Assignment 1-3

Is Hip Hop Dead? : Past, Present and Future of America’s Most Wanted Music

Hi hop is African American popular music which started in New York City in the 1970s and widely spread late 198os. Music plays vital role in society by allowing people feeling, voice, and ideas to be heard. Music shapes or values, morals and attitudes.
During 1980 , genres of rap addresses gang violence, police brutality, political charges such as racism and poverty (Petracca, M& Sorapure M 2007 , pg.237).Public enemy was at fore front at this movement with songs like fight the power or America self destruction . Chuck D of Public Enemy once said “Hip hop is like CNN of African American “. Hip hop reports everything that going on street that is not covered by media.
In this article the author discuss the origin of hip hop music, how has been evolved, the effects and the future of rap music .Over recent years hip hop music has been target of many critics from popular media, White politician, older African America due to lyrics and video coming out this music .The lyrics and video promotes violence and degrades women. Lyrics when combine with these powerful message that hip hop is sending influences youth feelings, their relation with parents and friend, attitude towards authority figure and our value with gender and race. For instance NWA rap group are widely known for most popular song with their displeasure against LAPD .
Wealth and fame has deadened hip hop political edge. Many of rap songs talk about jewelry, fancy car, and cloth .Hip hop artist blames on commercialization of rap music and recording company executives. Hip hop artist respond with demands of the market. Records sales prove this argument Jays Z is most successful mainstream rapper who has number one sold album which doesn’t have political edge.
Despite huge criticism the popularity of rap continues to grow among white audience. Eminem and Beast boys succeeded in black dominated hip hop industry because they demonstrated cultural immersion and inverted racial hierarchies. On the other hand Vanilla Ice failed because he projects false portrays with hip hop culture (The Journal of Popular Culture, 2008, 41(4), p.742-744).

Although many critics have argued about the effects of rap music I am optimistic about the future of rap music. There are still good message still embedded in many of recent rap song .For instance hip Hop artist Nas has good song “I know I can” which talks about you can be anything you want to be as long as you put your mind into to it. Wealth and fame should not detect future and content of rap music.

Work Cited
Petracca M& Sorapure M (2007).Common Culture: Rap and Race: It ‘Got a Nice Beat, But What about the message? University of California at Santa Barbara.
(2008). Is Hip Hop Dead? : The Past, Present, and Future of America's Most Wanted Music. The Journal of Popular Culture, 41(4), 742-744

Staying in shape

Beauty is highest price commodity today and many men and women will do anything to achieve It (Browne R, 2005 Pg. 210) .We have seen drugstore , media , popular magazine flooded with picture of beautiful female or male who have great body that we all admire.
The secret of success to have to stay in shape is dieting, workout and living balance life. This is easy said and done. We are going towards the end of the year. We can use new resolution as part of motivation to join a gym. It’s not an easy thing to do to motivate yourself the best way is to form a group or workout partner. You can hire a trainer, if you can afford one to guide and prepare a diet plan . Dieting is more important than exercise but I admit it is difficult to follow a diet plan .You have to be very discipline and control amount of calories and cabs intake. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Drink a lot of water.

Another method you can us is plastic surgery which is topic that I chose for my this week analysis. I am against this method because this quick short cut to our problem. It is unhealthy, expensive and can cause death to human life. It teaches bad example rather than healthy way to stay in shape.

Work Cited
Browne R. B 2005: Profiles of Popular Culture :personal appearance .The university of Wisconsin Press

Assignment 1-3

Is Hip Hop Dead? : Past, Present and Future of America’s Most Wanted Music

Hi hop is African American popular music which started in New York City in the 1970s and widely spread late 198os. Music plays vital role in society by allowing people feeling, voice, and ideas to be heard. Music shapes or values, morals and attitudes.

During 1980 , genres of rap addresses gang violence, police brutality, political charges such as racism and poverty (Petracca, M& Sorapure M 2007 , pg.237).Public enemy was at fore front at this movement with songs like fight the power or America self destruction . Chuck D of Public Enemy once said “Hip hop is like CNN of African American “. Hip hop reports everything that going on street that is not covered by media.

Over recent years hip hop music has been target of many critics from popular media, White politician, older African America due to lyrics and video coming out this music .The lyrics and video promotes violence and degrades women. Lyrics when combine with these powerful message that hip hop is sending influences youth feelings, their relation with parents and friend, attitude towards authority figure and our value with gender and race. For instance NWA rap group are widely known for most popular song with their displeasure against LAPD .

Wealth and fame has deadened hip hop political edge. Many of rap songs talk about jewelry, fancy car, and cloth .Hip hop artist blames on commercialization of rap music and recording company executives. Hip hop artist respond with demands of the market. Records sales prove this argument Jays Z is most successful mainstream rapper who has number one sold album which doesn’t have political edge.

Despite huge criticism the popularity of rap continues to grow among white audience. Eminem and Beast boys succeeded in black dominated hip hop industry because they demonstrated cultural immersion and inverted racial hierarchies. On the other hand Vanilla Ice failed because he projects false portrays with hip hop culture (The Journal of Popular Culture, 2008, 41(4), p.742-744).

Although many critics have argued about the effects of rap music I am optimistic about the future of rap music. There are still good message still embedded in many of recent rap song .For instance hip Hop artist Nas has good song “I know I can” which talks about you can be anything you want to be as long as you put your mind into to it. Wealth and fame should not detect future and content of rap music.

Work Cited
Petracca M& Sorapure M (2007).Common Culture: Rap and Race: It ‘Got a Nice Beat, But What about the message? University of California at Santa Barbara.
(2008). Is Hip Hop Dead? : The Past, Present, and Future of America's Most Wanted Music. The Journal of Popular Culture, 41(4), 742-744

Assignment 4-1

Hi hop is African American music which started in New York City in the 1970s and widely spread late 1980’s. The four elements of this music this music is Dj, graffiti, break dancing, mc rapping.
At the beginning when this music started it was all about the movement, self expression, and civil right, fashion and culture .Hip hop had content. People use to go to concert Mc will battle each other and the winner is Mc with best lyrics without creating conflict. It was friendly battle. Artist put the best album that will stay on chart for while and when you buy album you can hardly skip any song. I remember after the Run D Mc how they rock the addidas and Kengo hat and everybody want to be just like them.
During the course of time this music have evolve so much from when it started. The lyrics now coming out this music is offensive, degrading and harmful. You can’t listen to it in front your elders or children. The lyrics are degrading women, express violence among society. This is because of commercialization of music. Music executives controls type of music one can even argue that they create “beef” among artist to push records sales. On the other hand artist argument is that “street want to hear this type of music” or “I have to keep credibility” .If they have hardcore track on the records will push record sales thus what fans want to hear it

Assignment 3-1

The Bachelor

The bachelor is American reality television dating show debuting in 2002 on ABC.The show airs on 10pm eastern/9pm central time. According to Wikipedia “The series was renewed until spring 2008”.Every day from 5 to 7pm, millions of Americans tune in to watch other people go on dates. (Petracca& Sorapure, 2007 pg.51)Why do people like to watch reality dating program?

Number one reason is it is fun to see other people getting rejected on television (Petracca& Sorapure, 2007 pg 51).Why is fun to see other facing humiliation? People feel connected due to sting of rejection in the past therefore we would like to see other suffer similar fate. It allows us to revile some of our past worse experience without any sense of personal risk. After all it gives better chance of tasting “dating water” without going on date. It is safe to watch from distance rather than getting involved and end up hook up with someone who turns out being complete a jerk. There is question of safety .There is a lot of disease of sexual diseases out there. Let’s not forget most these shows runs at the time most of us are just getting home from long day at work. Who has the energy after that to go on date? Therefore let someone else bare the humiliation for us.People on the show are just like us (Petracca &Sorapure, 2007 pg 51).By using real people and placing them in real situation allow to eliminate misconception from viewers that everything is being scripted .Instead viewers feel these stunt being the spontaneous events. However these people are more superficial because they know they are in front of camera, and they use more make up to look more beautiful.There are a lot hot guys and girls on the show (Petracca&Sorapure, 2007).There are attractive people on dating show trying to seduce each other so they act and dress in a very sex way. Furthermore it gives the viewers feeling that they are also in the date and be able to choose the criteria and screening of possible date mate.

There are important lessons to learn from this reality television show .You can learn dating world by watching other people’s mistake and improve your social skills.

In conclusion, I have a strong opinion about reality dating television. Let us be honest with ourselves how many people went to the show and really found their true love and end up in successful marriage ?I don’t think this is right way to find genuine true love .

Assignment 2-1

Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS is a navigation and precise-positioning tool. Developed by the Department of Defense in 1973, it was originally designed to assist soldiers and military vehicles, planes, and ships in accurately determining their locations world-wide. Today, the uses of GPS have extended to include both the commercial and scientific worlds.

To me the GPS ability to navigate through map and communicate a direction to a user within just short period of time I found to be very irresistible, and this is reason why I chose it for my weekly analysis.

There are so many added advantages using GPS. It lessens our daily commute. We can use it during long trip vacation and not worry about printing driving direction or getting lost.

My concern when comes to electronic gadgets is we have become too much dependable and attach to them to point that can’t function without it. This is bad to our brain function especial memory. How far are willing to go with this addiction? .Do we them trust this device? Are we sure they are all accurate all the time? These are some of personal question we need to ask ourselves.

Source:
http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/gps1.htmce

Assignment 2-2

ICON ANALYSIS: MICKEY MOUSE, AMERICAN IDLE, BILLY COSB SHOW
Mickey Mouse is a comic and animated cartoon character which became an icon for the Walt Disney Company. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. I chose this icon is because I grew up watching this program during my childhood. This icon has popular culture influences among American Families. Mickey Mouse is most recognized character in America. It has starred in many video game includes Mickey Mousecapade, Nintendo Entertainment Systems Mickey Mania and etc.
American Idol is a singing reality television competition show airing on Fox channel. It debuted on June 11, 2002 since then it has become one of the most popular television shows in American. The program seeks to discover the best singer in the country through a series of nationwide auditions. The program features three judges who give critique to contestant: Pop singer and choreographer Paul Abdul, music producer Randy Jackson, off course notorious music executive Simon Cowell. I chose American Idol because I like this show. This is family show. It gives young talented male and female a platform to perform live and to be critiqued by judges. The winner gets huge record deal.
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom show starring Bill Cosby first airing on September 20th, 1984 and running for eight seasons on the NBC network, until April 30th 1992. The show focused on the middle class African-American family living in a brownstone building in Brooklyn New York. I picked for my icon analysis because I grow up idolizing the character of this sitcom. I remember how it looked so cool to be college student. The show portray positive image among African American families. It gave hope to American dream. Hard work and education key to success.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cosby_Show
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_mouse

Assignment 1-2

Each and every one of us has experience popular culture in one way or another unless you isolate yourself and live in another planet. Popular culture is part of our learning environment. You can absorb popular culture at home watching television, listening to radio, reading magazine, walking on the street, going to the movies, dance clubs, night clubs, gym, beauty spas, while shopping at mall and etc. (Petracca& Sorapure, 2007, p. 1)

Popular culture is part of our daily lives represents everything from artifacts, institution, gadgets, video game, food, cloth, taste and knowledge shared by society.

Popular culture is large driven by the taste. By the way this is fundamental difference with general culture. A taste in popular culture means we choose product, art form or entertainment base on satisfaction we get from it.

What makes popular culture so unique is its transitory nature. New image appears everyday replacing customary popular image. According to Petracca& Sorapure (2007)” unknown entertainer becoming celebrities while popular one quickly fading” (p. 4). Beyonce takes place of Britney, who took place of Madonna .New television show replacing traditional shows. For instance the television show “bachelor” replace “Change of Heart”.

Popular culture is most useful tool for planning and decision making in business environment. Remember popular culture is largely driven by taste. By understanding of society taste, preference and choice we can determine production, distribution and consumptions of the arts and artifacts. With deeper understanding other peoples culture and taste will enhance my tolerance .It will create peaceful working environment for me and enhance my respects for others.

I Pod one of artifacts and my favorites gadgets. The IPod is a popular brand of portable media player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. Current product line-up includes the hard drive-based iPod classic, the touch screen iPod touch, the video-capable iPod nano, the screen less iPod shuffle and the iPhone. Being huge music fans and I download a lot music file. With I Pod I can transfer my music file from my computer. I can carry it with me whenever I go. I can listen to it while walking, at gym while exercise, lunch break at work. I can carry it with me whenever I go.

So what is popular culture then? This is fair question to ask ourselves. The truth is it is difficult to define popular culture. With elements of culture helps us to define it. Popular culture is elements of our daily life. Just like anything popular culture is subject to change and can be trace to specific era of life.

Assignment 1-4

Should My space Held Responsible for Teen Sex Offenders?


My space is a social network that connects people online for interaction. It is fun place to catch up with old friends, chatting with your buddies or even hooking for casual dating. You can post on your profile video, picture, and music. You can allow user to visit your page and leave you comment or can add your name as friend.

Over the past years, there have been tremendous complaints against the websites owners due increasing number of teen sexual offenders. Public have mix opinion when comes to this topic. There are those who think My Space should be held responsible to provide safety for teenagers who are huge fans of my space. And there is other group who thinks parent should have parental control over online social network and monitored their children online activities.

In my opinion both these two groups have valid point. Technology like anything has pro and corns. Technology has so many good sides when comes to life. But there are few who use technology badly and spoil the good intentions. I am talking about sex offenders giving bad name to my space. So far security measure has been taken to eliminate this problem. Age disclosure including your birthday is required when joining my space. It is true my space alone cannot solve this problem .Parent should be more involve and monitor children online activity. There is available software that can block children from visiting unauthorized website. Parent should use this software.

Work Cited
https://networkingsecurity.blog.asu.edu/2007/02/16/my-opinion-about-myspace-safety/?triedWebauth=1nce.