*What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you?
Popular culture is the multiple things in our lives that mold our experiences, good or bad. It may be the things we want, don’t want, and think we have to have, or never want to try. Experiences, actions, or opinions, all of popular culture influences everyone, whether they think it is relevant or not. We all have opinions and we love to share our opinions; this is a big part, or extension, of popular culture as well.
For example, if everyone expresses how the XBOX game is the best gaming system available, and we see that in the ads, on the TV, and hear it from people at work, as well as our friends, even if we don’t like video games, that seed is planted in our head that “hmm, maybe it is the best game system”. Weeks later when you are looking for a present for your child who loves video games, you reflect back to what you have heard and think you have the perfect gift, because everyone knows the XBOX is the best gaming system. Popular culture influences our thoughts and our actions. If we were not exposed to all of the input from everyone else, or everything else, then there would not be trends, or fads, or all the other things that make up our unique individual histories.
*Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?
The understanding of popular culture is paramount for business. If a company does not consider it, it will more than likely fail. The likes and dislikes of a product are what will give a company its consumers, and keep them coming back. The popularity is what may keep your consumers from leaving your companies product and trying another company’s product instead. Businesses must always consider what the public wants, and find the best way to get it to them. Always looking for new ways to do things, and improving on current product, is what keeps companies competitive today. Taking product and service to the next level is what the business industry is all about, and keeps companies in business. We, as consumers, always are looking for the “next best thing”; companies need to be prepared to provide that, or suffer the consequences if they don’t. It may be that your company’s next big idea is what makes you a millionaire.
*What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?
The pop culture artifact I would choose would be tattoos. I chose this as my artifact because it seems like we all know someone who has one, or maybe even you the reader are tatooed. This is a very popular trend today. There are tattoo parlors on every other corner in most towns now. It seems most people have at least one tattoo, but in actuality, in today’s society, 60% of Americans between the ages of 18 to 30 years old have at least one tattoo (Lineberry, 2007). This statistic is ever- growing with the popularity of this age-old fad. It seems we all need to feel unique, or want something that is unique to ourselves. We don’t want to be cookie-cutter images of one another any longer, and this gives us the chance to change ourselves with art representing our views, likes, or even memories. Tattooing can customize our bodies the way we choose. We can get one tattoo, or one hundred tattoos, on our arms, or somewhere hidden, or etched in plain sight, right on our faces. Though the choice is up to us, we can be convinced by a friend or peer, and it only takes a moment to make a permanent mark. Although we may fail to realize in the moment that tattoos are permanent, regret of a tattoo is the next thing that is making a lot of money for the doctors who can remove our regrets. Tattoo removal is a booming business, thanks to those who later realize that a tattoo on the neck may not look professional in the workplace.
References
References
Lineberry, C. (2007). Tattoos: the Ancient and Mysterious History. Smithsonian. Retrieved May 18, 2009 from http://www.designboom.com/history/tattoo_history.html
pictures.(2009). Picsearch.retrieved May 21,2009 from http://picsearch.com/image-dir.html
Bethany,
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at the artistry in the examples you supplied! It seems as the tattoos derive from the discipline of traditional fine art! Growing up, tattoos were associated with bikers, gangs, and sailors (I was a sailor – small tattoo on my ankle in the Navy 20 years ago!).
Tattooing has definitely embraced the world by storm, becoming more and more accepted by the broader segment of mainstream society. Even public figures (e.g., Angelina Jolie), sport lavish tattoos and play a significant role in setting the culture’s contemporary behavior patterns of using permanent ink as a trendy means of self-expression.
Great job including the statistics…I expect them to grow!
~ Jo Roberts
Bethany,
ReplyDeleteYour example about the Swine Flu was excellent. The company that I work for sent out hand sanitizer and masks to the entire company. I can't imagine how expensive that was. The media has a frenzy with things like the swine flu. That just shows how the media can create panic in the world.