FORE! : How Saudi Arabia is using golf to change its image

 It is no secret that Saudi Arabia does not have the best track record when it comes to human rights, the whole world knows it. Like many of their gulf neighbors, Saudi Arabia is attempting to use sport as a way to change the international and internal image of itself. They are using the billions of “blood money” dollars to lure some of the world's best golfers away from the already established and prestigious PGA Tour to their own LIV Golf series as a form of “sportwashing” and to help change the narrative of their nation. This attempt, as outlined in this New York Times article, is the most bold of any of the gulf nations as a way to sport wash people from viewing Saudi Arabia as a human rights disaster to a more “conservative muslim nation” that backs and particpiates in world sport. What makes this attempt so bold is that instead of backing a sport or like its neighbor Qatar, hosting a FIFA World Cup, they are attempting to completely take over a sport, one that has its own controversial history with inclusion and diversity. 

The attempt to overrun the historical white elitist sport of golf (which the PGA Tour has had its own struggles rebranding itself as a more diverse sport) and upsetting the nearly one hundred year PGA Tour system of professional golf is by far the boldest attempt yet by a middle eastern nation attempting to change their image. The emergence of the LIV Golf Series and the departure of top PGA players to join them for reported absurd amounts of money, have all raised the questions and concerns of the LIV Golf motives and then also the history of the PGA Tour and how it has historically treated its players and its lack of equal opportunities to those of color. 

Despite the LIV Golf Series gaining traction and more players resigning from the PGA Tour to join LIV, it really hasn’t changed professional golf yet as still the majority of the world's top players continue to play for the PGA Tour. And with every player that joins LIV they get grilled by the media about Saudi Arabia’s history of human rights violations and whether or not they condone it because of the money they are willing to accept from them to support this PR movement by the Saudi Arabian government. So, at least right now Saudi Arabia is not being left off the hook for backing LIV golf as currently people see through it. But as more and more players jump ship over to LIV and they play more and more events, especially when the start to play events in the US starting in July, it will be interesting to see just how effective this “sportwashing” can be and if it truly does change the narrative of Saudi Arabia.

The Office: A postmodern take on documentaries

 For this week I watched a video on how The Office is an example of postmodernism popular culture. The video discusses how the show's style of a mockumentary as well as the current pop culture references within the show are what make it a postmodern example. The mockumentary style is a style that is hyper aware of the documentary style of filming, as the video explains with the classic cuts to a solo headshot interview and the one camera following everybody around to capture what the characters are doing as if it were a documentary despite it being a scripted show. She explains that what makes the mockumentary postmodern is that it is a “rearticulation of a documentary. It copies the style of a documentary… chronicling a real story, the mockumentary takes these ideas and adds ironic and humorous effects.” She then goes on to add that in show references to current popular culture things like Battlestar Galactica and another NBC show airing on the network at the same time The Apprentice are more ways in which the show is hyper aware of itself and uses these current pop culture references for humorous effect.

From this video I learned how a mockumentary setup is an example of a postmodern example and what about it makes it an example. How taking the documentary style of shooting a show and adding that ironic and humorous twist is what makes it postmodern. It’s also really cool to see how the mockumentary style became such a popular style of show during the mid 2000’s with The Office and Modern Family, two of the most popular shows were cut in the same style, one being in an office setting and the other the other being in a family home setting. It goes to show just how popular of a format that it is that two of the most popular television shows running at the same time are shot the same way, just with different personal settings. 

Within the show, as I kind of touched on earlier, they are hyper aware of their pop culture status and make intertextual references throughout the show with other references to pop culture items. For example one episode is about Michael being the Willy Wonka of paper and gives away three “golden tickets” to give away free paper for a year to the lucky recipients. Of course with the shows ironic and humorous twist on things, it all goes horribly wrong and we as the audience get a laugh out of the that, already knowing the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is what makes The Office an example of postmodern popular culture.

The Golden Arches: The gateway to democracy

    

    McDonald’s is an American icon, with those unmistakable golden arches raised to the sky to lure passerbys to stop and enjoy something to eat. While it’s literal meaning is to symbolize McDonalds, its larger meaning is that those two golden arches are the symbol of democracy and the American ideology. Here in the United States, we don’t think much about the significance of McDonalds and how the big mac can have such an influence and be a symbol of our way of life, but it does. One of the first things to be introduced into a communist nation when the American government and that nation's government are at peace and have agreed on trade is the implementation of a McDonald's franchise. Existing in China, Russia, and yes even in Cuba, the golden arches of McDonalds are the symbol of the American ideology and the infiltration of our democratic ways into these communist nations. 

Like, it is hard to believe that a fast food restaurant and their logo can have that deep a meaning and symbol for the rest of the globe. I found it really interesting diving into symbolism and meaning behind logos of corporations and how in our culture we use some of those for different meanings than how they were originally intended. The McDonalds one stood out to me the most because of the global scale that the McDonald's Corporation is on and how often it is the first sign of American influence overseas in other nations. Like the golden arches are so iconic that they are tied to almost a type of American imperialism, but of ideology and values. I think it is very rare to see a corporation like McDonalds be so closely related and identified to a country and its ideology like they are with the United States, forever being a staple in our culture and a beacon of democracy and American ideology all over the world. 

Coca Cola: The American staple of beverage

     Coca Cola is an American staple in the soft drink game. Created in 1888, Coke has only seen subtle changes in its nearly 150 year history which has made it a global sensation and an anchor of consistency throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. That does not mean that Coke hasn’t rolled out different variations of itself to try and attract more buyers, creating different flavor variations such as cherry coke or vanilla coke, or even marketing itself as a diet beverage for those who still want to enjoy a Coke but not at the expense of their weight with Diet Coke and Coke Zero (referring to the alleged 0g of sugar). This type of constant consistency combined with slight variations in flavor has created an almost cult-like following around Coke has some people refuse to drink any other soft drink that is not a part of the Coca Cola family. 

    Like I mentioned in the opening paragraph, Coke has not changed much throughout its history. Its formula is a secret and its signature glass bottle has only seen minor tweaks since it was first put on shelves. In addition to some added flavors for variation, in 1985 Coke wanted to better rival its main competing company in Pepsi by changing Coke's formula slightly to make it sweeter like Pepsi. This New Coke, as the Coca Cola company marketed it failed miserably, with people rushing to take the last of the original Coke off the shelves and the masses to demand that they go back to their original flavor that created this “fandom” for nearly a hundred years at that point. Coca Cola listened and since has only released slight variations of its original recipe always keeping the original available at abundance to sell. 

    As was demonstrated by the near New Coke disaster for Coca Cola, the pseudo-individualization of Coke is a constant in an ever changing world. My feeling is that people cling to the things that they know and are comfortable with, and the fact that Coke has not changed in 150 years is a fact that people take comfort in. It is the same beverage that they enjoyed as a child and it has never changed. You can still get Coke in that slim glass bottle, which has become an icon across American pop culture for its appearance. Coca Cola has become an American staple with its consistent taste and appearance.

Peering through the male gaze of the damsel in video games

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6p5AZp7r_Q&list=PLn4ob_5_ttEaA_vc8F3fjzE62esf9yP61&index=1

“Tropes vs Women in Video Games: Damsel in Distress”

In this video it is part 1 of 2 in looking at the cliche video game plot of the damsel in distress as well as a brief origin and influential areas into how it was incorporated into video game culture. She starts off the video by talking about this great game that no one got to play that featured a female lead character battling her way through the story. However before the release of the game, the developer kept the same story in place but re animated the game over to have it be another installment in their franchise with a male lead and the original female lead (Krystal) being now reduced to a non playable character as a damsel in distress for the main protagonist to save. The video does a great job of discussing some of the origins of the damsel in distress trope like coming from the 1933 movie King Kong which inspired the Donkey Kong games and hence the damsel in distress in that game. 

This video has definitely made me more aware of how prevalent the damsel in distress is as a plot line in video games. A lot of times while playing these games it’s not really something I think about, but it is a fair critique of how overused it is in the gaming industry. It was also a great explanation into understanding where the damsel comes from and how it is a translation from an old french expression that we have “stolen”. As well as how the damsel in distress can be traced all the way back to Greek mythology with the story of Perseus and then carrying through the middle ages with tales of Knights going on quests to save mistresses to prove their bravery and chivalry. It was all great background into better understanding how the damsel in distress role isn’t anything new or specific to video games, but is a larger plot line for several different mediums of pop culture throughout human history.

This video was another great explanation into the “male gaze” aspect of video games and plot lines that was also outlined in Robin James’ article from this week about how the “male gaze” is in film, this shows how it is in video games. It shows it, by how female characters in popular games such as Super Mario Bros. are not playable but are instead the target or object by male protagonists for saving which for all these types of games portrays to, as she says in the video, the male power fantasy. Which comes back to how video game plots are told through the eyes of male audiences and oftentimes reduce female characters down to nothing more than objects/desires to their male counterparts and male players.

Soaring to new heights

 Race and ethnicity play a major part of our pop culture, especially in film or TV. A lot of the time, minorities in these shows or films play a stereotypical role based on their race which has led to stereotypes about people in our society. There are instances, especially more recently in the 21st century, of these types of stereotypes and racial roles being broken in TV and film. A great example of this would be Sam Wilson (Falcon) from Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The show does a great job of applying a possible real world scenario of how a Black superhero could be treated by society and also how Sam breaks through all of the subtle racism and stereotypes to become the next Captain America.

The show has numerous scenes in which depict how Sam, who has done everything right, is treated by society. Despite being an Avenger and saving the world several times, he is refused a bank loan to save his family business and it is heavily implied that the reason the bank will not approve the loan is because of his race. There is also another scene in which Bucky and Steve are arguing in the middle of an urban street about Sam giving up Captain America’s shield to the US Government, and two police officers pull up and are ready to arrest Sam until they realize who he is. They continually ask Bucky if he is alright and if he feels threatened, to which he shuts down. Then at the conclusion of the show, the US Government doesn’t want to give Sam the shield and the identity of Captain America because of the perception of Captain America being black. Despite all of that racism working against him, Sam defies it and takes ownership to the Captain America title becoming the face of American military might.

This character is portrayed to defy previous stereotypes about black Americans and black superheros. He breaks through that Uncle Tom type stereotype and instead pushes the boundary for what a black superhero can be by becoming Captain America (Black-face.com). He does this by being proactive and vocal on where his standing should be and how he deserves the title of Captain America and the shield as Steve chose him to be his predecessor. At first he gave into the wishes of the white generals by handing over the shield and feeling as though he is not worthy of taking on the mantle of Captain America. But throughout the show he finally realizes that becoming Captain America is his true calling and to not just settle for being who he is as Falcon but to be more.

A Look at Reality TV in our Culture

 https://thehornetonline.com/2020/03/06/reality-television-is-destroying-societal-values/

The article above gives its opinion on why reality television is ruining American societal values. The author makes some good points on how reality television portrays only a small glimpse of reality and promotes “irresponsible behavior, unhealthy relationships, and degradation of family values”. They talk about how directors and producers of these shows need to fill a typical 44 minute time slot and edit down all of this footage to tell a narrative and create drama and excitement which in turn has created that negative influence on societal behaviors. Americans view shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians as a glimpse into the life of luxury when all it really does is stimulate those negative behaviors they portray.  

The article is making a mass culture theory argument by taking the stance that reality television is worthless in our society because of all the negative themes and actions that shows highlight and promote for their viewers entertainment. It goes into how the influence reality tv has on the masses has created a culture that enables bad and confrontational behavior. The author’s views on reality television would indicate that they believe that reality television is below us and that it should have no value in our society as it only has a negative and manipulative effect on those who are fans of it, warping reality of their viewers into believing that is either the life of luxury or that is how everyday people should be living/dealing with relationships. 

I wouldn’t say that reality television is completely worthless or doesn’t have a spot in our popular culture, it does show a gateway into people’s lives. Being exposed to the public eye can be comforting for people if they see someone they idolize going through a hard stretch of times and coping with that if they are also going through some hard times as well. Feeling that human connection that how they are feeling is normal and that they are not alone. For me, reality tv has its value in the emotional connection with people. So while I do agree that reality television does promote poor behavior and not an accurate portrayal of reality for the average person, there are aspects of it that can be taken away and do hold some value to its viewers.

The Hidden Cowboy

 Our depictions of cowboys riding on horseback going from town to town to bring order to a orderless place, isn’t always the indicator of a cowboy being present in different ways than we’d expect. For instance, look at The Mandalorian from Star Wars. That entire show is essentially an unconventional western with a space take on a modern day cowboy.

So, what makes Mando a cowboy? Mando is a guy that sticks to his creed, it’s what guides him. He travels from frontier town to frontier town on these desolate planets to carry out bounties, but always ends up with him weeding out corruption or taking on an external threat to the towns people. He’s tough and rugged, and speaks very little. Being that ultimate “man’s man” is an important characteristic in being a cowboy, never being scared to stand up for what’s right and abandoning their moral code when they come across people in danger and in need of help. The Mandalorian has episode after episode that showcase Mando’s willingness to stand up for what is right and be this traveling hero from town to town, never staying long but making an impact and imposing his order on those that are taking advantage of small towns people.

There are several aspects to this show that connect it to a typical narrative of being a western and/or a cowboy story. Specifically to The Mandalorian he falls under that wanderer type of cowboy where he doesn’t seek out trouble but rather always seems to stumble into it. Now I know that he is a bounty hunter, therefore he technically is always searching out trouble, but pretty much all of the encounters are not from the bounty he is seeking but from another source of wild west behavior from the town or village he traveled to. When he shows up in these places he finds himself having to defend the people from different types of gangs or monsters that have been terrorizing these people, restoring order where there was none. The Mandalorian isn’t your typical western and Mando your typical cowboy, but they are very much a part of the genre with typical portrayals in untypical settings, making it a unique yet familiar watch.

Moving the Chains: Why Football is a part of our Pop Culture

     The NFL has become so popular among the american population, that as Will Smith says in the movie Concussion, "the NFL has taken a day of the week from the Church." So what is it about football that attracts so many people to it, and makes it a staple in american pop culture? 

    Football today is somewhat of a modern form of the gladiators of ancient roman times and people seem drawn to the grueling, physical aspect of sport. People like violence, they're curious about it. It's why crime, murder mystery TV shows are the most popular and horror movies and video games have such large fan bases and also why rubbernecking after a small fender bender on the highway creates a two mile long traffic jam on the other side of the road. People naturally love violence and are drawn to it like moths to a lamp, so it shouldn't come to much of a surprise that the most violent sport has the largest influence. People love to watch the big hits safeties deliver on wide receivers who dare run over the middle of the field, or running backs running over a perusing defensive back on their way to a score. 

    The NFL has also done a terrific job of marketing itself as being a once a week event, so fans feel like they can't miss a game because they only play once a week. The limited games and regionalized teams bring a sense of community around teams and their fan bases. For 1 PM games fans show up as early as 8AM to start tailgating in stadium lots and make a party like atmosphere before the football even starts and bring people together. Even for those fans who don't travel to games, most people get together with friends and family on Sundays to watch their favorite team play and make it a big social gathering once a week. The community and togetherness around football is what brings people together around it. Because of schedule of 1 game per week, people bond and spend time with each other around it and even for those who don't necessarily enjoy the sport, enjoy the social aspect that comes with football games and being with friends and family. 

Volcano Weekly Ledger (MODULE 7)

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn93051027/1855-10-27/ed-1/seq-2/

My favorite piece I read is the one I wrote about the most in this post. It is from a publication named the Volcano Weekly Ledger, comes from a town aptly named Volcano, and was published on the date of October 27^th, 1855 in the state of California. Going into reading this I have not heard of the town named Volcano and was not sure it still existed today. Lo and behold it still exists today with a population of 115 according to the 2010 census. Before finding out the demographical information of this town, I was intrigued as to why they did not seem to have any information on historical events and instead seemed to be paragraphs upon paragraphs on conversations/hearsay. When they mentioned apologizing for their family being sick and not getting the paper out on time, that is when I became suspicious of the population size. The part about Volcano being a “one-horse town” further confirmed my suspicions.

The year 1855 was smack dab in the middle of when the newspaper business really made its mark on reporting key and important events. About a decade beforehand the first eyewitness account of American wars was being published and reported. While that is important history, this article seems to be talking more about meaningless events such as juggling and a conversation between a mother and someone who knows, not is, Benjamin Franklin. This newspaper claims to be a neutral paper, which by all means it completely is. It is not really giving information on critical current events and so can not really give a bias towards them. However, that is if we go by our modern terms on what qualifies as an important current event. We do have news sites that give trivial information and could be seen more as sites to find quizzes that tell you “what Harry Potter character you are”. While the article “Newspapers and the Press” by David Jamison goes over the historical achievements newspapers have accomplished, it shows us humans have not really changed over the years and we are entertained by meaningless distractions that help us navigate through the day to day. We are born on this Earth and all we do is wait. We wait in lines, we wait to have fun, we wait for death, so coming up with meaningless distractions is really all we have.