Not Afraid

A common ideology in America is to be afraid. Be afraid about getting beat up, afraid of the government, and even afraid of life itself. But in Eminems' hit song "Not Afraid" he talks about not being afraid and to just walk the world. Here is the chorus: "I'm not afraid, To take a stand, Everybody, Come take my hand, We'll walk this world together, Through the storm, Whatever weather cold or warm, Just let me know that your not alone, Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road."

Eminem is saying that he isn't afraid to take a stand and stand up for what he believes in. Everyone that feels the same way as him should follow him. They will go through it together, no matter what. Don't be alone, unite, and say something if you want change. This is one of my favorite songs from Eminem because he is finally rapping from his heart and not about crazy stuff. My favorite line in this song is "Imma be what I set out to be, without a doubt undoubtedly, and all those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." He is saying that he will be what he wants no matter what or who he has to go through.

As you can see, Eminems song "Not Afraid" talks about a common ideology, being afraid. He is saying that you shouldn't be afraid, and to stand up for what you believe in. Many people in the United States are afraid of many things, but they shouldn't have to be. This song is very inspiring to anyone that listens to it and is byfar Eminems best song.

Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcw2LY6wtW4

Video of the Year

The video of the year is Bad Romance, About two weeks agao the MTV music awards were awarded to the best music videos. Lady Gaga was nominated a record breaking thirteen times this year. That night she took home a record breaking eight moon men awards. Seven of them were awards for one music video in particular, Bad Romance. The video gove over five thousand view in the first minute it was put on Youtube. This music video is by far the best work she has done and the best music video I have ever seen. Because of this video, the music industry and the new pop starrs all trying a lot harder to make the next great video for thier fans to make art or political statements.

The music video's deeper meaning is about human trafficking, but with a pop twist of high fashion, pyrotechnic bras and twleve inch high heels. A dark room is shown and a light comes in and shados white futuristic coffins in which one of them have the word "monster" spelled out on it. Then a claw pops out of one and they all emerge from the coffins in all white latex outfits. We see Lady Gaga in a white tub with huge eyes with large pupils and she is being drugged so they could sell her to a Russian mob boss. She is forced to preform for the mob boss and his associates and is bought by the boss. At the end she is walking towards him and takes off her clothes ready to do the deed sudenly the bed goes up in flames. She is later seen in red lengerie and all the lights are turned off when the song is over. At the end we see Lady Gaga on the burned bed with a skeleton next to her and she is wearing a bra that shoots out sparks with a cigarette in her mouth.

Lagy Gaga had rejuvenated the pop industry. New and old artist are going to start trying a lot harder in thier music videos because the success of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance music video. The Wall Street Journal noted Gaga as one of the few pop starts of present time who really understands "spectacle, fashion, shock, choreogrpahy- all the things Madonna and Michael Jackson were masters of in the 1980's. Bad Romance will be in line with all those great music videos like Thriller and Like a Prayed. She has yet to disappoint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I

Welcome to the United Snakes

Music can spread many messages, but lately in our generation, people spreading the truth aren't recognized. While you're listening to Lady Gaga or Lil Wayne, there are artists like Brother Ali who are throwing down beats that make you think. It's refreshing to me that music hasn't fallen into the same loop that holds no meaning to it. Many of our American Ideologies are questioned in this song such as our national pride, trust in our government, freedom, and even religion. He's outright saying, "Open your eyes and take a look around". There's havoc in our country and we don't even realize it even though it's right in front of us. I believe this song really is a wake up call compared to the new music being created.

There's many ways to interpret this song, but what I got from it was basically, can we really trust our government? After listening to this song, I began questioning what freedom really meant. I also wondered how much trust we actual put into our elected officials. He uses powerful lyrics speaking about where tax money is actually going in lyrics such as "S**t the governments an addict, with a billion dollar a week kill brown people habit." Also, our national pride is being put under the spot light in this song. History is addressed showing that we have made progress, but at what cost? The people who came here basically stepped on the Native Americans and enslaved people as they went along. In certain lines, Brother Ali speaks about it such as when he says, "pioneered so many ways to degrade a human being that it can't be changed to this day." Is our history justified just because we can say "look at where we're at now"?

You don't have to agree with my opinion, but this song makes so much sense. Although I realize our government is not perfect, we contribute to the spreading madness. Can you believe it? We contribute to funding wars even when we're against the idea of it. When I hear this song, I begin thinking about what our country really stands for. Take a look at the chorus for example.
"Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grant imperial guard where the dollar is sacred
And power is God"
This part made me wonder if our country is worth being praised. The settlers did pretty much steal this land and not only that, but as years progressed, they brought slaves as well. Those slaves were mistreated and didn't have any kind of freedom until someone finally stood up for them. There seems to always be some kind of segregation in this country. Notice how the chorus emphasizes how money has become valuable and above all, religion has power. I couldn't believe I was further questioning my home just from hearing one song. When he said "Now stand your a** up for that national anthem", I found myself smiling at how true this was. How can we be proud of a history that still continues in a different form? Maybe the government really is the addict spending money on war instead of schools. It's a terrible thing when you take a step back and look at the total damage done. There's so much I can say about this song, but all I can really say is listen to this song carefully and let everything sink in.


"Uncle Sam Goddamn" by Brother Ali. Track 12 on "The Undisputed Truth" (2007)

Uncle Sam Goddamn by Brother Ali

Ah,
The name of this song is Uncle Sam Goddamn
It's a show tune but the show ain't been written for it yet.
We're gonna see if tony Jerome and the band
can maybe work this shit out for me
And straighten me out right quick
I like it so far man

Yeah

Come on, let's go

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grand imperial guard where
the dollar is sacred and proud

Let's do this shit for real, come on now

Smoke and mirrors, stripes and stars
Stollen for the cross in the name of God
Bloodshed, genocide, rape and fraud
Written to the pages of the law, good lord

The cold continent latch key child
Ran away one day and started acting foul
King of where the wild things are, daddy's proud
Cause the roman empire done passed it down

Imported and tortured the work force
They never healed the wounds or shook the curse off
Now the grown up Goliath nation
Holdin open auditions for the part of David, can you feel?

Nothing can save you, you question the rain
You get rushed in and chained up
fists raised but I must be insane
Cause I can't figure a single goddamn way to change it

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grant imperial guard where the dollar is sacred and power is God

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grant imperial guard where the dollar is sacred and power is God

All must bow to the fat and lazy
The fuck you obey me and
why do they hate me, who me?
Only two generations away from
the Worlds most despicable slavery trade

Pioneered so many ways to degrade a human being
That it can't be changed to this day
Legacy so ingrained in the way that we think
We don't only need chains to be slaves

Lord it's a shameful display
The overseers even got raped along the way
Cause the children can't escape from the pain
And they're born with the pores
and this hatred in their veins

Try and separate a man from his soul
You'll only strengthen him and lose your own
We'll shoot that fucker if he walk near the throne
Remind him that this is my home (Now I'm gone)

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grant imperial guard where the dollar is sacred and power is god

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grant imperial guard where the dollar is sacred

Hold up, gimme one right here, hold up

You don't give money to the bums
On the corner with a sign, bleeding from their gums
Talking much, you don't support a crackhead
What you think happens to the money from yo' taxes

Shit the governments an addict
With a billion dollar a week kill brown people habit
And even if you ain't on the front line
When the master yell crunch time you right back at it

You ain't look at how you hustling backwards
And the end of the year add up what they subtracted
3 outta twelve months your salary
Paid for that madness, man that's sadness

What's left get a big ass plasma
To see where they made Dan Rather point the damn camera
Only approved questions get answered
Now stand your ass up for that national anthem

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grant imperial guard where the dollar is sacred and power is God

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grant imperial guard where the dollar is sacred and power is God

[instrumental break]

Custom made, the consumer news

Keep saying we're free
But we're all just blue (x3)

Custom made, the consumer news
Keep saying we're free
But we're all just blue

Uncle Sam Goddam Lyrics

TOOT IT AN BOOT IT!

Is hip hop really dead? Many people has witness the rise and fall of hip hop and are now watching it transform into nonsense music. For example, the song Toot it and Boot it by Yg is a song that has no true meaning behind it. Really all it talks about is going to the club, meeting up with a girl and having a one night stand with her. Is this the kind of music do we want our kids of the future to listen too. These kind of songs are teaching kids how to be non civilized people and are slowly changing the minds of kids around the world. Kids the ages of 10 and younger are learning, saying, and doing things you and I didn't do or learned till we got into the 7th grade or even later. Also these kind of music shows that you no longer need talent to record a song thats plays on the radio. All you need is a catchy beat with some nonsense lyrics thrown in and it will be hit song.

Toot it and Boot is not the only song that has a catchy beat but has nonsense lyrics in it. Your A jerk By New Boys is another song that really has no importance to the musical world but still plays here and there because of its catchy beat. Same with Teach Me How to Dougie by California Swagg District and many more. Songs like these are the type of music that shouldn't be played on the radio or shouldn't even be recorded. If kids really want to listen to these kind of music just make it yourself, its not that hard. Look at Soulja Boy, the guy doesn't even make sense but his music still sells and still plays on the radio. Hip Hop is only dead because kids are choosing to listen to nonsense music rather then meaningful music that you can learn something from.

I am not going to be a hypocrite and say i do not enjoy listening to these kind of music, cause i do, but all im saying is do we really need to hear these kind of music on the radio. Do kids really need to know how to dougie and jerk? Kids needs to learn how to appreciate music and actually listen to lyrics that are being sung. Not just to do some stupid dance, to a stupid song, looking stupid. I know its fun but after a while it just gets old and you start missing how it was back then. With music making sense and also having meaningful lyrics with them. A guy like me who really appreciates music is really disappointed on how hip hop has changed so much over the years. We can only hope that one day music will go back to how it was, but till then we just have to deal with these kind of music being played all over the radio.

Here is the song Toot It and Boot it by Yg. ( Viewer Discretion Is Advised )

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

Love the Way You Lie

The song "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem, featuring Rihanna, shows how domestic violence in our society impacts the people in abusive relationships. This song provides a clear image of how men and women feel when they are in an abusive relationship. It tells us how it would be like to be in an abusive relationship, often how it can just be a vicious cycle. "Love the Way You Lie" tells us about domestic violence in our society today and how it affects both women and men, showing how difficult it is to leave or stay in an abusive relationship. This definitely agrees with the typical stereotype of men who abuse their significant others; they abuse them, they apologize, and the abuse starts over again. It is saying that America both cares about domestic violence and may be trying to stop it, and letting the American population know that there are women out there who are being abused everywhere and cannot seem to get out of it.

In this song, there are two speakers, Rihanna and Eminem; the battered girlfriend and the abusive boyfriend. Rihanna's part is saying that even though her boyfriend is beating her, and she knows he is lying when he says he won't beat her again, it can be hard to leave someone you love. Eminem is saying that he loves her and he is sorry but he at the same time he says that he was never sorry for a second, he just wants her to stay with him.

This song will change the way people look at domestic violence, it will make people in abusive relationships stop and think about the situation that they are in and if it is really what they want for their lives. Throughout the song, Eminem is saying how he constantly hits her and when she is about to leave him he wants her back again. He says if she tries to leave, he might get angry and hit her again; "Next time I'm pissed/ I'll aim my fist at the dry wall/Next time/ There will be no next time/ I apologize." By this, he is saying how most men will say they will never hit their significant other again, but then they go back and start the same routines again. During the last verse, he goes between saying it was his fault, both of their faults, and just her fault that their relationship is the way it is.

Official Music Video
Lyrics

Hip-Hop: The Ideologic Rebellion

Nowadays, if you just study and look at lyrics written by artists/bands, the person can see a whole lot of meaning. Hip-Hop started in the late 60's, but now it bears no resemblance to the hip-hop now. If we played hip-hop from the 60's with a room full of people used to hip-hop from the 90's and in to the new century, people would deny it's hip-hop. Through their lyrics, artists are communicating their beliefs, observations, criticisms, and anger about society, such as a new president, police, guns and drugs.

Hip-Hop is very controversial today, given the content of many artists songs. The lyrics in many of the hip-hop sings advocate certain views and opinions that don't represent the vast majority of American thought, yet the hip-hop culture is a vibrant, and popular ideology among many urban youth today, who are seeking a means of expressing their thoughts and beliefs. Some artists often talk about abusing women, swearing, gun and drug usage, and some politics that some people don't agree on.


http://www.hiphoparea.com/rap/hip-hops-ideologies-of-rebellion.html

Global Warming...?

One of the big discussions of Americans today is... Is global warming actually real? I am using a political cartoon that came out about a month ago on the topic of global warming. Most people in America don't think that Global Warming even exists. Most people just think the weather is just changing. It’s showing how in the past years people would just think when it gets hot that a warm spring breeze was coming through their neck of the woods.

This political cartoon is actually very detailed which I am pleased with. The scene is set in a park. There is one big long bench and at one end of the bench there are two men sitting or what is left of the men because they are on fire. Then on the ground there are two other dead people but they are not on fire. In the back ground there are about three too four tress and they are all on fire. Then at the right end of the big long bench our two older looking ladies that are in vivid color and not on fire. At the bottom of the cartoon it says “Global warming? In my day, we called this a refreshing spring breeze!” the way the cartoon is set up the two old ladies are the ones speaking about global warming.

This cartoon shows that there are people out in America that still think Global warming isn’t a huge deal. The whole thinking Global Warming isn’t a huge deal I definitely the dominate ideology in American culture today. But what this cartoon is trying to show is that it is REAL. The old ladies could be representing America in the future when everyone else is bringing from Global warming because we decided to just ignore the topic.

internet killed the video star

Things are always changing in our society so it makes sense that the things we like would change along with our society. But according to the song "Internet Killed the Video Star" by The Limousines were actually favoring back to disco or the 70's. this all seems to be true though as i look around or country and my school.

I mean look around, back then they were all in to dancing now were back into dancing but a new style. I think that's what we like to do as Americans I think that we like to revisit things and reinvent them. and now we like the same sounds of the music its just that we do it with genres like rap and R&B. The Limousines state this very clearly with the main phrase of the song " The kids are disco dancing, there tired of rock and roll, don't bother telling them that drum machine ain't got no soul."

The limousines don't just say that we are going back to one genre though they also suggest that we will come back to another one eventually. " Did you hear what they said?That Rock and Roll is dead? Yeah its like a zombie it will dig it. self back up again." Saying what i have been telling you that we will come back to things and reinvent it. But no matter what we will always love doing what we always have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx5tSmOY_iM

Wall-e and our Future

As soon as WALL-E came to theaters in 2008, it became a huge hit. Not only is it entertaining, but it also addresses three major issues in our society today. Technology, pollution, and obesity all pose as serous threats especially in the U.S. Although technology has helped many people, at some point we need to ask the question how much is too much. In the movie technology has become so much of our daily lives that we hardly know how to do anything besides surf the web. Despite it being a cartoon, it holds a scary possibility of what may happen in the future if we allow these problems to continue.

Wall-e is a robot whose purpose is to clean up our world. All of the people left the planet after it became so polluted that we were no longer able to live there. One day a robot named Eve goes to the planet to look for signs of life. That’s were Wall-e and Eve meet, eventually falling in love. After finding a plant, Eve returns to the Axiom. The Axiom is a giant space ship where all of the humans live. Wall-e goes to the Axiom in hopes that he will find Eve again. While he is there, the audience gets a glimpse of how life is like in the future.

In the future, technology has taken over, and robots do absolutely everything. Humans have become so dependent on technology that they no longer walk or talk to others face to face. Because of this the humans have become overweight and their bone mass has decreased exponentially. Although not as drastic, the U.S. is certainly known for its overweight people, reliance on technology, and pollution. This has lead me to believe that the future shown in Wall-e might not be that far off from are own future.


In this clip you can see how the future is portrayed in WALL-E.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9s7afoYI-M

Silly Love Songs

Paul McCartney is not like other celeberties. His music has touched many peoples lifes. Some say when they are down they turn on the radio to listen to Pauls music, they say it gets them trough those rough times. In one case a man was in a coma and "Hey Jude" poped on, tha man instantly woke up and said "thats Hey  Jude!"."For me thats like wow" sais Paul. A song name "Silly Love Songs"by Paul says " i thought the world  had enough silly love song but u look around and see it isnt so".
People are connected mainly by one connectio/feeling, love.We americans all belive in love and finding the right one.  With out this feeling the world would be plain and boring. The feeling of love unites all people somehow. Many have writen love songs but " some people want to fill the world with silly love songs, whats wrong with that?" I mean who dosent wana be loved?

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

The Bat Goes Mainstream

Graffiti is a type of art that has recently become more popular. It can be seen everywhere, from sidewalks to billboards. As such, many street artists have become more popular as well. However, some tend to sell out and use their art as an excuse to gain more popularity or to make a quick buck. One of these artists is Neckface.

Neckface is a graffiti artist that started tagging in Sacramento his junior year of high school and spread his work to Stockton, Lodi and San Francisco. He eventually moved to New York City and attended The School of Visual Arts before dropping out, stating it sucked a certain male body part. He was eventually able to take his work in art galleries. Along with graffiti, Neckface also skates. As such, he has collaborated with brands Vans footwear and Altamont clothing along with other skate companies, and has become the art director for Baker skateboards.

Neckface is an example of artists selling themselves out. I don't do it myself, but I understand that graffiti is supposed to be underground and the fact that it has gone mainstream disappoints me. It's slowly moving from billboards to art venues, and artists are starting to cash in on this. I like Neckface's humorously grotesque style, but he along with others have basically taken what the form of art was made from and turned it into the exact opposite for their own benefit. In all, today's graffiti has become the demented child of what it used to be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPI9OFLeqgA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neck_Face

Breaking the Mold of Hannah Montana

Miley Cyrus's recent music video, "Can't Be Tamed" has been the center of much criticism. The controversy is that she is known as Hannah Montana, the famous actress on Disney Channel. She has dominated above all as the teen idol for young girls everywhere. However, she has been trying to break out of that mold to define herself as Miley Cyrus, a young adult. She was very successful with her show, but as she gets older she wants to grow up and wants to be known as Miley Cyrus, not Hannah Montana. And because of this, she has received constant criticism.

Miley is simply the victim of fame and gender roles. No matter what we say or do, we always tend to place stricter rules on girls and their actions. If a girl does something that's not right or not usual, she gets judged immediately (like how the press targeted Miley). At a concert, Hannah Montana's risque dancing on the pole was dragged through the media in her latest music video 'Can't Be Tamed'. Anyone could argue she is simply acting like most girls her age. She is at the point where her image is important to her and she understands how to use it to get what she wants.

I believe Miley is really just exploring her sexuality, like most girls her age, but because she became famous for her role as Hannah Montana, Miley has and will continue to struggle with the expectations of parents whose children idolize her. She will always be known as the young and innocent Hannah Montana. People are now judging her and calling her inappropriate names because of her actions. Though she may have took it a little too far when she danced on the pole, she is really just doing what most teenage girls do. In her song she says "don't change me," in other words, she cannot be changed and she will not change. I don't think Miley is doing anything wrong and that all these criticisms are unnecessary. Miley Cyrus can't stay Hannah Montana forever, and now it's time for her to grow up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjSG6z_13-Q

How Girls Should Be Treated?

Music in America is a very important topic. Everyday you can find many people listening to some form of music from either some sort of mp3 player or phone. As we all know, music usually represents something in our life, sometimes something important. The song "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars quite simply illustrates how a girl wants a guy to treat her. I believe that this is a powerful and worthwhile topic to discuss as most women would want there man to treat her like the song says. The song is sung in a first person view and talks about a specific girl that is able to capture everyones heart. As a whole, this song mostly supports the stereotype that men should treat there women like they are the best one in the world.

"Just the Way You Are" is a powerful song as words are repeated and enthusiasm is added to the chorus. Bruno Mars brings this picture of a beautiful girl that has eyes that make the stars look like they're not shining and hair that falls perfectly every time. His voice combines with these beautiful lyrics to form a song that is not only addictive but very lovable. Bruno Mars described this song as "a story". It quiet bluntly is one that leads you to this image of the perfect girl. Every word said about the girl is a compliment and nothing is against her.

Many people would say girls are nothing but a waste of money or a girl is just someone that gets in the way of your life's happiness. I, as well as Bruno Mars, clearly believe that the song should become a reality and that men should treat girls as this song says. No, i'm not saying that you should shower her with compliments everyday, I'm saying that girls should be treated like they are different from one another. Not one girl is like another girl. One part of the songs chorus says "When I see your face, theres not a thing i would change", if all guys said that to a girl, the world would be such a nicer and more inviting place to be in.

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

10% of SABER and Graffiti

Art has been around for years and has also evolved faster than any other thing out there. So far there has been many different ways of showing, expressing, or feelings for art. We are going to talk about a specific type of art that is called Graffiti but to be even more specific to a finer detail we are going to be talking about "Saber".

Graffiti was started in the late 70's in which saber was only at the age of 4 who was already painting and drawing getting ready for a whole new world that he didn't even know about yet. Not many people know but graffiti can be some of the craziest and amazing art forms out there. It can be done legally and illegally, it truly depends on the artist them self. The thing though about graffiti is it can be extremely dangerous and has been fatal. "Saber" has had his share of that over the years of what some say his " Professional " career in graffiti. He has lost many dear friends to the harsh conditions of " Graff " and he has learned to accept having a chance to lose it all as well. A couple of times he has been beaten to almost death. Saber was once beaten so badly he had to learn how to walk, his nose broken, and his head split open. He still does it even if there is risks to be taken. That is true devotion and drive for a art for that will turn its back on you in a second. Saber didn't turn his back to it though. He has recently been working more with Walrus TV and with his new clothing brand with SEVENTH LETTER. Saber has been very lucky to have made it to where he is at now and also has gotten a very bountiful reward for his doings...

Early signs of graffiti have been tracked back to 30,000 BC in Ancient Rome. It is a very complicated art form but has a extreme effect on Hip-Hop now today. Without graffiti and Saber and other graffiti artists it wouldn't have evolved and grew with Hip-Hop. In this cultural analysis it shows how Saber went the distance for what he love and that is art and Hip-Hop. Graffiti to some is just vandalism but my opinion is that it is an art form. Some like the big murals but hate the small tags. What they don't realize is that small tag is what evolved and grew to that huge mural you're drooling over in amazement.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU03UIfvoq4

The Hangover

The Hangover is a movie about four guys going to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. As soon as they get there, they do what the majority of people do while in Las Vegas, drink and gamble. The movie was popular because it gave the audience something to relate to, and then exaggerated it. If I were from another country and saw this movie, I would probably have a bad opinion about Americans. It shows the world that we idealize partying and not caring how it affects the people around us.

Once they are in Las Vegas, one of the guys drugs the other three. Once they wake up the next morning, nobody remembers what happened the night before. One guy marries a stranger while the others are stealing a police car. During the movie the steal a tiger and kidnap a person and putting him in the trunk of their car.

I personally liked the movie, but I don't think it portrays Americans positively. When you have a movie that shows people doing drugs, stealing, and getting kidnapped it gives us as a country a certain image. There are definitely more positive ways for people to think of America, but that's not what gets movie makers money. By making this movie popular, it shows that we idealize what they do in the movie and in some cases, can relate to them.

Link:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/

Twilight: Just a book or is it becoming real life?

Ever since the book Twilight came out, all I've been hearing is "Edward Cullen is such a good boyfriend! I want a boy just like him!" or "OMG! Are you Team Edward or Jacob?!". From standing in line for the movie premiere, to Facebook/Myspace statuses, girls have been going crazy for the men in Twilight. The "Twi-hard" fans have been obsessing over Edward Cullen and Jacob Black since the first book of the series came out, but became even more extreme when it came onto the movie screen! More fans and more screams, the Twilight men have been getting more and more popular. Even though Edward and Jacob may be "hot", what I see these days are girls making their ideal boyfriends more like these characters. What I'm trying to say is, are girls depending on these these books too much, that they're actually living off of it?

So basically, Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer, is a book about a girl named Bella Swan. She moves to Forks, Washington with her father, and attends the local high school. On her first day, she discovers a strange boy, named Edward Cullen (OHMAIGAWD SO HAWT). She discovers that he's a vampire (oooooh!) and reveals that he's nice, sensitive and will do anything for her (aaaah!). In the end, Edward states that she's his "whole life" and they live happily ever after!...Well, until the next book.

I have read the Twilight series before, and to tell you the truth, I was a fan; but not one of those "Twi-hards". What made me drift away from Twilight was the fact that it was implanting teenage girl's brains that boys out there should be an Edward or Jacob. This book was making these girls think that if they date a guy, he will be as sensitive or as risky as the two main male characters; and they might base those facts as their ideology of a man. But of course, it doesn't really work like that in the real world. In my opinion, girls shouldn't go running after a fictional character that doesn't exist at all. They're just setting themselves up for dissapointment when they actually meet a guy and they don't relate to their type of ideology. In conclusion, these girls shouldn't base their life off a book about vampires, and should just live their life as their own.

Stephenie Meyer's Website: http://stepheniemeyer.com/
Twilight the movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/

Kid Cudi

Kid cudi is a lyrical genius and of the best rappers of all time. lol. Well thats what i think. In every single song or freestyle he makes, he expresses his feelings about his life and the world around him. but one of his best song is "pursuit of happiness''. In this song he explains how he is searching for happiness but hasnt found it yet. He also says that everything isnt always going to be gold meaning that he isnt going to always be happy while searching for happiness but once he gets there everythings going to be okayand good.



One way i relate to this song is how i want to get out of school and go party for the rest of my life, but all the homewrok that my teachers are giving me is holding me back. But when i graduate from highschool, then ill be good. I think alot of teenagers at my school and outside of school look up to Kid cudi and if not then im sure that they can at least relate to one of his songs.



Kid cudi is one of the worlds best rappers because he inspires people with his music. The song "pursuit of happiness" is mostly about living your life and having fun, and even if things dont go your way then you still have to try and be cool and someday you will have eternal happiness.

Omg Mang

Rappers and Hip-Hop artists are sometimes portrayed in songs, music videos, and sometimes T.V. too as not really caring about their relationships. Most love songs are how about the artists relationship slipped away and they want them back. Beyonce' is telling them how to prevent that from happening. If you really love someone, then marry them, cause if you wait too long  they'll walk away.

Some people aren't patient and can't wait forever for that someone to put a ring on them. Maybe they dont even wanna get married. Maybe they just want something to match with their earrings; but what shows love more than a ring?

In "Single Ladies" by Beyonce', I think she goes against how people view music artist, saying that they dont just want wootwoot but a good relationship. Lil Wayne on the other hand "no love lost, no love found". They have totally two different types of views in my opinion. I would agree more with what i think Beyonce is saying tho because she hasn't divorced before or anything and it seems like a good relationship she has. Even though many people probably believe that rappers and singers and stuff are like pimps, not all of them are even though in their songs it may seem like it.

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

Does Every Person Need To Kiss A Girl and Like It?

Everyone has heard the song, but did they take the song a little too seriously? You can probably talk to half the girls at your school, and they will tell you they like both sexes. Once people heard "I Kissed A Girl," it seems like the bisexuality rate has skyrocketed. There have always been people that "go both ways," but ever since the song was released it seems like every girl in the world thought it was cool to be bisexual. The song led girls to think that they should all "play for both teams." Americans have always wanted to be accepted by their peers, and people will do anything that everyone else is doing, including being into both sexes.

"I Kissed A Girl," is a song by recording artist Katy Perry. It's about, well, basically what it sounds like. Katy Perry describes how she was curious about kissing girls, and does. While there isn't much substance to the song, it launched Katy Perry's career and gained a lot of attention from critics. Despite some mixed reviews, the song was enough to have all eyes on Perry after its release.

I believe the song is one of the reasons that girls believe that bisexuality is a new trend. Nearly everyone wants to be up-to-date on what's "in," and I think the song builds on that idea. The popularity of the song and the simple, "I kissed a girl and I liked it..." chorus may have gone a little further than just get stuck in your head. It may have started a nationwide (possibly worldwide) fad. This song spoke about something that everyone practically overlooked, but since its release, people have been expressing their bisexuality publicly. While it may not be problematic, I still believe that the increase of bisexuals stems from the idea of social acceptance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLt5n0auPwM&ob=av3e

We're More Vicious Than We Thought

It's eight o'clock and I'm flipping through the channels on my television to see what's on. There are three shows that stick out to me. They all do well in the rating department, with each consistently scoring a 2.0-3.0. They are: Dr Phil, Teen Mom, and the Bad Girls Club. Now they all have their own separate issues. You could argue that Teen Mom glorifies teen pregnancy, and cite multiple problems with the Bad Girls club. I'm not going to focus on that, however. What I will focus on is the fact that all these shows focus on other people's problems and issues. And we love it. It doesn't stop there, either. There are more popular shows like MTV's "True Life" and "The Hills", and of course the ultra-popular "Jersey Shore". Then there's what is commonly referred to as "trash tv", which include shows like Maury, Jerry Springer, and The Steve Wilkos Show. Although these shows transcend a wide range of genres, they all share a common bond. They all get good ratings because we love to take pleasure from other people's pain.

One show I'd like to focus on in particular is the previously mentioned "Maury" show. For over a decade now, this show has garnered huge ratings by dramatizing paternity and relationship troubles. Now Maury himself may be a nice guy, but the fact of the matter is that he gets paid to exploit people's issues. Yet it continues to be a daytime staple. And why is that? Why do we take pleasure from other people's pain? It's because it makes us feel better about ourselves when we have something else to look down on. Harsh.

Just to give you an example of what I'm getting at, look at the reaction of the studio audience during some of these programs. On the "Maury" show in particular, the audience will boo and mock the show's guests. During one specific episode, they brought on several people with unusual fears. Did they help them? Sure, but just helping them isn't good tv. They also mocked them, laughed at them, and scared the hell out of them for much of the program. I also mentioned the Steve Wilkos Show. This is essentially a program where Steve Wilkos, a former soldier and policeman, brings someone on and completely berates them for an hour. His audience isn't as boisterous as Maury's, but even just the self-righteous nodding and chants of "Steeeeve" they use to pile on a guest is disconcerting. You'll see that same sort of thing on what is considered a more "sophisticated" show in Dr. Phil.

The bottom line is that much of American society enjoys watching others fight, yell, and struggle through issues, both for their own personal enjoyment, and in order to boost their own self-esteem. Sounds horrible, but it's true. We enjoy drama, especially other people's drama. We are, indeed, more vicious than you may have thought.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_(TV_series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wilkos_Show

Bad Girls Club

My cultural analysis is based on The Bad Girls club. These girls think it's actually ok to be bad. The bad girls club is a group of girls picked to live in one house that believe they are all better than each other. It is a reality tv show that tapes the lives of six girls living in a mansion in Miami, Flordia. They make it seem like drinking, partying, fighting, and getting men is what the world is revolved around. Every where these girls go they get in fights. This show makes it seem like you have to be a bad girl to get through life and to have fun.

The six girls were moved into this mansion and they didn't know anyone else. They were choosen on how bad they act. You can already picture what can go on in a house full of strangers that think there better than everyone else. They have a full kitchen but it's stocked with alcohol instead of food. There is also a confessional, which is a room you can go to where you say anything you want about anything you want. The girls go to this room mainly to talk about the other girls in the house and how much drama is going on. This show has a bad messege to it but it has good entertainment if you like to watch drama occur all the time.

Many people are having fun right now and are sober. You do not need to be drinking and fighting all the time to have fun. There was a point in the show where one girl just broke down. She started screaming and breaking things because she couldn't handle the constant partying. She went to sleep while everyone else started pouring shots. The party girls were so loud that they woke her up so she started screaming at them. The way the show was shot it made her look crazy even though she was only sleep deprived. The way this show it put out there is horrible. Nobody should have to live in lies doing things just because everybody else is.

http://bad-girls-club.oxygen.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bad_Girls_Club

The Horrific Spill

  The most horrifying oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico yet so far. Over $20 billion spent for losses caused by the spill. Kenneth Feinber, the claims administrator has only failed to do what he promised to do to help fix the mess left behind by the oil. Many fear the environment being destroyed. With a loss of habitat the animals will parish in the oils wrath. Saying this many have tried to clean up the mess, but has proven to be too much. Tons of oil gushing out per day. If this isn’t contained, what will happen to the habitat and its animals? We got to do whatever we can to stop the oil leak before the black waters claim its price.

Talent vs. Popularity

One of America's dominant ideologies is the belief that you can make your dreams come true with effort and talent. America's Got Talent has just ended it's fifth season and had the best talents on its show this past year. Millions of Americans watch the show since it first aired in 2006 and continued watching to 2010. So many Americans have watched this talent competition because entertainment is a large industry and is extremely popular. America's Got talent is conducted like a popularity contest rather than the talent show that it claims.

America's Got talent is a competition for anyone to try and use their "talent" and win 10,000 dollars and have a headlining show in Las Vegas. The three judges: Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel, travel to big cities through-out America and hold auditions for whoever thinks they have a good enough talent. The acts have 90 seconds to preform and each of the three judges have a button in front of them that they can press when they don't want the act to continue. If the act gets three red X's, their act is immediately stopped. The judges debate if the act should move into the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the judges can not send the act home and only give advice for if they should stay or go. The viewers at home can vote through their favorite act. Ten of the 24 passed through to the Top 10 round, and four of those acts go to the finale, and in which the American viewers vote the winner of America's Got Talent.

The opinions of the viewers of the show is easily changed by the judging panel. If an act gets a red X, then viewers will most likely believe that the act is not very good and are less likely to vote them through to the next round. As well, if the judges have very good comments for the act, then viewers will be encouraged to vote for that act. For example, Prince Poppycocks final act was buzzed by Piers and got the least amount of votes by the viewers. Sometimes there are acts that are actually not very good, but receive the "sympathy votes". Maybe it's a singing act that has a lung disease. They aren't good singers, but people feel that they deserve it because they work so hard. America's Got Talent seems to be more like a popularity contest, rather than the talent show that it claims to be.

Auditions, Prince Poppycock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jgXi8bR-6k&feature=related
Semi-finals, Fighting Gravity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSArkjDdx5c&feature=related
Top 4, Prince Poppycock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH5HlvmHGs0
(Prince Poppycock was my favorite act.)

Beautiful Just The Way We Are

One of America's dominant ideologies is the belief that beauty only has one definition. The ideal American woman can fit into a small anything but is still "blessed" with moderate assets, has beautiful hair, and not a single scar, freckle, mole, wrinkle, or stretchmark is visible on her skin. Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty resists and criticizes this unrealistic and ridiculous ideology by airing commercials that show how distorted America's perception of beauty really is and advertising with real women. Their commercials and advertisements are aimed at proving to American women that they are trying to attain a certain look and shape that is unrealistic because women come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, that may not meet the rest of America's expectations, but remain beautiful.

Dove broke the mold of showing those stereotypical "racially ambiguous", size two or four, airbrushed, and young women by advertising their brand with a different kind of women, the kind that aren't exactly popular in the media. Televisions were riddled with commercials and magazines covered in advertisements showing real women, the kind you see in the grocery store or walking down the street. Dove even made a short film, titled Evolution, that shows the transformation a model undergoes for a photo shoot because, sadly, even models don't fit our distorted definition of beautiful. Dove's mission was "to serve as a starting point for societal change and act as a catalyst for widening the definition and discussion of beauty."

Dove's campaign showed us the kind of women we see every day, but don't consider beautiful because American society considers beautiful something more rare and out of reach. Our society is extremely obsessed with perfection and it's costing us our self-esteem and happiness. America needs more people in positions of power and fame who look like everyone else so we can get a realistic view of beauty. Dove definitely took the first step by placing women that the rest of America can identify with in their advertisements and commercials. Their Campaign for Real Beauty was really effective in showing that our society needs to expand its definition of beauty and that we need to accept ourselves for who we are, for the sake of future generations. When American women can realize that they're beautiful just the way they are, then they'll be as happy as models seem to be on television and in the magazines. After all, the happiest women really do turn out to be the most beautiful ones.

*Caption on image reads: How long will we go on believing that only fair skin is beautiful? Join the debate.

http://www.dove.us/#/CFRB/

gLee

Glee has become a huge it after just one season, and leaving everyone impatiently waiting for the new season that premiered tonight (which was great!). This show,like many others, is based around high school and the problems that teenagers have to deal with. Though it may have a similar concept as many others, Glee does make it there own in many ways. The outcasts are the focus, but even when they succeed they are not noticed or made less fun of from the other kids at school. Using this as an example for American teenagers and high schools shows that we don't except the things out of the norm, that even if the people are great we may still not except them because they aren't the same.

Glee is about a high school were jocks and cheerleaders rule the school. Many people are treated poorly because they are different.These kids have great talent so they join the glee club, and come to realize that these are their real friends. They are all amazing and talented, but that just gives people more reason to make fun of them. Even the football players that join the team get made fun of. Slushies are always being thrown in their faces, which is there are somethings like this that is a little exaggerated from real high school, but it still shows the idea of high school being someplace where you can't fit in if your are unique.

This group of misfits always wanted to fit in, but never really had that chance because nobody excepted them. Once they joined the glee club they finally found a place where they fit in, and find more confidence within themselves to at least stand up to the people that still did not like them. The music is amazing and sung really well, some songs are just fun but others have to do with what they are feeling. When one character, Mercedes, was being told she had to lose weight after struggling with it, she sang "I am Beautiful" in front of the whole school. When Kurt is being made fun of for being gay, he finally has the confidence to just say "I'm proud to be different". Even though this never really gets through to anyone else at least they see it and changed how they feel about themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-J3ry0_U00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm3gdzSpZcg&feature=related

Kings and Queens

We are all kings and queens of ourselves and we decide what to do. This song is telling us that we can overcome the impossible. We can accomplish our dreams and no one can take that away. "We are the victims of ourselves," which means that we make the decisions. This song shows that in America, we are free, and we have the right to make our own choices in life.

30 Seconds to Mars is trying to say in this song, Kings and Queens, we can be anyone we want to be. Express yourself and never give up trying to achieve your dreams. If your set your mind to something you can accomplish it. "These lessons that we have learned here Have only just begun."

"Into your eyes Hopeless and taken We stole our new lives... In defense of our dreams." This quote really sums up the whole point of the song. It means that we shouldn't let anyone stop beliveing that you can't follow your dreams. I like this song because it encourages me to keep following my dreams and never give up. This song is so influencial and I think everyone should listen to it.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/kings-and-queens-lyrics-30-seconds-to-mars.html

Mean Girls

One of America's dominant ideologies is the belief that if your pretty or handsome, and rich you will be popular. The movie Mean Girls takes on the role of people in high school. Being popular can do alot not only in high school but in the actual world. For example movie stars who are rich and famous get special treatment over people who don't have those things. In Mean Girls many high school stereotypes are focused on and exploited.

Mean Girls is a movie about a home schooled girl who moves to the United States and goes to a public school for the first time. She makes friends with the artsy clique but then becomes friends with the popular girls because she is pretty. She leaves her artsy friends and then becomes one of the popular girls. But she finds herself trying to be the most popular and starts putting on alot of make up and buying different expensive clothes. She becomes popular but then realizes being popular isn't something she wants to be when the whole school turns against her.

Mean Girls is a portal into the world of high school life and many of the stereotypical ideologies expressed there. Mean Girls uses comedy with a sense of realism about the popular hierarchy that occurs in high school. When Cady, the lead, leaves her artsy friends to become popular it shows just how much it takes to become popular. Cady went from not being fake to putting on alot of makeup and looking different based on everyones opinion of her. In the end Cady is satisfied with being her regular self and not trying to be someone she's not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBAYiBoy43M

Outta Your Mind = Ballet dancer??

We all make assumptions without taking the time to look at the truth or the facts. Lets face it, thats human. Dancers recieve many assumptions along with rude critiques, and opinions. But, we dance because we love it. Opinions that are ment for bringing us down only makes us want to strive and work harder. Everywhere we go, and everything we do involves false assumptions. Which I have never understood, because people always want to be right...am I correct? So why do we always have to jump to conclusions. We know their will always be that person that does something that is so amazing, its just like a slap across the face. The biggest assumption people make is since ballet dancers are proper and graceful, they can't drop it down low and be legit hip hop dancers. There was an uproar when Alex Wong showed his best on the "So You Think You Can Dance" stage.

Alex Wong got the amazing challenge of doing a NappyTabs piece with Twitch. Alex Wong has been a professional ballet dancer for Miami Ballet. Alex is the best dancer that have yet to see on "So You Think You Can Dance" and will definitely win next season. He is a highly respected dancer and has moved the judges to tears several times. Alex has won the respect from every dancer that watched his breath taking performances. But, when he pulled hip hop out of the hat, people didn't believe he could pull it off. Instead he left everyone speechless, and all anyone could do was stand and cheer for him in the end. He stood out while Twitch began to fade. Alex left all passion, all heart, on the dance floor. He was doing what he loved, reached for the stars, and sent a meteor crashing down on the stage. Alex Wong literally got "outta his mind" and let it all go. He just danced.

Not only does Alex Wong bring people to tears when he's in his forte. He brings roars to the studio when he breaks loose and does some MAJOR hip hop. This routine will be remembered for a long time as the best hip hop dance on the show. Here a professional ballet dancer creams a hip hop dance and proves to people that Ballet Dancers are DOPE. There are so many things that can be proved wrong. People don't need to make assumptions anymore because most of the time they will be wrong. And might even get slapped across the face by Alex Wong. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLtSfYX8tJk

Jersey Shore

For my cultural analysis blog, I decided to dissect a popular pop culture television show on MTV we all know called Jersey Shore. Jersey Shore is all about drinking, looking good, bringing home girls, and partying. believe this show is causing controversy on how the show is setting an influence in young adults on getting drunk, partying and one night stands. The show is very stereotypical and clearly in every episode they have no problem labeling a person they met. The message that is trying to be set out in this whole hip show, is that the females have to dress up as whores to look good and bring home men, and that men are suppose to be tan and buff to be a man, and that if you’re anything other than that you’re nothing!

The show in my opinion is good entertainment and actually has some good comedy. Although, I do not like the message it’s sending out to people like us. The casts in the show get paid to do what they do; look good, party, and get into trouble with each other and as well others. If we were to do that, We would all get into trouble and it will not get you anywhere in life.

There are many people out there that are being themselves and living a happy life. They don’t have to do anything that Jersey Shore is depicting America to do. BE YOURSELF, and you will be cooler than those Jersey Shore punks.

Is Smoking Really Worth It?

 Ever since black and white movies you would see people running around with a cigarette in either their hand or mouth.  It came across as a new way to be "cool" by smoking.  Smoking just became more and more popular as the years past.  It swept through nations, costing people who chose to smoke not only money but their lives.  Smoking is in fact VERY deadly.  I mean u get lung cancer from smoking.  Over 40 million adults in the United States of America Smoke.  I asked several friends and they were not shocked they responded with "Of course everyone smokes now."  What i am trying to say is that everyone just thinks smoking makes u look cool when it actually just harms you and others around you.

Several sites have been created to help inform the dangers of smoking.  One of the more popular sites is called The Truth~http://www.thetruth.com/, with their most recent commercials Shards O' Glass.  The message is pretty clear, the Shards O' Glass Freeze Pops representing cigarettes and only being available to adults.  Of course eating glass is going to hurt you. Just the same way that smoking would harm you.  Smoking is just a total waste of money also... i mean why pay money to slowly kill your self. Being highly addictive your just slowly destroying your lungs to the point where you will need a oxygen tank just to live, never able to separate from it.  Or the hole in your throat with that recorder looking thing that you use to talk. Both negative side affects from smoking over years.

Smoking will most likely never go away. Lack of care and addictive factors on most part.  What my main point is that smoking doesn't make you cool.  Your just slowly digging a hole that gets deeper and deeper that eventually you wont be able to climb your way out of. So to conclude smoking is for losers. d(o.O)z

thetruth.com shardsoglass.com quitsmoking.about.com

Immortal Technique speaks the truth.

In the song Tell The Truth by Immortal Technique he talks about the attack of 9/11 and how he thinks that George Bush planned everything. This is important because some people are not loud enough to talk about this and he has the guts to make a song about this. This song and video are making a big controversy because some people believed in the same opinion that Immortal Technique has. Even though this happened 9 years ago there are still many people that are talking about the twin tower bombing being an attack or a plan. In the song Tell The Truth by Immortal Technique he talks about the government planning the whole 9/11 bombing and i totally agree with very single thing he says. this song could maybe change peoples mind about the "attack" or maybe bring them closer to believing in what he talks about. What Immortal Technique is pretty much trying to say is that George Bush planned the 9/11 bombing and how the politicians are blaming everything on terrorism and i don't think its right and neither does Immortal Technique.

In the first verse he talks about how being in America is like being covered in leeches and that the "drown" you in the propaganda speeches. He says that if you talk about the evil that the government does then the Patriot act will track you down to your blood. He also said that the would try to frame you and say you were selling drugs and give you a federal indictment for people who were doing good deeds. He says that the politicians are fake and the care about them selves and not the American citizens. Then he talks about the terrorism the put on television and that they blame the Muslim religion even though Bin Laden was a CIA tactician, when they gave him billions of dollars and funded his purpose. He says in his second verse that if another country came to the USA there would be war in Harlem and in Washington heights. he also says if there was a war he would be fighting for the US he would be fighting for the other countries and he wouldn't fight for the racist churches in the south but for the occupation to be out. He said that Saddam Hussein did have chemical weapons but we sold him that after Ronald Reagen's election. He goes on to talk about more but i could not put any of it on this blog because it is not appropriate.

If you notice the words in the hook he is saying that it was George Bushs fault, which is one way i am trying to show that he is saying that the government plan 9/11 and Bin Laden had nothing to do with it. In the first verse of the song he says "The dirty water that bleaches your soul and your facial features, drownin' you in propaganda that they spit through the speakers" which means that the government is just saying lies about Iraqis or anyone else from the middle east. People say that what Immortal Technique raps about is unacceptable or they say that its not right for him to rap about these things but last time i check people do have rights and one of those rights is freedom of expression. which means that any one could express their opinions and thats exactly what Immortal Technique is doing.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/immortaltechnique/binladen.html

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

lucky me

In the song Lucky Me by Chris Brown, he speaks of the fun and luck of being a star. Currently people take things for granted, being famous and having things they could only wish for. this song reflects the ideology of music/stardom society. this song is telling its audience to be glad with what you have but also its okay to mourn about the hardships that everyday life throws at you. As a star, you have to live up to the crowds expectations and make it your own and be happy with that. But that idoelogy doesnt apply in this song because its purpose is to show that "happiness" isnt all its made to be. American society says that the life of being a star is the "American Dream." But Chris says that his life doesnt apply to this and it is hard to balance it with happiness and I agree.

The song stars off talking about the beginning of coming on stage and performing. Then it continues talking about the bonuses that come with being a star like "females and fly jets." But as the song progresses Chris says that when you have everything that money can buy you are lucky and you should act like it according to what others would expect from you as oppossed to what you feel. I agree with him when he sings about having everything he could ever want because he was famous. "If it was only that simple, then would i say its easy to do and you know thats not true." But you cant have everything. It is impossible. Yet society insists you can have it all and be happy. Chris proves this. "You dont even know how hard it is do you?

Apple

One of the biggest trends today is Apple technology. Practically everywhere you go you see something that is an Apple product. Whether it is a Mac book, iPhone, iPod, or an iPad. You see them almost everywhere. Apple technology is huge, the Apple keynotes sell out of tickets almost instantly, product announcements are plastered over internet news headlines all the time, people live their lives around Apple products.

Apple first started producing the iPod in 2001. In 2003, iTunes was introduced. The Macbook product line was announced in 2006. On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs announced the iPhone and the new iPod. From this day forth, mobile electronics were forever changed. With the new iPhone, and iPod, Apple was bringing in on average $1 million daily with help from the iTunes App Store. On January 27, 2010, Jobs announced the iPad, and on April 3, 2010 the iPad was launched and sold 300,000 units on the end of the day, and more than 500,000 by the end of the week. Apple is a huge company now, it has surpassed Microsoft in market share for the first time since 1989.

For myself, the iPhone is a daily device for me. I am always using it for Facebook, Twitter, texting, calling people, and also checking up on news. I have an iPod which I use for mainly music now since I have an iPhone 4. I also have an iPad, which allows me to play games on a larger screen than an iPhone, view websites on a full size screen, and basically everything an iPod or iPhone can do except for make phone calls, text, and take pictures/videos. The Apple devices are just a daily thing for me now. As with many other people I also know, I can't live without my Apple devices now. Thanks Apple.

Apple

Boondocks

Can there ever be an end to racism? Racism is one of the founding ideologies in the American society. This is portrayed in the cartoon series "The Boondocks." In which daily experiences of racism are depicted by two young boys who move to an all white suburb. Throughout every episode racism is displayed towards the brothers as they try to stick out from the ways of the town. Huey is the eldest and is a rebel, young activist, and also an anarchist. Riley is the youngest is a hot headed kid who believes that life is all about being a gangster.

The show's audience is supposed to be teenagers who have satire for racism in a predominantly white neighborhood. I believe that this show conveys the message of comical racism which is the best way to make people aware of these such things still exist in America.

A major ideology that I see in this show is racism experienced by the brothers. I think that their way of living shouldn't influence other people's views. This ideology shows that if there is an incident always blame someone of different color, race, or ethnicity. Being a minority causes you to be the center of attention in every incident. To be a regular being in society you need to be white, middle class or high class, and live in a good suburb. I believe it shouldn't be that way, people should have the choice to live however they want and still have equality and the same rights as other people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boondocks_%28TV_series%29

LIVE FOR THE SWARM!

American ideology believes that the strong and athletic people get to get into sports. Recently there is a new sports becoming popular, e-sports or what more people know as professional video gaming. Contradicting to the previous sports you do not have to be strong or fit. Instead you have to be quick on your reaction and your reasoning skills. Before all of the athletes have to go through training to get bigger muscle. Now, instead of training their physical strength they now have to train their mental strength.

In a ladder tournament, it could be a best of 3, best of 5, and rarely best of 7. The current most popular e-sport is Starcraft: Brood War. It is a real time strategy game where you can build up and economy and train soldiers to counter your opponent. It does not need physical strength but you have to memorize the unit counters and the build orders. The only similar thing to the others sports is how fast can you react to your opponent's strategy.

American ideology is that the people have to be strong to be an athlete. I think it is a good thing that the e-sports started so now people can focus on building their mind instead of their body. This way the world can move forward and boosting the intelligence of human kind.

Day[9] a successful American e-sport athlete. Not a strong person

 

physically but mentally

http://www.youtube.com/day9tv
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=141496

Meat, anyone?

When it comes to fashion, many follow the American ideology of going with "what's in" or the current trend. Like celebrities, for instance, most of them glamour themselves with designer made dresses or expensive handbags. They set an expectation for celebrities in the show business which is to dress to impress. However, one celebrity ignored that expectation and set a new one with her very rare style. And that one celebrity is Lady Gaga.

She is not only known for chart-topping hits across the globe but also with her unique sense of style. Lady Gaga doesn't settle for the common look celebrities have at awards shows. Instead, she shows up with a Renaissance-inspired gown with a gold feather headpiece or a meat dress. Yes that's right, a meat dress. It was at the MTV Music Video Awards where Lady Gaga steps on the stage, exposing herself with nothing but raw steak covering her body. After being seen by thousands of people, including countless vegans, critics started questioning Lady Gaga's intentions of wearing the dress. She explained at the Ellen DeGeneres' show that the dress "has many interpretations" and "it is certainly no disrespect to anyone that is vegan or vegetarian."

In my opinion, Lady Gaga's meat dress was a way for her to show people that more diversity is needed in the show business. Not just diversity in the physical aspects of the entertainment business such as the actors or talents but also emotional aspects of it. Emotional aspects meaning having something you believe in other than making a name out of yourself. As Lady Gaga further explained, her meat dress was her way to "show her support for homosexuals in the U.S. Army." She didn't just wear that dress to cause a stir but to use it as an "outside the box" way to represent something she believes in.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/critics-put-a-fork-in-lady-gagas-meat-dress-2079213.html

Unique and Unconventional.

There are many artists today that have a certain persona to go along with their music and image. Katy Perry is not an exception. Her image transitions from the beautiful girl next door to a wimsical fashion mogul and sex icon. Katy Perry has definely caused a stir in the music industry having all her singles hit the Billbord Top 100 and her personal life has accquired some of her limelight as well. The image Katy Perry reflects are those that are becoming a trend today, being "different" and standing out in society. In turn, while this is becoming the trend "standing out" is harder to when everyone is doing it. Eventually, being plain jane will become very rare and different. And Katy Perry is one of many leading the new trend.

Katy Perry first hit the scene in 2008 with her song "I Kissed A Girl". That's when he persona first formed. Since then Katy Perry has been in the spotlight, with most of her singles hitting number one on the charts. Her following singles "Ur So Gay" which talks about a boyfriend who acts and cares more about his looks than herself had made internet-fame and took a hit on boys that can't handle Katy's unique edge. "Hot n Cold" was very similiar in context and tlked about men who are indesisive. Katy Perry's work usually has a specific issue that she sticks to while still making the song cute and catchy. Perry's songs are very unique as the lyrics are usually about something no one has ever really came out with in the past. Recently, Perry has come out with a new album "Teenage Dream" with songs "California Gurls" and the albums title track, Teenage Dream.

Katy Perry is one of the many people leading the trend of being out there and different. For example Katy Perry's music video for California Gurls, the setting and vision for the music video is definitly unique and interesting. It is set in a land made of candy and it made a boardgame with animated animals. The wardrobe is made out of cupcakes, lollipops, and cotton candy. It's not what you'd think the music video would be considering its title. Also in Perry's first hit single " I Kissed A Girl" she talkes about how she has kissed a girl and enjoyed it. It was very out of the norm because the the topic of homosexuality is very controversal in today's society. With Perry expressing it freely, she definitly stood out of the crowd. Katy Perry doesn't only reflect her persona in her music videos, but Perry continues to dress like her characters in her videos in real life.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Perry

Who Hits a Girl?

One of America's dominant ideologies is the belief that it is unacceptable for a male to hit a female, no matter how old they might be. The video of the Jersey Shore cast shows how enraged the other cast members are when "Snooki" was hit square in the face by a man. Mind you that Snooki is a petite female and this guy is a well built male, who easily tower over her. When the entire bar reacted in disbelief, it's show that both male and female understood not hitting a female to be a common rule in society. People were so upset by this event that MTV had to edit out the actual punch being thrown. It goes to show that this rule is a widely held belief.

The scene takes place in a bar in Seaside Heights,New Jersey. Snooki and the other cast members were annoyed with a group of three to four guys because the guys were trying to do everything possible just to be noticed by the camera that was filming the cast of Jersey Shore, a popular reality TV show. When a friend of the cast, Julio, orders shots for only the cast members, the annoying group of guys steals them. Snooki then got in one guys face saying that those weren't their shots and if they wanted the shots, they needed to pay for them. The next thing you know, Snooki is laying on the floor covering her face while crying. All the men in the bar chase the guy who hit her out of the bar and into the waiting arms of the police. Even one of the female cast mates took it upon herself to hit him back, while he was being force out. Snooki is carried to the bathroom where she continues to cry hysterically. In the end, she only ended up with a cut in her gum and a sore mouth.

As long as i can remember, it was unacceptable to hit a female. I am Appalled that a guy could get so drunk, that he ends up punching a girl in the face. He should of had more self control when it came to the alcohol and his temper. Although Snooki was in his face, he still had no right to lay a finger on her. I was pleased to see the other men and women in the bar come to Snooki rescue. In my opinion, they had every right to stand up for her by getting in his face. By the reaction of everyone I know, I can tell the rule of about a male hitting a female is still very much in effect and I hope it stay that way forever!

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/469381/the-aftermath.jhtml#id=1629280