Assignment 2-1 Weekly Written Analysis 2

The popular culture topic I chose this week is the television reality show “The Biggest Loser”.  This is the first reality show where everyone loses weight and learns how to become healthy (Biggestloser.com).  Let’s face it most of America is obese and has very poor eating habits.  This might not be intentional but, because of the way society is today the easiest and cheapest way to eat, is unhealthy.  This series helps the contestant shed pounds safely through a comprehensive diet and exercise.  The contestants are under the direct supervision of professional trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper (Biggestloser.com).  “The Biggest Loser” series has become a worldwide hit as it airs in 90 countries and is produced in 25 countries (Biggestloser.com).  The series first debuted in two thousand four and has since grown to offer different products, tools and apparel to help lose weight and promote weight loose.

            I can relate to this series because I have struggled with weight issues my whole life.  I have never been excessively big but as a child you feel like you are because of all the mean names that kids can call you.  Growing up I always thought that I was excessively overweight and tried everything to lose it.  However, I would succeed but then gain it back because I never realized it had to be a lifestyle change.  The Biggest Loser helps the contestants realize this.  They work with them on their diets so when they leave the ranch they can maintain or keep losing the weight.  

            This has become such a popular series that they now have “The Biggest Loser” weight lose challenges around the world throughout different companies.  Depending on the amount of pounds dropped for the company “The Biggest Loser” will donate that many pounds of food to a local food bank.  I would have never imagined that a reality show could make this much difference for people.  I am living proof that it can happen because I have lost over eighty pounds in the last year and it is all thanks to “The Biggest Loser” reality show. 

Assinment 2-2 Three Icons

The three icons I chose is Mickey Mouse, Michael Jackson, and Ronald McDonald.  Mickey Mouse was created in by Walt Disney in 1928.  Mickey Mouse had his first appearance in Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928.  The mouse has evolved from being an animated character in cartoons to becoming one of the most recognizable symbols in the world (Wikipedia, n.d.).  Mickey Mouse makes kids and adults laugh.

Mickey Mouse

Michael Jackson is the second icon I chose.  At the age of eleven Michael started as a member of the Jackson Five group with his brothers.  In the 80’s he went solo to produce number one hits such as “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”’ and “Beat It”.  Michael Jackson became known as the “King of Pop” because of his inspiration to pop music.  He sold ove 750 million albums, had 13 number one hits and won 13 grammy awards (Michael Jackson bio).

The third icon I chose is Ronald McDonald.  Ronald McDonald was featured in three television ads for the first time in 1963.  He is a happy clown that took adventures with his friends in adventure land.  Ronald interacts with kids in their ever day life.  He makes them feel happy and safe.  They have since opened Ronald McDonald houses where parents can stay while visiting sick children in the hospital.

I chose these three icons because they represent different times in my life.  I have always loved Mickey Mouse as a little kid and still do as an adult.  My husband and I just went to Walt Disney World in March, 2011 for the third time and we have no kids.  I think that Mickey Mouse makes you feel happy and makes you laugh.  Michael Jackson was in my elementary years when I listened to his music.  I still love his music.  I was very devastated when he passed away.  Lastly, Ronald McDonald was just a clown that I loved to see as a child each time I went to McDonald’s.  He made me laugh.

References

Michael Jackson bio (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2011 from:      http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/bio.

Wikipedia, (n.d.). Mickey Mouse. Retrieved May 27, 2011 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse.

Wikipedia, (n.d.). Ronald McDonald. Retrieved May 27, 2011 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_mcdonald.

Assignment 1-4

Who would have ever thought that we would have information and resources at our fingertips with just a click of a mouse?  Yes, I am talking about the internet; it has become a popular culture trend.  The internet has become a popular culture trend for everyone in the United States.  It has changed the way we communicate, socialize, and shop and much more.

            Rather than going out with a group of friends for an evening to socialize and meet new people, we now use the internet.  Many people use internet dating sites like eHarmony and match.com.  These sites will let you know everything that you need to know about the person you are about to go out on a date with and will also let you know if your personalities match prior to setting up a date.  Some people view this as a safe way to date because these sites do a background check on every registered person with their site.  The internet has also changed the way we communicate with each other as well.  Many years ago the only way for communication was to write a letter and mail it through the U.S. mail system.  Then the telephone was invented so you could talk with the person the same day.  Then the invention of the internet came along with e-mail.  This meant that you could get documents and letters to people within the same day.  This also changed how meetings were composed.  You could have a meeting with an office in another state or country via the internet.  The internet has also changed the way people shop, instead of going to the mall they can shop from their computer day or night.

            The internet has become a popular culture trend in many ways.  I believe that the internet will continue to grow and become an everyday part of people’s lives.  If you think about how things were done in the past compared to the present you wonder how we ever made it.  Just image what the future holds for us on the internet.

Popular Culture Blog Assignment 1-2

1.  What is Popular Culture?
             Popular Culture is a way of life.  It shows us how to dress, act and what to eat.  The mass media has a great influence on popular culture because it follows the everyday life of many people.  It is the beliefs and images of society.  As the trends change society follows leaving a trail of culture.

2.  Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?
            We learn through culture (Koyen, G., N.A.).  Culture is beliefs, values and other influences that set expectations of group or individual behavior.  Once culture is in place what the company employees do become automatic (Koyen, G., N.A.).  The technology in a business environment is also important.  We need to stay current because of all the technology being produced.

3.  What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact?  And why would you choose it?
             My popular culture artifact is the Apple iPad which was released on April 3, 2010 in the United States.  Who would have ever thought that we have a computer this small with touchscreen capabilities.  After all the first computers produced were huge and only available for desktops.  These computers verily fit on a desk and we now have one small enough to carry in a bag.  The iPad shows that technology has really evolved through the years.





Reference:
Koyen, G. (N.A.). Learning, Culture, and Corporate Change Part One: The Importance of Culture. Retrieved May 16, 2011 from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/25556/Learning-Culture-and-Corporate-Change-Part-One-The-Importance-of-Culture.