Written Analysis - Analysis 5

When writing my analysis papers on the movie, “Straight Outta Compton”, I discussed several theories thought-out my papers.  But the one theory that I found to be most relatable and the most prevalent was that of stereotyping.  Stereotyping played a major roll thought-out the entire picture and was a constant obstacles for the entire group as a whole and also individually.  The producers of the movie did a great job of showing the particular stereotypes associated with that time frame in American and how it related to the group.  Stereotypes or stereotyping was a fast growing problem during that time frame and is still a persistent problem in our society today as well.  The movie opened my eyes once again to this form of discrimination as well as several others that are not widely touched on in today’s society unless it makes national headlines.

            The most interesting finding from my analysis is that no matter how much we like to think we have progressed as a society, we have a long way to go in our quest to become better people and a nation.  From stereotyping, racism, popular Beliefs, myths, rituals and formulas, we all have certain beliefs and a way of thinking or doing things that is contradictory to how we view ourselves.  We would like to think that we do not have some of this disparaging characteristics and habits, but when it boils down to it we all have either been taught or exposed to these factors and have absorbed them into our everyday way of thinking.  One of the most interesting things that I encountered while writing my analysis papers on this movie was the groups never give up attitude.  When faced with all these obstacles and setbacks, the group continued to defy the odds and stay on the path to greatness.  If I had to take one lesson from the movie or the group as a whole it would be that one hands down.

            Based on my analysis I will definitely think and view the group N.W.A. and its individual’s members way different then I did before. I used to look at them as a cool rap group who had hardcore lyrics and a negative attitude towards the police and the mainstream authority figures, when in reality they were so much more than.  I always knew that the group as a whole and individually has personal success as well as struggles, but I never knew of the impact that they caused not just in rap music but the music industry as a whole.  I never really understood the impact that the group had on a national level politically either.  The movie as well as this assignment really open my eyes to the great accomplishments and achievements that this group had on our nation as a whole.  A greater understanding and appreciation of this music that I so deeply love is what I will take away from this course and assignments.

Reference:

Myint, B. "N.W.A.: Where Are They Now?" Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 13 Aug. 

            2015. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
 

Written Analysis - Analysis 4

       In the movie “Straight Outta Compton”, there were several types of formula being used throughout the movie. The formula that was the most persistent was the Rags to Riches formula.  Before we jump into explaining what and how this formula works we first must understand what the term “formula” means in regards to popular culture and how it applies to our movie.  The definition of Formula is defined as; a set rule(s) used to determine the path or course of something staring from point A and ending at point B.  Movie and Television studios have used this basic formula to create some of the most classic works of art of our generation. 
         
      The movie “Straight Outta Compton” uses the popular rags to riches formula to tell us the story of the group N.W.A.. IN the movie the formula is laid out as such:

·         Find a group of inter city youth with talent being overlooked

·         Develop intercity youth talents and expose it to the masses

·         Encounter trials and tribulations associated with their talents verses road to success

·         Overcome these obstacles and hurtles to become a success story

Straight Outta Compton is based on the real life success story embodying this formula.  The group was comprised of five talented members from a gang and crime infested city that assembled and grew their talents as one.  Under the direction of the group’s founder Easy E. and their manager Jerry Heller they quickly become a force to be reckoned with.  But the road to fame wasn’t easy thy faced negative influences from their previous life styles and friends along with present opposition from Law Enforcement and main stream America’s backlash against what they stood for and were trying to achieve.  There was dissention within the group amongst its members and management which lead to the group separation but not before creating one of the most influential rap and hip hop groups of all time.  But from the ashes of the group’s demise arouse induvial success which lead to stardom and fame for each member of the group.

 

Reference :

Myint, B. "N.W.A.: Where Are They Now?" Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 13 Aug.

2015. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.

 

 

 

Journal Article Paper

In the article; “Reading Race and the Difference It Makes”: (Post) 9/11, Black Performance, and Cultural Production (Melancon, T., 2014), the author tells of pre 9/11 and post 9/11 race relations and the ties it has to the overall African American community.  The article touches on several forms of Black Performance, and Cultural Production and expressions in the black community from musical, political, film, stage and so on.  The author looks at how African American used these various forms of expression and their social influences to protest and bring light to important social issues that were typically overlooked or passed over by the mainstream media outlets.

This particular author sheds light on how racial relations were before and after 9/11 and the effort that it had not just in the African American community but other ethic and minority groups as well.  The author also focused on how when the United States began waging war on terror how this so call war would not be the new platform for racial discrimination and bigotry for others who did not embody what was perceived to look like or be quote unquote “American”.  The article go’s as far as to suggest that waging a war on terror abroad has actually increased domestic terrorism on U.S. soil as well.  This highlights the racial divide that was once thought to have been all but forgotten and added full too a smoldering fire and ignited a whirlwind of hatred and intolerance for others.

 Drawing upon two distinct and contemporary forms of black performance—Lupe Fiasco’s “Words I Never Said” and Sergeant Shamar Thomas’s Occupy Wall Street demonstration—this article engages these very issues regarding race, cultural production, and black performance. Not only does it do so to elucidate the conspicuous shifts in race in light of and in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, but also to explicate the extent to which black performance—through racial embodiment, aesthetic form, and protest or revolution vocalized—contests prevailing racial politics, engagements, and propaganda regarding race (post) 9/11.  The author uses these two artist works to explain the state of mind that exist within the black community pre and post 9/11.  Yet, race has invariably played a consequential role in America. Not only has it been essential to maintaining power structures and demarcating otherness but also in narrating what (and, by extension, who) constitutes American identity domestically and abroad. While race has operated as such, its manifestations have not been fixed, uniform, or absolute over time.

I am in arrogance with the author in several of the points that he has demonstrated throughout the article.  Being that I am a young African American male who has his own business and who has also dabbled in the music and TV industry,  I find that he makes several valid points on how race relations were before and after 9/11 and how it affected black performance and cultural production.  I agree on this theory that before 9/11 happen race relations were on the backburner and were dealt with on a case by case bases meaning if we all got along then everything was fine but when race relations became strained we only dealt with it when it became national news.  The attacks on 9/11became a launching pad for a new wave of hatred and bigotry throughout our country and gave people a new crusade to shift there deep seated racial hatred towards. I also shear author outlook on how the African American community has used all forms of artistic avenues to express their political and personal views on the war and racial tension between different other ethic racial groups as well as its own.  I agree with the author when he suggest that Sgt. Thomas’s Occupy Wall Street demonstration, as does “Words I Never Said,” exposes the shifts—transparent and nuanced—in instantiations and topographies of race and US identity (nationally and militaristically) in light of and in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. This moment is embroiled with matters of American and US identity, as well as security, in an increasingly diverse racialized and globalized world. These performances expose what is inscribed and at stake in the systematic war on terror, as well as U.S. enactments and approximations of both terror and war—broadly and narrowly defined—(post) 9/11.

This article is very important in my eyes because it sheds light on several injustices that has been brought on by racial divide and prejudice before and after 9/11.  It show how black performers have used their talents and showcases as political shoeboxes to speak out against these injustices to shed light on what is going on within their lives and communities.  It sheds light on how the so called war on terror has lost focus on what it was intended to do which was seek out the people who were responsible for the attacks on 9/11, instead it is now used as a rallying cry for all people who dislike others who they believe not be American or who may look, think, act or worship differently than the way we do or think they should because of their race, religion, or nationality.  This article is a very interesting read that will challenge your way of thinking about the attacks on 9/11, African American performers and their roll in politics and how it changed the course of race relation in America.

 

 

 

 

Reference:

Melancon, Trimiko. ""Reading Race and the Difference It Makes": (Post) 9/11, Black

Performance, and Cultural Production." <i>Franklin University Journal of Popular Culture. Jun2014, Vol. 47 Issue 3, P489-502. 14p.</i> N.p., 24 June 2014. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

Written Analysis - Analysis 3

In the movie “Stright Outta Compton”, the movie had several hero character portrayed throughout the movie.  A hero is defined as a hero or heroine is a person or main character of a literary work who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through impressive feats of ingenuity, bravery or strength, often sacrificing his or her own personal concerns for some greater good (Wikipedia, 2016).  The group N.W.A. was the overall hero figure in the movie.  The group defied major social and racial barriers and obstacles to rise to stardom and fame in the late 1980ies and early 1990ies.  But when the group is broken down into individuals members, three stood out as personal hero as well. 

My first personal hero choice would be Ice Cube.  He was the first to leave the group when faced with financial concerns and intermodal between himself and the other group members and there manger.  Leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table he left the group to go solo and by doing so became a pioneering and legendary figure in the Hip Hop and music industry.  My end choice would be Dr. Dre.  He was the musical mastermind behind the sound of the group.  After Ice Cubes departure, Dr. Dre also separated himself from the group after realizing that Ice Cubes accusations and concerns were valid.  He left the group and join Death Row records.  But just like Ice Cube, he once again ran into personal and financial hardships and eventually left the label to form his own record company Aftermath.  He would go on to become a pioneering and legendary figure in the Hip Hop and music industry as well.  Last but not least would be the groups founding member Eazy E.  Easy was a small time drug dealer/hustler who took a chance on the group N.W.A and with the help of Jerry Heller turn the small time group into and overnight success in the music world.  He defied all type of olds to do this.  He left behind his criminal past and became a shrewd business man and despite all the naysayers and doubters, did the unthinkable for a young black male with no education and a criminal background.  He overcame the typical stereotypes and became a millionaire and also a pioneering and legendary figure in the Hip Hop and music industry.

Now when dealing with the Cult of Celebrity aspect of the movie we have to first understand what it means.  The cult of the celebrity is defined as, “Famous for being famous, or famous for nothing, in popular culture terminology, refers to someone who attains celebrity status for no particular identifiable reason, or who achieves fame through association with a true celebrity.” As a society we are obsessed with celebrities, but more for the bad things they do than the good.  The group N.W.A is a prime example of the Cult of Celebrity trend.  The group during its journey from the bottom to the top enjoyed many privileges for just being famous.  You had women throwing themselves at the group in order to be associated with them and their fame to celebrity’s wanting to associate themselves and their brand with the group for monitory gain and exposer.  The news and media outlet latched on to their stardom and success as well and feed the public with the triumphs as well as their struggles.  The group would ultimately self-destruct and meet their demise to their Cult of Celebrity exposure.

 

References:

 

Facebook.com (n.d.). Cult of Celebrity. Retrieved March 5, 2012 from

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cult-of-celebrity/106507002719864

Myint, B. "N.W.A.: Where Are They Now?" Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 13 Aug.

2015. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.

Written Analysis - Analysis 2

In the movie, “Straight Outta Compton, there are many rituals and stereotypes that are demonstrated.  Before I talk about how these apply to the movie we need to know what the definition of the words.  Ritual is defined as any practices inspired by a myth either embedded in a particular culture, community, family and etc. Rituals are also defined as any practice that is consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. An example of this would be a person who all ways sits in the same sit on the bus every day. Next is the word Stereotypes.  Stereotype is defined as a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.  This term has been used to label many things throughout our culture that we as a community tend to not understand so we stereotype or pigeonhole whatever it is into this category.

One of the most prevalent rituals that the movie portrayed was the ritual of writing and recording.  The group N.W.A would contently go in to the recording studio to write and record their music. Even before the group signed their deal with their manager Jerry Heller, they would gather up before, during and after school to discuss their ideals and lay down some form of recording. Another ritual that was observed in the movie was the celebrating or parting.  After the group would have a successful show or achievement, they would all gather up and have a celebration or party.  This ritual was an important one, this ritual signified that the group had done something successful and a celebration was in order to show proof of that. Many cultures observe this ritual in some form or fashion and it can come in the form of just a few friends and family members getting together in observance of it to hundreds of thousands of people joining in to be a part of someone or somethings success.

One of the most prevalent stereotypes that the movie depicted was the stereotype that all young black males were nothing more than drug dealers, gangbangers or your common criminals.  No matter what each of the members did, this was the common stereotype associated with them.  This is a common stereotype that has been used to label misunderstood or intercity youth in today’s society. Another stereotype is that Rap music was not a viable or respected form of music. When Gangster Rap music hit the scene in the late 1980.  America would dismiss it value and deemed it inappropriate and ill moral and degrading in certain forms of its content.  The problem with this was that it was overlooking the underlying message that the music was trying to address.  With any other music genre, Gangster Rap music was really a platform for young African Americans to voice what was going on in their community.  What main stream American didn’t understand was the language of the streets that was being used to put it out there.

In conclusion, there is a lot of insight that can be gained from this movie as well as the ritual and stereotypes that are depicted in the movie as well.  By looking at both stereotypes and rituals that I have described above we start to see patterns set for success and failure not just in the movie but life in general. Most ritual are uplifting and have a positive reinforcement behind them but if theses rituals are derived out of hate, anger rage then the outcome can have a negative impact.  Stereotypes or “Stereotyping” is a practice that needs to be eliminated in today’s modern society.  This form of labeling is demeaning hurtful and only causes discord between the people who use and it and the people who it is being placed upon.

Written Analysis – Analysis 1

      The theory that best applies to my popular culture topic is Myths. I choose the Movie, Straight out of Compton.  This movie is a biopic of the rap group N.W.A and chronicles their humble begins to their rise to stardom not only in rap music but the music industry over all.  What does the initials N.W.A stand for, they mean, N = Niggas W= With A= Attitude.  The group chose these initials to make a bold statement to the world about their music and themselves.  The group was formed in 1985 and consisted of the following members:

DJ Yella (1986–1991)
Dr. Dre (1986–1991)
Eazy-E (1986–1991; died 1995)
Ice Cube (1986–1989)
MC Ren (1988–1991)

      The myth that was portrayed throughout this movie is that all young black males were nothing more then drug dealers, gangbangers or your common criminals.  No matter what each of the members did or whether this myth was a correct labeling or not, overall white America viewed them in this way.  Where ever they went they were greeted with resistance and racial profiling based on the color of their skin, where they were from and the content of their music.  No matter how successful they became, they were never judged on their brilliant music capabilities and keen business savvy or creativeness, they were only judge on the negative aspect of race and bias.

      The insight that I found when applying the theory of myth to my popular culture topic was never to judge a book by its cover.  When mainstream America was exposed to the hard-core rap group out of Compton California, they were quick to pass judgment on the based off of racial prejudice and bias or a dislike for a genre of music that they knew nothing about.  Even after the stunning success of the group, mainstream America still would not recognize them as talented and shrewd businessmen but only as thugs and deviants.  The movie was very inspiring to me because it showed that no matter what your current circumstances are you can change them and better yourself by choosing the path of hard work and dedication and believing in yourself and following your dreams.

Icon Analysis

             Before we can label something as an Icon or Iconic, we must first know what the definition of Icon means.  There are many definition of the word but to me this makes the most sense, a celebrity, character, or object whose exposure constitutes a defining characteristic of a given society or era.  Below I have listed three things that I consider Icon’s.

The first con that I have chosen is Apple.  No other brand in the digital field of cell phones and computers comes close or even exemplifies the advances that Apple has made in the last 20 plus years.  Apple fines new and innovative ways to always improve and energize its customer base.  In spite of the fact that Apple began as a PC organization opposing the computer giant and pioneer Microsoft, it has effectively rehashed and revamped its image to suit the changing patterns and times.  Not at all like most notorious brands that get self-satisfied, Apple has been the exception, they are constantly advancing and making spearheading items that have changed the standards within the market.

 

 

My second choice for and Icon is the rap group Run DMC.  Run DMC is a rap group from Hollis, Queens, New York, established in 1981 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jam Master Jay. The group is highly recognized as the most influential musical acts in the history of rap and Hip Hop music.  Run–D.M.C. is one of the best-known hip hop acts in the 1980s who brought Hip Hop and rap music from the streets and clubs to main stream radio and into Americans households. They were the first group within that genre to have a gold album (Run–D.M.C., 1984) and be nominated for a Grammy Award.   They were the first to acquire a platinum record (King of Rock, 1985), the first to gain a multiplatinum accreditation (Raising Hell, 1986), the first to have recordings on MTV, and the first to show up on American Bandstand and also appear on the front of Rolling Stone.  Run–D.M.C. was also the only Hip Hop/Rap act to perform at Live Aid in 1985.  With their achievements and ground breaking contribution to not only Hip Hop/Rap but music in general, I proudly label them as an Icon in the Music industry.

 

 

 

 

 

My third choice for and Icon is the city of Las Vegas.  Known simply as Vegas or Sin City, this town is where people from all over the world travel to for a once and a life time experience that you can only fine there.  The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its mega casino–hotels and associated entertainment. The Iconic city got its start in the late 1940’s as a gambling town that was controlled by the mob.  But this city was destine for greater things and the mob bosses were slowly pushed out of control and big business came and capitalized on the fast growing fascination with gambling and bright lights.  During the 1960s, corporations and business powerhouses such as Howard Hughes were building and buying hotel-casino properties. Gambling was now referred to as "gaming," which transitioned into legitimate business.  In 1989, entrepreneur Steve Wynn changed the face of the Las Vegas gaming industry by opening up The Mirage, the Las Vegas Strip's first mega-casino resort.  Now bigger than ever, Las Vegas quickly became a destination for the rich and famous and the who’s who in the entertainment world.  Today LasVegas in the number one tourist destination in the United States and maybe the word for night life, fun and entertainment.

Reference:

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/netapp/2013/10/16/apple-google-best-brands/#2715e4857a0b279391155b70

http://www.rundmc.com/

http://www.lasvegas.com/

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Popular Culture blog assignment

What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you?

Popular culture is defined as: a culture based on the tastes of ordinary people rather than an educated elite.  I myself would define popular culture as what is new and prevalent in todays mainstream society or a hip way to put it what is now trending.  Todays popular culture can arise from just about anything such as, clothing, music, people, entertainment and the list can go on and on.  One trend now a days which has become a popular culture is Social Media networks.  Several people from our average everyday person to business to your celebrity have started using these tools to promote their lifestyles and in doing so  have made Social media a popular culture as well.

Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?

Being that I am in the radio industry.  One of our main goals is to stay current on what people are listening to and the people who are behind the music.  So understanding popular culture is a must for me and my staff.  We use social media so that we can stay connected to our fan base which in return keeps us up to date on what is popular and trending.  By doing this we will stay ahead of the curve and know exactly what it is that our customer base wants and can provide it to them ahead of our competition.

What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?

I would have to say that Social Media as a whole is a huge pop culture artifact.  Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube have revolutionize the way that we as a society communicate and interact with one another.  You don't have to be a famous celebrity or someone with stature to get your opinion out or to express what you belive to be important or relevant to the massive.