has an affair with him before deciding to go back to Homer and her children. In the very next episode, Homer is seen dancing with a stripper by his son, Bart, and after being admonished by Marge, voices his surprising admission that although women can drive a man crazy with their bodies, they are not objects but someone’s daughter, sister, or mother. The Simpsons seem to be full of these odd little remarks on the state of the popular view. Henry also discusses the fact that it is a team of male writers that tie in these feminist views to the dialogue.
Henry goes on to analyze the character of Selma Bouvier, Marge’s sister. Selma is described as the more emotional and needy of Marge’s sisters (she also has a sister named Patty). In one of the episodes, she is shown searching for a mate and even decides to have a baby via artificial insemination. This, the author explains, is the show’s writers making a statement about the comments that then Vice President Dan Quayle makes about the also fictional character of Murphy Brown. He states that an educated and successful woman having a child alone ridicules fathers everywhere. Another point made about Selma is the sexist attitudes she faces when posting a clip on a video-dating club. Henry argues that our culture puts too much attention on the way a woman looks and not what is in her mind or heart.
The last feminine character that the author discusses is Lisa Simpson. She, he feels, is the ultimate feminist. There is no confusion in her mind about what she is. She is a staunch believer in woman’s rights and they illustrate this numerous times on the show. In one episode Lisa, a fan of the Malibu Stacy doll (a representation of Barbie), goes to the store for the release of the newest talking Malibu Stacy doll. To her disdain, the only sayings that Stacy utters are very sexist, such as, “I wish they taught shopping in school” and “don’t ask me, I’m just a girl”. In broaching this subject, Henry is connecting the real-life issues surrounding the “Teen Talk Barbie” that was introduced not long before this episode was aired. He reports that the doll said things like, “Math class is tough”. He goes on to describe Lisa’s attempt to design her own feminist doll and the town’s disinterest in it, instead buying another Stacy doll with an updated hat.
The style that the author brings to the page is notable. He links so much of what is seen on the popular cartoon to current events. He makes connections from the show and also ties in quotes from other feminist writers to illustrate the climate of our culture’s stand on feminist views and femininity. By integrating the show into his writings, he brings interest into the subject.
As a pretty traditional-minded woman myself, I found this article to be very interesting. Although I am a stay-at-home mom who puts her family first, I am also working hard to complete my degree and I found the conflicts that face Marge very similar to my own. (I am not trying to relate my husband to Homer, though!) This article sends home the message that woman are not one-sided, they have many matters that pull them one way or another. It also brings up the idea that television shows like The Simpsons are one window into the soul of our culture.



References
Henry, M. (2007 April). "Don't ask me, i'm just a girl": Feminism, female identity and
the simpsons. Journal of Popular Culture, 40, Retrieved June 21, 2008, from http://proxy.ohiolink.edu:9099/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=24195726&site=ehost-live

Weekly Written Analysis 4

This week I am writing about the U.S. Open Golf Tournament and my example of a modern hero, Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods, the young golf phenom has seemingly done it again. This weekend at the U.S. Open, Woods (who played with a bum left knee) tied Rocco Mediate and they are scheduled for a playoff round tomorrow. Woods can be seen as a hero because he seems to have supernatural skills. Even with an injured left knee, Woods came out and bested almost every other player in the tournament. Most newcomers to the sport of golf stay in the limelight for a short time, a year or two. Tiger won his first major tournament back in 1997, more than 10 years ago and he is still going strong. I would say that Tiger is the future of the sport, he has the skill and physical ability to continue to be a champion for years to come!

Weekly Written Analysis 3

This week I will be discussing the news that J. K. Rowling will be auctioning off an 800-page prequel to the Harry Potter series for charity. The Harry Potter series of books are enormously famous, with the last of the series coming out less than a year ago. It seems that Rowling has more to say than the earlier 7 books have introduced, because she is writing again. Although she will reportedly only auction off the one copy, I personally hope that the buyer will eventually share the story with the rest of us.
These books are not only well-written, they also embody characteristics that most of the population can sympathize with. All the characters have weaknesses and this seems to make them seem more human. They also have the fantasy aspect to them and that seems to draw people in as well. This is why these books are such a hit with children and adult readers alike. I think that this is a great show of character for Rowling to donate such a great gift to charity.

Assignment 2-1

Wii Fit

The Nintendo Wii has had customers talking for a while now. Even though it first hit the shelves in late 2006, it was the "it" item to have for the Christmas 2007 season. It seems that Nintendo has done it again. The newest software for the Wii is the Wii Fit, a virtual workout done in front of the television with the Wii controller verifying your movements. This is Nintendo's second attempt at getting the gaming community up off of their seat and moving. The first attempt was in the 1980's, it was the Power Pad that two different players could run on and "compete" in different Olympic style events. This new workout game is geared toward a bigger audience and seems to be a better product. Time will tell if the Wii Fit will be a success or not.

Assignment 2-2, Contemporary Icons

For my three contemporary icons, I chose people with a knack for marketing - themselves.
Madonna, my first choice, is iconic for the many different personalities she has shared. She started as a tough Italian girl, was once an 'English Rose' and now at almost 50, once again, a sex kitten that most women in their 20's can't rival.
Donald Trump is my second choice for a contemporary icon. He has done and outdone himself numerous times. Every project he takes on seems to 'trump' his last. Once he made a name for himself as a real-estate tycoon, he moved over to television to prove that he can conquer any platform.
My third choice for a contemporary icon is none other than Martha Stewart. She embodies the American spirit with her business know-how and resiliency. She took a small catering business and made it into a billion dollar industry. She even used her time in jail to plan for her next big endeavor - a live TV show on Fine Living Network.
As I said, all three of my choices are great at marketing themselves. They all have worked hard to pursue their own American dream and know how to present that face to America.

Assignment 1-2

Popular culture describes the lifestyle of the masses. It changes as the trends change. This can be proved by showing almost anyone in the U.S. a picture of Brittany Spears. They will at least claim that they know the face, if not the name.

Having an understanding of pop culture is essential in business today because it embraces all of what America is today, right or wrong. If there is no understanding, then there can be no connection made with a client or co-worker.

An example of a pop culture artifact could be a DVR or digital video recorder. This is a good example because it illustrates how Americans expect to have the world. They even expect that TV will wait for them. Also, the DVR can pause live TV, so that no one has to miss the crowning of the new American Idol!