Osama Bin Laden Is Dead

Osama Bin Laden is dead after 10 years of searching for him. The news talked a lot about people celebrating his death. I, however, am glad he is dead because of all the people he killed during 9/11, but I will not go out and  party or celebrate it. I understand why they would want to do that, but they are celebrating someone being killed. I quote that has been circulating around facebook and I think it fits what I am trying to say perfectly.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an

 enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." ---Martin Luther King, Jr.

I feel that the death of Osama is a big deal because it will impact Alkita greatly. At least I hope so. I know a lot of people are wary to believe that Osama Bin Laden is really dead, because they don't have proof. All we know is what our government tells us. Our government as we all know doesn't necessarily tell us everything, so whose to say they told us everything about Osama Bin Laden? 

What are your thoughts on Osama Bin Laden's death? 

The Internet (Learning)

The positive features of the internet with learning are you learn by teaching yourself and it is a skill that is always improving. You have to play around with the internet and see what works and what doesn't. It takes time, but eventually you'll find short cuts and new technique's. You will always learn something new about the internet. Even the smartest of people have not completely mastered the internet. The internet is constantly growing and developing. You can learn a lot from the internet, there is information everywhere. 


The negative features are obtaining false information and there is only one approach. For example: if you are trying to look up information on a topic and come across the website wikipedia.com, know that not al their information is accurate. In wikipedia people can change the information. It is meant for people to add their knowledge on a topic, but some people add false information to site. Wikipedia will change it back once it finds the false information, but there are a  lot people changing the information so it is hard for them to keep up with everyone. Bottom line don't trust what you read from the internet unless it is a reliable source. There is also usually one approach to working the internet. You might be able to find a way around something, but it usually more complicated. 

Avalanche Tour 2011

On Tuesday April 26th, 2011 I attended the Avalanche Tour in Waterloo, IA at Mcelroy Auditorium. The rock bands that played in order were Art of Dying, Halestorm, Skillet, Theory of a Deadman, and Stone Sour. I was very excited to see Halestorm, Skillet, and Theory of a Deadman. They were by far the best of the night, in my opinion. 


I'm not your stereotypical rock fan by far. I did however wear a black shirt if that counts for anything. I don't smoke, drink, or have any weird piercing or tattoos. Although there were tons of people there who did. There was people smoking everywhere, I hate the smell of smoke by the way, and everyone was crazy. My boyfriend and I were up in the big mass of people during the three bands I mentioned before. There was tons of crowd surfing, some people tried starting a mash pit and failed, and people were packed in like sardines. I like my personal space, so standing really close to a stranger wasn't the best, but it was worth it and made my experience that much better. I guess what I'm trying to say is some stereotypes are true, but not all of them apply to everyone. I don't think the crowd ever got out of control to bad. I did receive an elbow in the face, but that's just going to happen when everyone has their hands in the air. 


I thought is was really nice of Skillet to dedicated their song HERO to the soldier that just passed away that was from the Waterloo area. Below their is a video of that song if you care to watch it. 

   

Skillet had an amazing performance. Best of the night! What I love most about this band is that they have violins! I love the sound of violins! Their song Awake and Alive is amazing and you can really hear the violins playing. Not all rock bands have electric guitars and drums. They have different instruments also.


I hate it when people push their way through to get to the front. At one moment at the concert a man in the wheel chair was asking people to move so he could go to the front. That was fine, but my complaint is why did ten of his friends have to go with him. I'm only five foot four and couldn't see well either. Why did they get to go to the front because their friend was in a wheel chair? Even so I understand it sucks for him being handicapped, but it wasn't fair that he got to go to the front and I couldn't. I couldn't see well either. That sounds really petty, but it is true. I know exactly what my father would say to me right now, "Life isn't fair".  Sometimes I believe that people abuse being handicapped. I know that is mean to say, but it is true. 


Below are some more videos of bands that played at the Avalanche Tour. I loved the concert, it was amazing! 

   

Halestorm- Its Not You, Theory of a Deadman- So Happy, Stone Sour- Through the Glass, and Art of Dying- Die Trying.      

Coolness

Coolness to me is something or someone who goes against the social norm, but too crazy and either acts or looks unique and interesting. It would also be something i'd like to wear or do. 


Dictionary.com has a couple interesting definitions which are:


1.permitting such a sensation: a cool dress
2.unaffected by emotions; disinterested; dispassionate: Shemade a cool appraisal of all the issues in the dispute.
3.lacking in interest or enthusiasm: a cool reply to an invitation.


Chuck Klosterman uses three subjects to explain his definition of coolness. First he talks about calculated adult coolness. Which they choose their own personalized version of non populist cool and they try or plan to be cool. Secondly he talks about teenagers coolness. Teenagers avoid anything with being uncool. For example wal-mart clothes are uncool and aeropostal, american eagle, and maurices are cool. Lastly he talks about aging hipster coolness. They try to stay relevant by appreciating obvious youth culture. Chuck makes a big deal about exclusivity and how it is not for everyone.


Chuck and my definition are very similar in ways we both relate coolness back to clothes and style. Overall there are many different definitions of coolness, but the most commonly used is if someone looks or acts cool, hip, or the newest style.

Stars Wars v Twilight

There are a lot of similarities between Star Wars and Twilight. Our society was groping for a change and Twilight gave us that just like Star Wars did in the 1970s. Just like back in the 1970s another myth was put into the movie world. The world of vampires. Luke shares experiences with both Edward and Bella. Luke and Edward experience the struggle between good and evil. They both have mentors, Obi One and Carlisle. They both also save the girl too. Luke and Bella both start out being nobody, with insecurities, and are given an opportunity. They were also both adolescence's breaking through to adulthood. The point of both of these stories is the hero's journey. 


These films had a great impact on our culture. Star Wars showed that good is always on top and it shows traits that men should be like. The same as in Twilight Edward is a gentlemen and a good vampire since he only drinks animal blood. Edward shows traits on how men should treat women. There's a big mythical impact from both of these movies dealing with religion, excalibur, and warrior and hero figures. Religion is a big one in Twilight. Edward believes he doesn't have a soul. Excalibur is like the light sabers in Star Wars. The hero's journey is a big in both movies. 


Overall Stars Wars and Twilight are more similar than someone might think. 

Reality Television

Drama, romance, or action are a few reasons why people watch reality television. The objective in The Real World or Jersey Shore is to put strangers in the house and see what happens. Either the people in the house are fighting, partying, or just acting stupid to draw attention. People go on this show because of the fame, money, and fun. In all of these shows the people in them are in their mid to late twenties. They are also always very attractive and most of them are white, but there is usually one person is black or gay in every episode. What does this say about out culture? It says that if you are in that age group this is how you should act. But in reality you should act however you want. These shows are a sort of role model for people. This is what you should do, how you should act, or what you should wear.  Viewers also develop a view of postmodernism. Postmodern is the view that social and cultural reality of making up reality as we go. All in all television shows have a great influence on our culture. 

Country vs Hip-Hop

Country and Hip-Hop are both different and similar.

Hip-Hop is mostly about the lyrics and bass of the music. Hip-Hop is usually about the rapper talking about past experiences. Most of the songs are about dealing with drugs, guns, and violence. The problem with that is the authenticity with the rapper's experience. It is hard to prove that the rapper's stories are authentic. Hip-Hop began in the 1970s in urban New York. It usually found in poor communities and people used to get together and dance. Hip-Hop sells the celebrity lifestyle of women, violence and clothing style.

Country is real music. Meaning that the performers actually play an instrument and it sounds good. The lyrics in Country music are always clear and relatable which makes it easy for people to both understand and make sense of. Majority of the songs also tell a story. Country also has a problem authenticity. A lot of songs considered country these days are actually alternative country, which isn't authentic. The artists have to establish the roots and stay true to the source, which is hard for most artists. Why does country music sell? It is real music and people can understand the stories and relate to them. 

Video Games and Mash-Ups

The Sims. I personally have never played, but I have watched my friends play and get absorbed into the game. To create a fantasy life. Everything that you've ever wanted. Not having to worry about money or laws. You can do whatever you want. For once you get to play God. That power over a world of your own gives you a sort of high. That's why people get addicted to it, but they will eventually get bored. They've gotten everything they wanted, so now it isn't fun or empowering anymore. 

Mash-Ups. I haven't necessarily made a true mash-up before, but I have manipulated songs to make them sound different. I've ever done it for school projects. I had no idea that it was illegal. I guess it makes sense, but I just didn't know. To be able to manipulate someone's creation/work and make you own is powerful in itself. You are changing someone's hard work and commitment. They made it that way for a reason and then some amateur goes and changes that for their own pleasure. Artists probably get pretty upset about that... unless it brings popularity to the song. I'm sure they don't mind when their sales go up because mash-ups. 

OSCARS 2011

It seems to me that the point of the OSCARS is to find out the current drama and to see what everyone is wearing. Who do you think was best dressed? The OSCARS should be about the movies and the hard work to put into them.

How come we never hear about all the little categories? I don't even know what half of them are. There are so many categories, yet we only hear about a couple. Usually Best Actor and Actress and Best Film. The most unusual category that I hadn't seen or heard of one single movie was short films. I didn't even know they existed.

Another thing I don't like about the OSCARS is that it is the same couple movies in each categories, why not change it up a bit. I doubt that those were the only good movies this year. I had only seen one of the popular movies, True Grit. I really liked it too, but I saw some other ones that I really liked also and they weren't even mentioned A couple of the other popular movies were King's Speech, Black Swan, Toy Story 3, Inception, 127 Hours, and The Fighter.

I heard there was some complaining about the hosting. How do you think Anne Hathaway and James Franco did? Personally I thought it could've been better, but I didn't think it was horrible.

Masculine and Media

Men are always linked to violence in some way. All boy's are raised that way. Men aren't wimpy, scared, or emotional, they're confident, strong, and will do anything to protect themselves. One way to show that is through sports. Boys are told to be tough and just push through the pain and to win at all costs. They're sometimes told to hurt other players on purpose. Men are told not to show emotion. And if they do that means they're weak. So men put on this "tough guise", meaning to act tough and confident, so others wont bother you. A good example of tough guise used in everyday life is jocks, or most jocks. They act all tough and strong, yet behind the scene's they're really insecure about themselves. 


The media has made it hard for men to come out of their shells. In a lot of movies, books, and TV shows the men are always muscular, tough, confident, and show no fear. It makes it hard for men to be who they are. If men do not have this "tough guise" then they are considered weak, sissy, or a fag. You can see in the picture how superman's image has been changed over the years. Notice how much more "masculine" he looks.

This is what are men have to look up to. They want to be exactly like him, which means putting on a disguise. I'm not saying we should get rid of super heros, but maybe they could make the hero cry every once in a while or have weak moments. Show that not everyone is perfect. 

Masculinity in American Sports

When I think of masculinity or being masculine, I think of an athletic, toned, good looking, and passionate man. Being athletic is almost always associated with being masculine. Why is this? Does our culture believe that you must be athletic to be a man?  I believe it is a huge stereotype that men are forced to meet. In football the men are huge, basketball they are tall and muscled, in  baseball they are all sizes, and soccer they are usually short and stocky. Football and Baseball are the more popular sports in America. They are seen as manly and almost mean. We compare sports to the military. In times without war we use sports as our dangerous and manly thing to do. Being in the military is what we consider masculine because they are risking their lives to save ours. All in all being masculine is a stereotype we put to things such as sports and military. When women are in sports and military are they considered masculine?

Favorite Reading

I found the Why Don't We Like the Human Body by Barbara Ehrenreich the most interesting, because I never thought about the types of things she talked about before. She brings up that we have abused our bodies through sex, murder, and food. At first I thought she was nuts, but when I looked further into it she was right.

Our society has an addiction to violence and horror. Her argument is that the horror movies now show that we have some to hate the human body because of all the gore in the movies. People still go and see the movies because they like that it is not happening to them. Or are they really just mad that they don't have the perfect body, so they like seeing the human body tortured

.

Sex was once considered as a thrill and now it is deadly. Viruses can be spread through sex and kill someone.

Food ruins are bodies. Obesity is a huge problem and only growing. Now we can't eat for pleasure, only to stay fit and healthy.






The main point that she comes down to is that we need to treat our bodies well.  Her information is informative and valuable. It opens our eyes to look further into why we do the things we do. 

Ideal Beauty

Advertising affects everything about how people imagine ideal beauty. First of all we need to take advertising seriously. Ads sell values, images, sex, romance, relationships, and more. More importantly they show who we are and should be. Ads tell us that the most important thing should be is how we look, which takes time, energy, and money. Men don't have to worry about such things. Their bodies are not scrutinized, so why should women's be?

With ads it seems like to be feminine is to be devalued. You see ads with women with hands over their mouths because it shows that women don't have a say. You also see older women dressed and acting like children in ads. The women are usually acting sexy while posing, meaning that innocence is sexy? Men on the other are always active in ads, while women are passive. What does this say about our culture? Does that mean that men are more dominant?  I don't think so! When women are not passive in an ad is usually involves race. So this means the level of dominance starts with white males, white females, and then black males and black females? Why do we always have to put levels or find out that is dominant? Can't we just all live together and not worry about things like that? I believe that it is impossible to accomplish.

Teens are seriously becoming effected with the advertising. Their self esteem is really low. They always think there is something wrong with them. I knew when I was a teen that I wanted to look perfect, just like the women in the magazines. Present day teens are becoming hyper sexualized, because of all the advertising. You always see beautiful women advertised everywhere, but can you really attain the ideal beauty. No, advertising makes it impossible to attain ideal beauty. Everyone looks different, so that means everyone will have a different quality that will make them beautiful. Every woman is beautiful in their own way, they just have to find it and not let others tell them differently. Perfection is impossible to attain, so don't try and attain it.

Below is a picture of what is considered ideal beauty. Do you agree with this image?

Sexiness In Our Culture

Pamela Anderson

Marilyn Monroe

Sex has always been a part of our culture no matter how much we try to deny it. In class we compared two women, the sex symbol from the past and present. Marilyn  Monroe was known as an elegant and unattainable lady. Pamela Anderson is known as the perfect Barbie doll and is used as a fantasy for sex. Women are pressured to be sexy and appealing. Sex is everywhere on television, in music, and on fashion magazines. People show only what they want other people to see. It's all about attracting or luring people in, it is almost an illusion. Women try so hard to make you believe one thing and then you find out they are nothing like you thought they were.

 Sex is our culture's main interest. Everything in the media is about sex. We see sex everywhere; on TV and in ads. To be sexy is all about attention and everyone craves attention. The American dream is to become famous. To become famous requires you to be sexy in your profession. Whether it be modeling, acting, or singing. Everyone is just obsessed with sex. We can't help it, nor can we stop it.

Elevator Video

I have a different opionion on the elevator video. Everyone thought it was meant to racist, funny, or sexist even. Which says something about our culture. Did you ever think that maybe the video was meant to teach you a lesson or give you some insight to the issues going on today. I think that the whole point of making the videos was to make people aware of their actions. To show them that their reactions can be overdramatic. But what do you expect when that's how a lot of people are raised. I know my mom told me to never talk to strangers and to always use the buddy system. Our fear is from what we hear from others and we are subconsiously thinking that something bad is going to happen. Unfortunately I stereotype people right away and I'm sure I am not the only who does either. It has just become a habit for me. I am so used to everyone around me stereotyping that I just automatically do it too just to fit in. I know it is wrong and I hope someday I will be able to break the habit. I guess my point is that the woman stereotyped the man, just as bad as he stereotyped her. I believe that there will always be racism, sexist people, and lots of stereotypes in America. It is just the way our culture is.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRfjLfyXYlA

What is Popular Culture?

Popular culture is the ever changing opinion of people today. The different kinds of attitudes, behavioral patterns, beliefs, customs, and knowledge of people everywhere. Popular culture is constantly evolving and originates from the people. To simplify the definition, popular culture is beliefs that are excepted and liked by many people.

 By studying popular culture I will find out more about myself. I will be forced to have my own opinions without any influence. I will interpret things differently than I would have if I found out the information from someone else, who has already made their own opinion. By going out and actively reading and  analyzing information I will learn a lot. An important fact that I will have to keep in mind is that to be succesful I will have to respect what I'm reading and remember that everything has meaning. I will come to understand messages and act upon them. I will learn about the things that form our culture and why people do things they do.

Popular culture will help me move forward in my career and schooling. Science is a major part of my education and it is constantly changing and evolving. I will have to stay updated on all major discoveries. My career goal in life is to become a veternarian. Therefore I will constantly have to be learning and stay up to date with the culture. Most importantly I will become more aware of the cultural differences in my everyday surroundings.