Popular Culture is one of the best reflections about what our real beliefs and values about our society are! They may not be yours, but they do reflect what they are in the society generally, for better or worse.
Look at what is around you and this will tell you what is important to our society, it is what people consume, mentally as well as physically. McDonalds hamburgers and fast food is a significant part of our popular culture, and reflects are need for speed and efficiency over...over... well, maybe our health.
You may not be watching porn or gambling on line, but someone is or it would not be there on line. Sex and getting rich, entertainment over education, these are values of the broader culture. Don't be discouraged, it is important to stand up for what you believe in. We also value diversity and and the freedom to choose and those are reflected there as well.
Democracy isn't always pretty but it seems to work.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
What taste of Popular Culture?
There are three kinds of 'taste cultures',
folk, elite, popular. We move as a culture back and forth between them all the time.
It is interesting to observe this movement and think about what it says about or society.
I was just reading that the new season opening of the Metropolitan Opera was broadcast in Times Square in New York, and that it has started doing successful 'simal-cast' of Opera performances in theatres around the country.
Last night a new season of Dancing With the Stars began again on television. Now in it's fifth season, it's success has spun off several other dance programs.
What does this say about our culture?
folk, elite, popular. We move as a culture back and forth between them all the time.
It is interesting to observe this movement and think about what it says about or society.
I was just reading that the new season opening of the Metropolitan Opera was broadcast in Times Square in New York, and that it has started doing successful 'simal-cast' of Opera performances in theatres around the country.
Last night a new season of Dancing With the Stars began again on television. Now in it's fifth season, it's success has spun off several other dance programs.
What does this say about our culture?
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Another beautiful fall day, what are you doing?
It is another beautiful fall day, what are you doing?
I am working on line :-O
...but I did run out for a few minutes to have some ice coffee with friends. The friends were out bicycling near my home, they called me and thought that I would ride over and meet them, no,
I drove but I would have loved to ride. Central Ohio is getting to be a great bicycling town, there are wonderful trails popping up all over the place.
What better time to ride then in the fall, the weather is great, the scenery is the best. The leaves are just starting to turn. I have lived many places and autumn in the mid west is a real treat. We don't have an ocean (though we have a Great lake), and we don't have many mountains (though we have some good hills), but we usually do have four seasons, so you need to stick around to enjoy them.
Bicycle riding seems to be a bit of popular culture here. People of all ages can do it, and you can get into relatively inexpensively (yard sales...another form of culture/popular or folk can get in you in for just a couple of bucks) or you can spend lot's of cash and be part of the 'elite' scene!
Do you ride?
I am working on line :-O
...but I did run out for a few minutes to have some ice coffee with friends. The friends were out bicycling near my home, they called me and thought that I would ride over and meet them, no,
I drove but I would have loved to ride. Central Ohio is getting to be a great bicycling town, there are wonderful trails popping up all over the place.
What better time to ride then in the fall, the weather is great, the scenery is the best. The leaves are just starting to turn. I have lived many places and autumn in the mid west is a real treat. We don't have an ocean (though we have a Great lake), and we don't have many mountains (though we have some good hills), but we usually do have four seasons, so you need to stick around to enjoy them.
Bicycle riding seems to be a bit of popular culture here. People of all ages can do it, and you can get into relatively inexpensively (yard sales...another form of culture/popular or folk can get in you in for just a couple of bucks) or you can spend lot's of cash and be part of the 'elite' scene!
Do you ride?
Friday, September 21, 2007
Change is in the air...
The days are still warm now but the evenings are getting cooler, each day it darker a little earlier, but are these the real signs of a change of season? We experience different rituals throughout the year the helps mark those seasonal changes, and they are a very important part of the our popuar culture!
For many people in the mid west it might be apple picking or taking your kids the corn field maze, the hunted "__" (fill in the blank, there is a variety of haunted places that will happily entertain you and your loved ones for a slight charge... I am really paying someone to chase after me with a very lound but very non functional chain saw).
....and yes as sure as the leaves turn from geen to yellow and red, the supper makert selves change from school supplies to candy and pumpkins.
Football, college and professional games fill our television screens. What are your seasonal rituals?
For many people in the mid west it might be apple picking or taking your kids the corn field maze, the hunted "__" (fill in the blank, there is a variety of haunted places that will happily entertain you and your loved ones for a slight charge... I am really paying someone to chase after me with a very lound but very non functional chain saw).
....and yes as sure as the leaves turn from geen to yellow and red, the supper makert selves change from school supplies to candy and pumpkins.
Football, college and professional games fill our television screens. What are your seasonal rituals?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
:-)
Popular Culture seems to be the same thing day after day, but it is always changing, every day. What was popular last year is gone this year and what was just a local thing is now all over the place. Britney Spears was recently dropped by her management agent, and we hardly hear abo0ut Paris Hilton, but O.J. is back in the news for now.
"Smilies" those little emoticons are 25 years old this week, casually started by a person at Carnegie Mellon.
"Smilies" those little emoticons are 25 years old this week, casually started by a person at Carnegie Mellon.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Day the Music Died
On this day in 1970, Jimi Hendrix died of an overdose of sleeping pills while partying in London. His band, the Jimi Hendrix Experince had formed in 1966, in just four years he established a reputation as the greatest Rock Guitarist in history. His sound stil speaks to us today, it soars with bursts of energy, showing a desire to push the boundries of freedom of expression. Civil Rights and Anti War sentiments were in the air and this was a sound that reflected those passions, but its genius speaks to us still today.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Guru
Welcome to the Pop Culture Blog Spot of Prof. Schott.
Look here for regular postings about the world of Popular Culture,
There is always something going on in Pop Culture, so check back regularly...
CHEERS.
Look here for regular postings about the world of Popular Culture,
There is always something going on in Pop Culture, so check back regularly...
CHEERS.
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