Hegemony & Sex in Popular Culture

I was reading an article in last week’s New Yorker and it reminded me of  the topic of hegemony and the back and forth negotiations between the general public and elites. The article was on the Hays Code, a guideline which dictated how much sex could be shown and discussed in movie during the 1930’s. Prior to the Hayes Rule movies were generally more open about the topic of sex and contained “sardonic bluntness” and “suggestive dialog”. Some people were concerned about this and instituted a set of rules which Hollywood followed for many years. Sex was such a taboo topic that married couple were new shown sharing a bed rather they slept in separate twin beds. Movies would replace sex with jokes and the genre of the romantic comedy.  Later, in the 1952, movies became protected by the 1^st Amendment and as the rules loosened, sex in movies became more accepted (and probably expected) by the public. Movies would again treat sex as less of a taboo topic. As time went on the depiction of sex in movies and in popular culture in general has become pretty much mainstream. There have been time, though, over the years that the self appointed moral police has tried to scale back the amount of sex allowed in certain media. In the 80s Tipper Gore pushed for and got records to place warning labels on “explicit” record and the 90s Senator Jesse Helms tried to block funding to any art which he deemed immoral. This back and forth concerning the issue of sex in popular culture has been continually progress in the direction of less censorship.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/what-the-hays-code-did-for-women

http://www.publiceye.org/theocrat/Mapplethorpe_Chrono.html 

Strategic Butt Coverings - Tropes vs Women in Video Games

For our last blog post, I’m going to tackle Module 6's blog prompt which was to watch a video from the Feminist Frequency YouTube channel and discuss the feminist theory involved with the video. This video tackles the ways in which designers of games often employ camera angles and clothing choices as tools to deliberately sexualize and objectify female protagonists of third-person games. The video uses the game Tomb Raider as an example of this. This game is presented from a third person perspective where the main character, Lara Crofts butt is right in the center of the screen. Her sexualized clothing and the position of the camera orientation present a tremendous amount of emphasis on that part of her body. In Tomb Raider: Underworld Lara Croft is almost in nothing but her underwear.  In Batman: Arkham city, Cat-woman wears an unbelievably tight bodysuit, and has a dramatic his swing that also emphasis her butt. On the other hand, in these video games you could spend hours trying to get a glimpse of the male characters butts. They often have long coats on, capes, and camera angles that just do not allow you to get the right angle. The way women's bodies are depicted are significantly different than how the men’s bodies are depicted in games. The emphasis on female butts communicates to players that this is what is important. That this female character is a sexual object designed for players to look at and enjoy. When I thought back to the games I have played I realized how true this is. The female characters in games are so demandingly sexualized is horrible.

Module 15 Example: Open Option

PROMPT

This week's post is open subject.  That doesn't mean you can necessarily post on anything you want, but rather you should take a look at the different posts we have had throughout this semester and determine a previous prompt that you would like to have another go at and write a second entry on that subject.  

Be sure to:

1. Identify which prompt you are tackling (e.g. "I'm going to tackle Module 3's blog prompt..."). 
2. Follow the original prompt and hit all the points it is asking of you. 
3. Try to be more critical and in-depth than you were with your first post.

Relevant Labels/Tags:  any themes, theories, or content that is contained in your post.

In case you forgot the prompts for previous weeks, here they are:

• Cowboys
• Mass Culture
• Race & Ethnicity
• Feminism
• Frankfurt School
• Semiology
• Hegemony
• Postmodernism
• Comics
• Zombies
• Fandoms
• Consumerism

EXAMPLE

Since I'm asking for you to revisit a previous prompt, there is no necessity for an example.  However, if you want to see how I break down an image/symbol for meaning, you can visit my blog and check out my deconstruction of the Playboy Bunny icon.

Packages within Packages

Oreos, one of the popular snacks in the world, now come in packages of 2 or 3 Oreos and there are even individually wrapped Oreos. Whereas a regular traditional box of Oreos contains about 30 cookies, these newer products are basically packages within packages. These “convenient” packages are incredibly wasteful as within a large box there are 12 smaller packages; this results in more unnecessary waste material. 

The company is selling these individually wrapped Oreos as a great “on the go” snack and is marketing this product towards families with kids and anyone else who don’t have the time to place 2 or 3 Oreos in a reusable container. Apparently, the appeal, as this blog post I found which was sponsored by Oreos, points out, is the ability to quickly put these individual packages in a purse or to easily tuck them into the glove compartment of a car. The two packs, according to Oreo, are “perfect for a quick treat at work, running errands, carpooling to family activities or family day trips.” 

This new “upgraded version” of this product is completely unnecessary. The actual product is exactly the same, only the packaging is different. Reusable containers are perfectly adequate. It’s really just a way to for the company to try and convince consumers that this is an easier way to provide your kids with snacks and that you’ll save time doing it. 

#LEMONADE

After hearing Beyoncé’s new album #LEMONADE on Saturday I could not help myself but to run to the computer and write this blog post right away on it. #LEMONADE is causing a media frenzy. Let me back up a bit and discuss why that is. So Beyoncé drops her new album but not with only tracks, but with a VISUAL ALBUM. Let me just say it is AMAZING, but not everyone is thinking that. In Beyoncé’s one hour and 5 minute visual album she insinuates that her also famous husband Jay-Z has been cheating on her and in one of her songs "Sorry" she mentions a line saying "He better call Becky with the good hair." When Beyoncé’s "Beyhive" (name for her followers) heard this they went crazy assuming "Becky" was the girl he had cheated on Beyoncé with.  People did a little digging and started attacking another famous female Rachel Roy because they were sure she was “Becky with the good hair.” Now there are two reasons this is stirring up the popular culture world. 1) Because Beyoncé aired her husband’s dirty laundry out in her entire album plus dragged his mistress down too, and 2) People are not happy with Beyoncé’s strict focus on race in her visual album. Becky for one is a racist term for a white woman, which many people heaved Beyoncé for. In Beyoncé’s visual album she represents “the African American women in the American psyche” (Carpentier) but not just African America women she’s representing feminism. Beyoncé strictly uses African American woman, and southern locations to make her point. Many celebrities have given their input on Beyoncé’s new album so head over to twitter for some more opinions. Also if you haven’t heard it yet, I encourage everyone to go watch/listen to it and even give your opinions in the comments section. If you want to read more up on it below is a link to a website discussing how Beyoncé's Lemonade became a pop culture phenomenon.



http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/26/beyonce-lemonade-jay-z-becky-pop-culture

Plastic Cups, the epitome of waste

The American people have aimed all of their efforts at making products that are easy to use and inexpensive to purchase. One of the most wasteful products mass produced in American industry is plastic cups. Plastic cups are easy for parties and large gatherings because they are disposable and you do not have to clean them after the fact. These plastic cups are extremely wasteful though. The cups take an enormous amount of time to decompose and when burnt produce toxic chemicals. The cups have grown in popularity in today's culture because of the image of holding a red solo cup. Instead of just using one cup for drinking at a party, a party goer may use anywhere from 1-10 plastic cups depending on what they are drinking. It is extremely wasteful and a sleeve of 100 plastic cups can be used within an hour at a large gathering.
The plastic cup has gained its popularity from the "red solo cup" image, and the image of being a party cup. Everyone wants a red cup when they are drinking alcohol. Videos like this, are often used by companies to connect with the youthful consumer base. In this video, Hefty is advertising their party cup with a mom using terms that are common with teenagers. The Commercial also states the cups are "crack resistant" trying to make their product more appealing to the consumers. The plastic cup phenomenon became huge when song writer and artist Toby Keith came out with his hit song "red Solo Cup".  The song is all about a plastic "red solo cup". The song suggests that you do not know how to party or have fun if you do not use red plastic cups. Media like this have entertained the idea that plastic cups are needed at a party. It makes more sense just to use one cup and wash it after but the American people have this idea that they need to look cool at parties with their plastic red cups.  

The production of a product like this is harmful because they make things so much easier on the consumer but so much more difficult on the earth. The cups are used and disposed of at an amazing rate. There is no need to use 100 cups at a party with 15 people but it happens because people are lazy. they do not want to wash dishes so they would rather buy plastic cups and just throw them away after one drink.          
 

Links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMcHB6Y5QVA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68
Pic:http://blog.catchmyparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Solo-Banner1.png : http://nationswell.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/3637758402_0246a4099d_o.jpg

Module 14 Example: Single-Waste Coffee

PROMPT
Explore a mass-produced product that has been created nearly entirely for simple consumption.  Examine one or more advertisements/commercials for this product and explore how the company presents it as a convenience, an essential to daily life, or something you just have to acquire. 

If you need help with some examples, you might find them here:

• 25 Wasteful Things You Can Live Without
• 10 Things That are Super Convenient but Also SUPER Wasteful
• 13 Products That Are Unnecessary and Wasteful

In your blog post, explain the following:

• What is the mass-produced item?  Explain what it is and how it is wasteful.
• Link to or embed at least two examples of this product being sold. 
• Explain the ways in which the product appeal to audiences.
• Identify problems with the production and selling of the good according to the material from this week.
  

Relevant Labels/Tags:  consumerism, mass production, waste, [product you are discussion],

EXAMPLE

The rise of Keurig cups and machines in the last decade has been a disappointing surprise.  I was fascinated by the proliferation of coffee shops (namely, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks) since the 1980s, but while they don't seem to be stopping any time soon, we also see a growing abundance of Keurig machines.  For those who aren't familiar, there are small cups filled with concentrated coffee and coffee grinds that are popped into a machine that will generate a cup of coffee.  Basically, each small plastic cup generates one cup of coffee.  If you are like me and drink way more coffee than you should (some days, I may hit 6-8 cups), that would mean 6-8 plastic cups that are off to the garbage dump (note:  I don't use Keurig cups, I cold-brew my coffee in 1-gallon batches with minimal environmental impact).  Thus, the waste factor for Keurigs is pretty significant.  Never mind that these packets come in packaging when sold in stores, they are single use-products that can easily accumulate double digit waste per person with a day or two. 

What's interesting about the Keurig is that it pulls in people on two fronts.  The first is the Keurig machine, which is a machine, like most modern machines, cheap and susceptible to breaking down (and therefore needing a new one).  There's also the Keurig cups themselves that one needs to regularly purchase.  Thus, the user is not just buying a singular machine, but ultimately subscribing to their wasteful product. 

In terms of their advertising, I submit the following images and conversations. 

Source

This particular ad not only encourages users to feel negative sentiment but seems to promise that they will save time by having a Keurig.  They will still have to wait in line to buy the cups every so often, which is something the ad seems to ignore.  More importantly though, it encourages the viewer to feel like 60 seconds is the only amount of time they need in order to acquire their coffee--but that's just the amount of time needed for the Keurig to make the coffee.  It doesn't take into account the buying of Keurig, the transporting and storing of the Keurig cup.  Nor does it consider the time in which you must retrieve each Keurig cup each day as well as get a coffee mug and eventually throw out the Keurig cup and wash the cup.  It's hinting at simplicity when in fact, it isn't. 

Source.

Why is coffee courage?  What is courageous about coffee?  As a stimulant, it certainly doesn't give you courage but somehow, writing it in a manner that makes one think of coffee and somehow implying that Keurig is the coffee cup of courage makes sense for this full-page ad.  If Keurig coffee is "courage", then what does it say that it is single-use and quickly disposable?

Shania Twain & Country Music

"Shania Twain Shakes Up Country Music." Mandrell, James. Journal of Popular Culture , October 2014, Vol. 47 Issue: Number 5 p1015-1029, 15p

Man! I Feel Like Woman. A profound statement, and probably one of the most popular country songs ever. In October 2014, the Journal of Popular Culture wrote an article titled, "Shania Twain Shakes Up Country Music."  In this article the author described how often country music has a degrading connotation towards women. Though it may not be outright in the songs, women are often portrayed as fragile and needing a man. Even female country singers portrayed themselves this way, until Shania Twain came along and came out to be a powerful women who often used men as props - as a gender role reversal. Though many country songs are meant to be patriotic, or have a "home grown", family value message behind them, Twain broke the mold by portraying sexuality in a majority of her videos. As the article states, "Twain’s first music video, “What Made You Say That” in many ways sets the tone for the image of Twain purveyed over the next decade.8 Twain cavorts on the beaches of Miami clad in a variety of outfits that all feature her curves and, in one instance, her navel. Yet she’s not alone; there’s a hunk, too, who appears with and without a shirt, always revealing his chiseled chest (Mandrell. James)." Her ground breaking videos didn't stop with the sexuality. In her, "Man! I feel Like a Woman" video Twain crosses the gender roles by dressing in a feminized version of a males suit. And it doesn't stop there. "That Don't Impress Me Much" continues to downplay mans role in a woman's life by saying their money and job doesn't matter. Though Twain seemed to blend these lines between male and female, sometimes even provoking the thought of homosexuality, she maintained her popular image within country and pop music.

Twain was able to break a gender barrier in country music. This opened the doors for today's female country singers to have a more powerful stance in music, and be the aggressor rather than a "passive female." Though the battle of woman being objectified in country songs is not completely over, there is a level of respect between the male and female artists and the gender roles have been somewhat muted.

Floss Picks

In the past couple of years or so floss picks have become widely popular in homes. Remember when we had just our ordinary coil of floss? We now have a new design and “fun” way to get kids wanting to floss more.  These floss picks, also called flosser picks are extremely wasteful because of the added plastic handle, not to mention these picks are only good for a one time use then you need to waste another one. Single use plastics are something environmentalists are trying to lower the numbers off everyday. Not to mention dentists are recommending using the old fashioned floss vs. the flossing picks.

Although this product is not ideal for the environment or efficient because of the plastic body, floss picks appeal to its audiences. The people using these floss picks see them as an easier alternative, it is much easier to reach the back of your mouth with these picks instead of regular floss and as many of  us know, most people choose the easier way out. Below are some recent ads from DenTek, a oral care company that produces thee floss picks.

As I discussed, the floss picks are a one time use, and often times you need more than just one floss pick during a single flossing time because of how little floss is actually there. So as soon as your done flossing, you end up having to run back to the supermarket to grab another pack and it turns into an ongoing cycle.

DenTek used men, in tough positions like enlisted in the army, or a martial arts fighter to get their message across. When you think of a floss pick you wouldn't really put two and two together but hey, to each their own. They could have been trying to make a point that even strong, tough, courageous men use their floss picks, and maybe if you use them you could be just like them. 

Lady Gaga and Fan Indentification

Click, Melissa A., Hyunji Lee, and Holly Willson Holladay. "Making Monsters: Lady Gaga, Fan Identification, And Social Media." Popular Music & Society 36.3 (2013): 360-379. Academic Search Premier. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

Melissa A. Click, et al. loos at fandom surrounding Lady Gaga. In exploring the relationship between Lady Gaga and her fans the authors draw from three areas of research: fan identification, monsters & the monsterous and the celebrity and social media. They also interviews fans. Fans, according to Click, et al., identify with Lady Gaga through her message of empowerment and self acceptance. The authors note the work of John Caughey in examining the fan and fan object relationship. Caughey writes that over time, fans will often incorporate a celebrity’s values into their own attitudes. With Lady Gaga many of these values are already present and are validated and strengthened by Lady Gaga’s engagement with her fans. Fans of Lady Gaga call themselves “little monsters” and consider Lady Gaga the “mother monster”. Perceiving themselves as outcasts, this is a way for fans to embrace their differences. Monster generally has negative connotations in our culture and this is a way for fans to own this word. With Lady Gaga as “mother monster” and protective mentor she becomes almost a parental figure further strengthening a fan’s identification with her. Click, et al. notes the importance of social media in the popularity of Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga is very active on social media and goes beyond the self-promotion of most celebrity’s. She often will interact directly with her fans, most often through twitter. She will respond to a fan’s artwork or cover of her song. This response to the interpretive aspect of her work allows fans to “see the real authentic person behind the celebrity.” This social media engagement with Lady Gaga “both enable and amplify” the identification fans have with her. 

I thought this article was very interesting in that the authors find a very strong fan identification when a celebrity validates their values, particularly when it is done through personal engagement on social media. This, they find, empowers the fan base. 

Masculinity in popular culture

I find I learn best about popular culture through YouTube videos. There are so many videos available involving popular culture and certain ideas that have to do with popular culture on the Internet. The video I chose to examine above is called, Masculinity in Popular culture. This video discusses how the men being portrayed in our sports games, movies, television is teaching domination and aggression.   The average young boy spends 40 hours a week watching television and 15 hours a week playing video games. All of the entertainment they are watching are portraying different male archetypes. You have the strong silent guy who is always in control, the hero type guy who is engaged in violence 24/7, the thug who is violent, and last but not least the “man-child” who is immature and funny. The video discusses how media images have an affect on these little boys who are watching these shows, movies, etc. Our young boys look to these men and think this is what they should be; how they should act, and how they should look. The men our children, brothers, cousins are watching are fictional characters that they should not look up too. Another thing the video discusses is the United States army's use of training some if their individuals for battle by video games because of the similarities. Should these little boys be getting ready for battle? The violence our male television characters and our video game characters show should not be available to our young boys. I recommend if you haven't seen the video "Tough Guise" to go out and watch it because it also touches base on this topic.