Assignment 5-1

You Tube

            It is with no doubt that the generations growing up as we speak live and thrive off of social media outlets and among these outlets the leader of have to be YouTube.  While Facebook and Twitter are very popular among people of all ages, YouTube is where people “get noticed”.  More and more people are creating accounts on YouTube in order to share videos with family, promote or recruit for events, and yes, even in hopes of becoming the next “Justin Bieber”. 

            YouTube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen came up with the idea in 2005 and then were purchased by Google in 2006.  To this day YouTube works with groups like CBS, Warner Music Group, and BBC (YouTube, 2011).  Accounts are set up for free by any adult with an email address.  From there you are free to upload and even promote original videos for whatever reason. 

            Over the years and partnership with music and television groups YouTube also showcases music videos, TV ads, movie trailers and much more.  The recent unbelievable success of teenage music star Justin Bieber has shown just how important YouTube can be.  While millions of people post funny, embarrassing, education, promotional and “just because videos each year, very few will actually ever “get noticed”.  However, this does not stop one from trying or dreaming of such success. 

            There have been lawsuits filed against YouTube on behalf of big name artists.  Risks of copy writes, loss of income, and “stealing value” are all concerns with YouTube being so easy to access.  Others worry just how safe it is to post videos of their family, after all who knows who all is watching or just where you’re private information is going.  Users of YouTube need to remember a few simple rules, just as on Facebook or Twitter accounts.  First, watch what you make public; never upload something you don’t want everyone to see.   Most importantly, never give out any private information!!  If you’re meant to be famous, they will find you; just ask Justin Bieber!

References

YouTube. (2011). Retrieved June 13, 2011, from Crunch Base http://www.crunchbase.com/company/youtube

Assignment 4-1

Android vs. IPhone

            Today’s technology advanced and fast paced society requires the same out of our communication needs.  Nearly everyone has some form of a cell phone and in 2010 23% of them had “smartphones” (Kellogg, 2010).  In this smartphone category there are Blackberry, IPhone and Android devices.  Over the last couple years Blackberry has lost ground in the battle for smartphones with once devoted Blackberry users turning to either the Android or IPhone markets.  Both Android and IPhone have seen an estimated 2% increase among users (Kellogg, 2010).

            Android and IPhone devices provide the user with basically the same options and are locked in a “smartphone war” against each other.  So what’s the difference and why are users so particular on either Android or IPhone?  This question is hard to answer, but a few key points from surveys taken during purchases and voluntary response polls give us a little incite.

            Android users tend to be slightly younger and tend to have a lower education/income level than IPhone users (Kellogg, 2010).  Android phones tend to be less expensive with newer phones such as the HTC line being new in the higher priced new to their market.            The IPhones tend to have a high purchase price that may be influencing the statistics a little.  Per the Nielsen Company statistics, Android users are 70% likely to purchase another Android device compared to 80% of IPhone users who would purchase another IPhone (Kellogg, 2010).  As of 2010 IPhone users outnumbered Android users 3 to 1 and where very open to trying the Android systems.  Currently Android and IPhone are running neck and neck. 

            One key difference outside of any surveys or polls is that of their operating systems, downloadable Apps and typical usage.  Android and IPhone both offer an “app” store.  IPhones Itunes is compatible with the phone and IPod systems making it more popular than the amazon/search engine format of the Android system.  Also, Android users tend to do more file-transfers and ringtone/wallpaper downloads while IPhone still holds strong in actual music and game play (Kellogg, 2010).

            It will be interesting to see where the battle between Android and IPhone takes us.  What will be the next generation of ‘smartphones’?  Whatever it turns out to be, it will more than definitely be a creating of the battle between these two.

References

Kellogg, D. (2010, June 4). IPhone vs. Android. Retrieved June 8, 2011, from NielsenWire: http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/iphone-vs-android/

Assignment 3-1

Reality T.V. - Americas Got Talent

            Reality Television shows are typically network series shows aimed at “live - real life” events.  Such shows include Survivor, Big Brother, American Idol and Americas Got Talent.  More and more reality television shows are being created, with nearly every major network having at least one of their own series.  Reality television is a topic of hot debate in our current society.  Some see it as entertaining and harmless, while others feel it is exploiting young people and creating hype over nothing.

            Reality shows such as Americas Got Talent start off with open auditions from the general public.  Auditions can be for any talent from singing to juggling and of any age.  A group of judges, typically pop stars themselves, vote the auditions down to a select few.  These few are then coached and expected to perform live each week till they are either voted off or win (Americas Got Talent, 2011).  It is with no doubt that this show is popular among its viewers, enough so that the series continues every year.

 The issue many bring up is the celebrity status often obtained by the contestants on these shows and the effect it has on its viewers.  Often times the winners of such shows make one big “hooray” after their win and are never heard from again.  It is not uncommon for the runner-ups to have bigger success than the winners.  “Reality TV shows make celebrities out of talentless individuals”, “Reality TV shows bring out the worse in people’ (Jel73, 2008).  Such results often create impractical hopes and dreams of people who cannot handle it when things do not go their way.

            On the other hand, reality T.V. does open doors to many people who do truly have great talent and may have never been seen before.  Reality T.V. also provides the general public with much needed “down to earth” entertainment.  For this reason I do not see reality television stopping anytime soon.

References

Americas Got Talent. (2011). Retrieved June 1, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent

Jel73. (2008, October 2008). Reality TV shows are an important part of popular culture today. Retrieved June 1, 2011, from Debatewise: http://debatewise.com/debates/332-reality-tv-shows-are-an-important-part-of-popular-culture-today

Assignment 2-2

Icon Analysis

            There are hundreds of possible pop culture icons in the world.  I have picked three contemporary icons for this paper.  My first icon is Oprah Winfrey who just aired her final episode May 25^th after doing her T.V show for 25 years.  My second icon is the 1960’s music group The Beatles. Finally, my third icon is the ever loving, laugh making, cartoon character Bugs Bunny. 

           Oprah Winfrey is an icon in my opinion because of the lives she touched around the world by a simple talk show.  Her work around the globe from everything from Morehouse College to Female Empowerment will live on long after her show.  During her final shows this past week the impact on just how many lives she touched was made real clear between the 300 plus men from Morehouse College, to the over 64,000 kids on the “went to school” board.  While I did not watch every episode of Oprah, I saw enough to feel her message and see the impact.  As a 30 year old female, her work touched my heart and opened my eyes for the future.

The Beatles were huge in the 1960’s for several reasons.  Their music, actions, followers, and well, everything about them carried them to huge fame and controversy.  A group of 4 guys made girls scream, dream, fall in love, and even faint.  Parents of the time normally were on the losing end of a “culture” battle.  To this day many musical artists credit The Beatles for their success.  Without the work of the Beatles music may not be “as we know it”.  As a huge musical person the Beatles are a big part of my world.  Personally, I am not a big fan of their music but of only select songs.  However, the importance of their message, dedication, and stubbornness is forever part of music history.

                                                        

As my third icon I picked Bugs Bunny.  This cute, lovable, huggable, “wrascally wrabit” has been around long before I was ever born, yet not only did I grow up watching him, but now my children are.  In a world of rushing to get things done, stressful jobs, violence, and constant uncertainty we can always turn to the T.V. and share a good belly laugh with our families thanks to Bugs Bunny.  Bugs Bunny made it in my top three icons because of the generations of people growing up with him.  It is important to me to have such icons in my families’ lives, and hope it can love on for feature generations.

                                                              

Assignment 2-1

Internet Impact

            It wasn’t that long ago that the best way to communicate with someone outside of your own home was by telephone or postage paid mail.  The only way to rent a movie was by going to the store or to rent a book meant trips to the library. Going to school required transportation to a local building at specific times.  October 24, 1995 would bring the start of an amazing change and inspiring future for generations to come. The invention and creation of the “internet” has brought changes to the way people all around the world live their lives more than anyone could have ever imagined.

                                                   

            This very class would not exist if the internet was not created.  Many of today’s youth are growing up with the internet a required part of their world.  At only 10, my daughter has half of her homework requiring some form of internet usage.  I am only 30; however I have a hard time remembering life without the internet.  To this day everything from my college classes to my job requires the internet.  I work in transportation at a warehouse location for a large retail chain.  All of our load planning, trailer shipments, and store communications are done via email and high speed connected internet service.  I often wonder how these jobs were done prior to such invention.

            The internet is a creation of several minds over decades of research and experiments.  “The first recorded description of the social interactions that could be enabled through networking was a series of memos written by J.C.R. Licklider of MIT in August 1962 discussing his "Galactic Network" concept” (Barry M. Leiner, 2011, Para. 6).  By the 1970’s and 80’s the “enternet” was in use by government and military personnel, though nothing like we now know it.   On October 24, 1995 the Federal Networking Council officially defined the term “Internet” and it has grown and flourished ever since.

           To this day the Internet allows people all around the work quick connection and access to everything from letters (email) to movies and books in a matter of minutes via a simple click of a mouse.  The internet to me is a huge pop culture topic based on this knowledge.  We are living in a time were some generations of people will never adapt to the internet, some have been caught in the middle of it, and others will never live without it.  Where will the internet go, or more importantly, take us?

References

Barry M. Leiner, V. G. (2011). A Brief History of the Internet. Retrieved May 25, 2011, from Internet Society: http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml

           

Assignment 1-4

Justin Bieber

            No matter if your 55 or 5, if you listen to the radio or watch public TV you have more than likely heard about the current teenage pop music sensation Justin Bieber.  Justin Bieber, or J.B. as he’s known among his followers, has quickly worked his way into the hearts of people all around the world.   Everything about his stardom involves pop culture, from discovery to promotion. 

            Justin Bieber’s discovery has been credited to another current pop culture topic; Social Media.  One common thought among society, whether you’re a fan or not, is that if it was not for an amazing lucky find by the right person on You Tube, “Bieber Fever” would never have been created.  It took one particular person seeing one particular video on a giant social media site.  The odds of this happening are staggering, but it happened for 12 year old Justin Bieber just a few years ago (How, 2010).

            As if this luck isn’t enough, it took even more social media involvement to fully start Bieber Fever.  While his You Tube video got him noticed by the music industry, the recording world wasn’t as confident.   Justin turned to his online world and found himself “Tweeting” and “blogging” about his happenings.  As he traveled so did his messages.  The more he messaged, the more girls jumped onboard.  In no time at all Justin found himself engulfed by teenage madness, leading to his confinement for his own safety (Chu, 2011). 

            Today Justin Bieber is 17 and still steeling the hearts of girls all over the world.  Parents, such as me, are even being pulled into his world.  For me it is a curiosity.  I can’t help but wonder if this teenage star can hold his fame when he’s 21 or even 37.  Too many teenage starts die out or find themselves in trouble.  Justin Bieber has entered us into a new age and holds the power to shape a new pop culture in several ways.

References

  How Justin Bieber Was Discovered. (2010, June 25). Retrieved May 19, 2011, from Justin Biber Blog: http://www.justinbieberblog.org/how-justin-bieber-was-discovered

Chu, J. (Director). (2011). Never Say Never [Motion Picture]. United States.

Popular Culture Blog 1-2

Nannette Fuller URL http://nfuller37franklin.blogspot.com/

What is Popular Culture?

          Popular (or pop) culture is anything from lifestyles, beliefs, persons, or items that are extremely well known and widespread within a popularion.  They effect not only my life, but my career in many ways.  Pop culture directs they way I shop, how I raise my kids, and even how well my business functions.  Current pop culture sets the stage for retail giants and previous pop culture directs many businesses.

Example of Pop Culture Artifact

            I have selected the teenage music star Justin Bieber his current status and remarkable “social media” relation for my pop culture blob artifact.  I was pulled into the Bieber world thanks to my 10 year old daughter.  Justin Biebers success as a musician is completely due to social media such as Twitter, Facebook, blogging, and Youtube.  “Justin Bieber is popular right now because, he "has a lot of fans who like to tweet about him,” (Crum, 2010).  His quick rise to fame, deep impact to preteen and teenage girl hearts (much like the Beetles in their day), and unique way to stardom makes him a current pop culture topic.

Justin Bieber Image from Yahoo.com/images

References:

Crum, C. (2010, March 27). Twitter Business Lessions from Justin Bieber. Retrieved 2011 May, 2010, from webpronews: http://www.webpronews.com/twitter-business-lessons-from-justin-bieber-2010-03