Written Analysis 2

Influence of Tabloids on the Public

When it comes to tabloids, there are many factors that give insight into why the public is so affected by them. First, the theory of stereotypes.  When it comes to Hollywood, New York, or even Nashville, there are immediate stereotypes that come to mind.  For instance, when I think of L.A. I immediately think of glamorous celebrities, fancy cars, castle sized mansions, and unfortunately drugs.  

Why do I have this stereotype?  Partially because of what I have observed over the years and partially because of tabloids and the stories they put out there.  While I do not personally read tabloids anymore, I do watch E News and other well-known celebrity gossip/tabloid shows.  These go hand in hand in my opinion because they all give us a peak at the "real lives" of these celebrities that we so desire to know more about.  

The show Nashville is a good example of stereotyping.  Last season there was a story line that had the main character, Juliette Barnes, stray from country music and head toward L.A. and the pop image that comes with it.  She immediately gained criticism and doubted her decision due to the strain on her personal values and standards.  This is a prime example of the the difference in stereotypes between Nashville and L.A.  Tabloids and country radio make country music and its stars appear to be more wholesome, grounded, and talented.  We often see country stars at home with their pets or riding their four-wheelers while we see California stars partying at nightclubs and receiving DUI after DUI.  The stereotyping is not just for television, but it is a reality in today's culture.  

Insights gained from applying these theories are that it is wise to evaluate the things we see, hear, read, etc. because it does persuade our views on people and places.  Being mindful of what we observe and what we perceive is crucial as well.  We may perceive something to be a certain way, but only out of our judgments, not out of truth.  Seeing something personally is different than hearing about it and believing it to be truth.  Even though stereotypes are real and here to stay, we can still change the way that we react to rumors in order to stop the cycle of negative stereotyping.

Written Analysis 1

Influence of Tabloids on the Public

            When it comes to tabloids, there are many ways to apply myths, icons, and popular beliefs.  It seems that no matter how much we, the general public, are told that tabloids are fabricated stories much of the time, we still cannot refrain from reading them.  Why is this?

Icons

            The first reason that I see as to why the public cannot seem to put tabloids down is because of how we’ve made celebrities into icons.  Rather than see them as normal people, we put them on pedestals and feast on the gossip that the tabloids provide about them.  When someone seems untouchable or unreachable, our only way to learn about them and feel close to them is through tabloids and such.  Icons are often not to be messed with, such as a fancy car or jewelry.  That is how celebrities are in many eyes.  They are off limits to the general public and therefore, tabloids are all we have to gain insight into their mysterious lives.

Myths and beliefs

            In addition to making them icons, many have succumb to the idea that celebrities are better than the rest of us.  There is the belief that these “icons” have something that we do not have, the American dream perhaps.  We want what they have, but we cannot achieve that level of success.  Buying into this idea only feeds the need for information from tabloids.  The concept of myths definitely gives insight into why the tabloid industry has had such success.

Insights gained

            Prior to evaluating the theories above, I had wondered why the tabloid industry has such control.  It seems to feed people and their need for gossip, insight, trends, and more. I personally have wondered why people put so much weight on the words and pictures of these magazines, but after reading about these theories it is clear that there are some things that are engrained in us subconsciously which drive our desires and decisions. When people will realize this and abandon the desire for more gossip is beyond my knowledge, but if history sheds any light on the subject, I will not hold my breath.

Contemporary Icons

Icons-Past and Present

There are so many icons to choose from, so to narrow my selection of the three most notable or memorable icons for me right now, it is hard.  I chose Ronald McDonald of McDonald's Restaurant, Beyonce Knowles, and the Bible.  

Ronald McDonald has been the well-known face of McDonald's Restaurants for decades and I would bet that there are very few people over the age of one that do not know who he is when they see him.  There is something about that face and outfit that screams childhood, fun, and unhealthy food.  I chose this icon because no matter how much bad press the company receives for not meeting the expectations of every health-conscious American, it will still remain a go-to spot for on-the-go eating, family dining, and childhood memory recollection.  

Beyonce Knowles began her career as a member of the group Destiny's Child and quickly rose to fame within such group.  However, she truly made a name for herself when she debuted her album 'Dangerously in Love' in 2003. Future roles she would take showed her range with singing, acting, and dancing.  She truly is the triple threat.  I chose her as an icon because she knows how to use her assets to gain traction and promote herself well.  She is known for her well choreographed shows, amazing vocal range, and overall sweet appeal both in person and on stage.  

My last icon is the Bible.  This is a personal one for me since I am a strong believer in Jesus Christ.  This is not an icon of religion to me, but rather, a way to know who Jesus was and still is to all of us.  Many in society look at the Bible as a piece of history while others see it as nothing but fabricated stories.  The reason this is an icon is because no matter what one's belief about the Bible, almost everyone knows what it is and what it holds within.  You do not have to be American, Christian, Catholic, or Muslim to know what this book is which makes it a pretty significant icon in my opinion.

References

[Photograph]. Retrieved from http://hornsports.com

Beyoncé - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9

[Photograph]. Retrieved from http://Thebibleworkshop.com

Pop Culture HUMN240

What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you?

Pop culture is a main influence in today's society.  According to Petracca and Sorapure of our Common Culture book, pop culture encompasses the most immediate and contemporary elements in our lives. These elements are often changing, yet they bring people together (2012).

What this means to me is that there are many elements in today's society that influence me and the world around me.  For instance, we have cell phones, computers, magazines, and more to access the latest popular changes in our culture.  Pop culture is the most recent and relevant thing in society in my opinion.  

Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?

Understanding pop culture is crucial in business, especially in my soon-to-be field of public relations, because knowing and understanding what is going on in the world around us is how we relate to others.  Anyone in business needs to know the needs, wants, and interests of future clients or public in order to successfully meet the needs of each one.  Understanding where people are headed in terms of cultural changes is important in predicting the future market no matter what field you are in.

What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?

My artifact is the cell phone.  While I understand that the phone itself holds no importance in terms of education, it is the things that can be accessed by it that make it an important pop culture artifact.  Pretty much anything new and current can be accessed via the cell phone such as news, blogs, tabloids, Facebook, weather, and more.  This makes it a pretty important piece of pop culture.