Masculinity- Quiz 5

This commercial featuring Wrangler jeans shows Brett Favre wearing the jeans while playing football with some friends. The ad is selling jeans and also the idea of masculinity as being "tough guys". Favre actually describes the jeans as "tough" in one of his first lines and also later in the ad. The song in the background, Bad to the Bone, also portrays this "tough guy" masculine performance. The ad shows all the guys playing a contact sport because it sells further the "tough guy" idea.




This advertisement is connecting Gillette razors with male dominance and success. There are many scenes of a man succeeded or accomplishing a task like dunking a basketball, climbing a mounting, winning a race, or boxing match. These scenes portray masculine roles. There are also references to women in this ad, whereas the Wrangler ad showed no women. This ad is selling the idea that a close shave with Gillette razors will bring about success and that attractive women will want you. The ad also shows male dominance over women by man's attitude as if he doesn't care about the woman and in the scene where the man lays the woman in the sand.

Quiz 5

This is the stereotypical image of masculinity throughout many generations that are exposed to such images. Rambo is incredibly muscular, incredibly aggressive, and is the immediate picture of a manly movie star. Sylvester Stallone is not only seen as masculine in his role as John Rambo, but also in his other successful series as Rocky Balboa. Both of these characters are violence based characters, Rambo being a military man who goes rogue and literally destroys half of Asia throughout a series, and Rocky being a legendary boxer who constantly trumps over adversity in many aspects of life. Both are survivors, moreover both are the ideal man and exude sheer masculinity.

Quiz 5, Question 1

http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2010/04/20100409_interview-jerzshore-1_560x375.jpg

This image of the male cast of the Jersey Shore represents the stereotypical masculine male. The stereotypical macho masculine male is someone who is in very good shape, good looking, typically fighters, and ladies men. The members of the Jersey Shore fit accordingly into these categories, despite the fact that nearly everything about them is fake (steroids, fake tans, not even from Jersey, etc.) This image represents "macho" masculinity because it shows them with their shirts off, which shows their entirely fake muscles, and the image itself is very sexually suggestive, a quality which every "macho" masculine male has. If anyone knows anything about the series the Jersey Shore they know that all of the guys continuously brag about how good they look, and how many girls they have or are going to "smoosh."



The second image is a picture of Michael Corleone from the God Father. This image is completely different than the first one, the first image is the macho male in today's society, where as this image represents masculinity in the past. Although Michael is a fictional character he portrays a masculine male. He is well dressed, professional, proper, polite, but also a "badass." After his father died he became the Don of the New York Mafia. It is interesting to see how masculinity in media has changed throughout the years. We now have roided up juice heads running around disgracing man kind.

Masculinity

One example of masculinity is the character of Jake Perry in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. His character is a stereotypical male . He is very rugged, outdoors, drives a truck, southern gentlemen, and shows a love for a hobby of mechanics such as working on a plane he owns or his car.Also owning a dog furthering the male stereotype, dog as a mans best friend. In all, a very typical southern male figure.

Another example of masculinity is the male cast on the show Jersey Shore. The male cast here embodies typical male standards such as working out. But, on the other hand, there are many attributes of these men that are not always typical on the standard "manly"persona. For example these men are very into their appearance and display a love for cooking. This is something that you do not find in all men because these may be more standard habits of a women , stereotypically.

Quiz 5

I read an article about masculine advertisements, specifically commercials,that were aired during the latest super bowl. It was a very interesting article about the type of masculinity that a Dodge commercial portrays compared to a Dove commercial. In both the commercials, the overall idea is a strong and confident man, but the companies go about different approaches to convey this to their male viewers. In the Dodge commercial, he whole piece is a list of “reasons” why men should buy the Charger. Yet, the “reasons” are actually motivating behavior by unconsciously activating the goal of pursuing strength in your identity as a male, and stimulating the emotion associated with that goal to ultimately impact purchase propensity toward the Charger. The main message is to be a strong, non-emotional male who gets what he wants. However in the Dove commercial, Dove, has taken a different tactic and, is targeting a different segment of the male population – not one that feels emasculated and utterly powerless in their relationship and work life, but rather, Dove is targeting a male that feels strength and power from the choices he has made in his life and wants to celebrate and reinforce his current feelings and identity as a man. Here, it portrays a more emotional, less "macho" male. It is interesting to see how two companies sold the same message to men just in totally different ways.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RyPamyWotM

Quiz 5

"Into the Wild"

One example of masculinity is that which is displayed in the book and film, Into the Wild. The main character, Chris, is a charismatic boy just out of high school that decides to give up a world where everything is laid out for him and venture out into the wild with no money to try to make a living. This masculinity deals with a sense of freedom, as there comes a point in every man's life where one must break free from the influence of their parents and go out into the world trying to discover themselves. Chris takes this sense of masculinity to an extreme as he goes out into the wild alone, with no help from anyone else and that in itself helps transform him from a boy into a man.

"Ocean's 11"

Another example of masculinity is seen in Ocean's 11. In this film, the main character Danny Ocean tries to score the biggest heist to be seen in Las Vegas. He rounds up 11 accomplices to take part in the heist and take on three of the major casinos in Vegas. They plan to get in an out of this heist with 150 million dollars and a lot of planning. A different type of masculinity is apparent in this movie, a type that is a lot less violent and more refined. It has nothing to do with being strong and brave like in Into the Wild but rather being more clever and classy. The cast in Oceans 11 teaches its audience how to be masculine in a more professional type of setting, and instead of being loud and ostentatious, they are smart, quick, efficient, and well-dressed.

Quiz 5: Masculinity

Masculinity is not always one concrete image that all men must live by. Many images of masculinity show different forms of masculinity which is seen in these pictures above. Here you see a muscular man kneeling down with a bow in his hand. His muscles are flexed and his body in in a position of power. He is confident in his body and determined. He is strong and strong willed, seen in how he perfectly points the bow towards something in the distance. He is a mans man and his body lets the whole world know it. He is also an athlete, which is the epitome of strength. The other image shows Frank Sinatra standing and smiling. He is holding a cigarette in his hand and he is wearing a tweed jacket that is made to fit his body. He is also wearing a tie and a top hat, which are all symbols of how a gentleman should dress. Even though we don't see his body we know by looking at his clothing that he is a mans man. Even though he is not kneeling down showing off his muscles we still know that he is a masculine figure by seeing how he is properly dressed, clean shaven and it can be assumed that he is a nice guy to have some fun with by looking at his charming smile.

Quiz 5

The first magazine illustrates a specific masculinity regarding sports figures. This masculinity is focused on athletic abilities and muscular figures. This is a very common idea when it comes to masculinity. It is mainly about physical strength as masculine power. The second magazine portrays a different type of masculinity which places its focus on wealth and success. In this performance of masculinity, the man is portrayed as the upper-class successful business man that uses his success to gain power in the world.

Two Versions of Masculinity

The concept of masculinity is something that has changed over time. The picture on the left demonstrates one version that is defined as displaying some kind of masculinity. these men are actually doing some kind of manual labor in order to succeed. This concept of masculinity relates to Bulter's version of hypermasculinity because these men have the "body builder" look to them. These men might be seen as the typical "macho" man.

On the other hand the male version on the right relates to Clarkson's interpetation of men and how they are being changed into a metrosexual male; male that is worried about his looks and fitting in with the recent fashion styles. Clarkson's article talks about the tv show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and how these overly flamboyant homosexual men take a heterosexual man and change him. These two versions of masculinity are present currently, it only takes a better look at something to realize what is going on. It is surprising to me to see these two versions of masculinity present in Dolce & Gabbana ads.

quiz

There are numerous types and forms of masculinity in this day and age. Two different types of masculinity can especially be seen through the examples of Tyler Durden in Fight Club and Edward Cullen in Twilight. Tyler Durden exemplifies the obvious forms of masculinity; tough, ballsy, and tough. Edward Cullen, however, shows characteristics that aren’t always necessarily associated with masculinity, such as; sensitivity and beauty, and yet is still considered manly by the masses. It is interesting to see how to images of men be so completely opposite, yet represent the same idea.

Quiz 5

This first type of masculinity (left) is that of the Gordon Gekko. Gekko was one the the most powerful men of wall street, and consequently, the world. He exudes power of everyone with his intelligence and wealth, thus representing his certain masculinity.

The second type (below) of masculinity is being exhibited by the man known as Malibu, from the TV show "American Gladiators." Malibu shows off his masculinity with his muscles and strength to compete in these events. His style and attitude are the perfect example of the California "bro."

Quiz 5: Different types of Masculinity

Masculinity, according to Judith Butler, is based on performativity. With this is in mind, it is no surprise then that masculinity can be performed in various different ways.

In the movie Superbad, the main characters, both male, are portrayed as overly horny teenage boys. The humor in the movie is crude and much of the jokes focus on the comedy of the male genitalia. This kind of humor is generally expected from men and even seen as acceptable behavior. Ironically, the characters in the movie are anything but the typical idea of masculine. Michael Cera's character is skinny and awkward while Jonah Hill's character is the "funny fat guy." However, through their crude humor and obsession with "getting the girl", the characters are relatable to many men and thus still seen as masculine.

The video game Call of Duty, commonly abbreviated as COD is perhaps the more stereotypical idea of masculinity. The point of the game is to shoot and kill people. Making the game into a "contest" only fuels the idea of competition and gaining power. In this patriarchal society, anything that makes men feel empowered is going to attract them. Since it seems as though most boys were socialized to believe that being violent is "manly", again it's not surprising as to why this game is seen as masculine. Although each example of masculinity is different, they are both seen as masculine for the sole reason that they empower men and make them feel either in control or confirm that their sexual drive is normal.

Quiz 5

I decided to discuss different kinds of masculinity through television shows. The first is the show Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls. This show is about surviving in the most dangerous, remote places; it is almost like a survival book but on a television show. This masculinity is the "tough guys" masculinity. You first think that this show is showing people how to survive (which it is) but underneath it all, it is showing men how to be a "real man" and not to be a "pussy", in a sense. On the bottom of the ad, it says "Don't just stay alive, be alive". It is telling men to not just live but live like a "real man" by going out and having adventures. Telling the viewers that to be a real man you must go out in the wild and live on the edge. The most important factor that you need to learn to become a "real man" is to survive on your own. It is saying you don't need anyone to save you because you can always save yourself. You don't need other men and especially, you don't need women to save you. This is a great example of a "tough guy" masculinity.

Another kind of masculinity is found in the television show Mad Men. This kind of masculinity is known as hegemonic masculinity. This is when men "succeed in making it appear normal, natural, and necessary for them to enjoy power over other men and most women" (http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405124331_yr2010_chunk_g978140512433114_ss1-22). In general, it is when men are dominant and have and like having power. In this television show, it is about these men (and women) in the office in New York City. They are also seen at home which shows another kind of power. I choose this picture because of how the men are showing power (especially over the women). The two men on top are the highest up which shows power and standing in a power stance. All the women are lower and standing. The man on the bottom is the lowest but he is sitting down in a business chair which shows great power. This ad is providing the point that men are in power and dominant (especially over the women) both in the office and back home.

Quiz 5

The ad on the left exhibits the stereotypical "tough guy" masculinity. The ad reads, "These guys, these street gangs, settle their scores by singing and dancing? Doesn't sound like anybody on the westside I know." The ad is for Ford and at the bottom it reads, "Built for a gang of six." This ad automatically rejects "singing and dancing" as anti-masculine and also glorifies the "gangster." The image is dark and caution tape is a subtly in the background. This stereotype is very dangerous as it promotes violence to prove a "toughness" required of so-called masculinity.

The ad on the right shows another male stereotype: the cowboy. The cowboy is an icon of America and symbolizes adventure. The white male is given credit for finding the American West and expanding America's borders. For example, the copy reads, "this is our country." All the people in the ad are male, and all appear white. Therefore, this ad promotes the idea of white men being the power in our society, and women and people of color threaten this ideal.

"Inventing the Cosmo Girl"

After reading "Inventing the Cosmo Girl" I decided to explore how the whole cosmo girl persona can actually rub off on people. In the video I have posted above you see Mila Kunis posing for her cover cosmo girl shoot. She says that her favorite look is jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of flip flops. But, in order to become a cosmo girl and get the cover of the magazine, I am sure Mila did not leave her home every day dressed for comfort. Perhaps becoming a notable name caused her to crumble under the pressures of what a typical acceptable girl should look like, causing her to leave her t-shirts and flip flops behind. The pressures of what girls should look like rubs off on every one, especially the famous, who usually stand for individuality but conform to the norms of dress.

Cultural Capital

This add is a great example of cultural capital because this scene is in a place that only people with money can get to. Everything is perfect and secluded. The water is a beautiful blue and the man and the women have bodies that could be classified as perfect. The whole culture of the add screams perfection and money and it can be seen in the mans expensive bathing suit and in the pricy waterproof eye makeup the woman has on. But back to the overall setting for a moment. Notice the part of the world the couple are in. Unless they live their (which I am sure they don't since commercials are always done on location) it could cost thousands to even get to that specific spot on the globe. Air fare, hotel and cost of a boat all add up. Finally, if you look at the couples toned bodies, you have to factor in the price of gym equipment or gym memberships, making the culture of money and perfection visible even on their bodies.

Quiz 4, Question 1 - Volkswagen

This advertisement for Volkswagen shows a small "Darth Vader" perusing through a house, attempting to use "the force". It appears that the Darth Vader is the child of the family that owns the new Volkswagen. The ad is selling cultural capital by placing the family in a very nice, clean house in a groomed neighborhood. The family is exemplary of the "American Dream". The family is white, with two parents, a son, maybe a daughter, and a dog. The mother is performing the role of a housewife by making the sandwich for the son. When the father arrives (apparently from work), he steps out of his shiny Volkswagen wearing a suit. The ad is selling the idea that buying a Volkswagen makes one get closer to achieving this type of lifestyle.

Quiz 4: question 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqZW3GX5dFU

This ad also displays cultural capital. When you first see the product it opens up and this entire life style comes exploding out if it, and then at the end goes back into it. Implying that this product will give you this kind of lifestyle. However, at the end of the ad they say "just the fragrance, the rest is up to you" contradicting everything they just did in the commercial.

Quiz 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md69zCJKD1c

This commercial is the definition for cultural capital. Everything about it is trying to sell a dream like life style that embodies peoples perception of what California is. By doing this they make you believe all you have to do is go there and you can live the dream just like them.

Quiz 4 Question 2

How to Know if You're Metrosexual: Men's Style, Socks, and Hair Care

This article is a how-to article, dealing with men that are questioning whether they are metrosexual or not. It is extremely stereotypical because all of its main points are characteristics that one typically tends to think of when they hear the word 'metrosexual' but may not necessarily be true. It defines the term, 'metrosexual' as a "man who spends a certain amount of time and money on his lifestyle, specifically his appearance." This is a definition that is more of an opinion than a factual definition, so therefore it is somewhat wrong to say. The main questions the article states consist of ones such as, "Do gay men hit on you?, Do you carry a purse?, Do you wear tighty whities?, and Do you borrow products from the women in your life?" These questions, followed by responses explaining them are not politically correct because they are completely based on stereotypes and not actual facts.

Quiz 4 Question 2

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41D6NVN7TVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


In the most recent reading "Contesting Masculinity's Makeover," I found it very interesting how in depth the author analyzed the show "Queer Eye for a Straight Guy." I have watched a couple episodes of this show and I have never really read into the underlying meaning of this show. I never though about how the show generalized gay men into very flamboyant, feminine men in a sense. I found this reading to be very intriguing and I also enjoyed learning about the blog that exists that totally contradicts the generalizations of the TV show.

Quiz 4 Question 1

This Miss Dior Cherie perfume commercial is an online commercial that relies more on a sense of culture capital (Bordieu) than on physical capital. In this commercial, the idea of living a luxurious life in Paris, France is displayed. A beautiful girl is shown biking around Paris, stopping in a bakery, going shopping, and living it up in Paris. The setting and the girl present in the commercial are portraying cultural capital and a wealthy standing in society. The implication of this commercial is that if you buy this upscale Dior perfume, you will in a sense be like or appear to be a wealthy woman in Paris, or in any society. The approach to this commercial was creative because they chose to highlight the beautiful city of Paris rather than the perfume. It keeps the audience engaged looking at this city until the end where the perfume bottle is quickly shown. It's selling a lifestyle as well as the actual perfume itself.

Quiz 4 Question 1

"Told You So"

This commercial, shown during the 2011 Super Bowl, deals with cultural capital because it focuses on a laid-back lifestyle in a perfect setting by a pool with tempting snacks. The company behind Doritos is trying to sell the idea that if you eat Doritos, you can be a part of such a lifestyle. The ad shows how the neighbor gardening is in awe to the sight he sees, and you are made to believe that the object he is nearly orgasming over is the bowl of Doritos sitting poolside. You see a martini glass as well as hands reaching for the Doritos, which are made to look extremely appetizing. The camera drifts back and forth between the neighbor's face and the bowl of Doritos, but during it you never see the people eating them. At the end of the commercial, the neighbor snaps back to reality as he realizes who is surrounding the Doritos when they say hi to the woman standing next to him. This realization, which deals with the controversy of homosexuality is apparent, as everyone around him believes that it was the blatantly homosexual men he was fawning over.

Quiz 4 Question 2

Top 10 Metrosexual Celebs

This article focuses on the "top" 10 "metrosexual" celebrities, all of which are men since that term refers to masculinity, or lack thereof. The men were ranked by their impeccable appearance in hair, skin, and clothes, and an estimated amount of time it would take to upkeep that. It ranks from Orlando Bloom to number 1 Jake Gyllenhaal. Johnny Depp is also included, in which I disagree on. This article shows how far the term "metrosexual" has come and it makes sense that most male celebrities would demonstrate metrosexual qualities since appearance plays a huge role in their career.

Rather than focus on talents of celebrities, more often the focus is on appearances. From this article, companies probably hope their male readers will feel more pressure to improve their outer look to keep up with the ever-growing demands of appearance, and therefore consumerism. Like Clarkson says in his article, masculinity is no longer defined by what a man produces, but by what he consumes in our capitalist society.

Quiz 4 Question 2

"Contesting Masculinity's Makeover" was one of our more recent readings, and in the reading the argument is that over the years the image of a successful and wealthy man has changed. I agree with this theory to a certain extent. Like all theories, there are exceptions, and this theory is no different. Chuck Norris is seen as the ultimate manly man and the quintessential figure to describe masculinity. He also is a well known celebrity, whether it is because of jokes oriented towards him or because of his career as an actor. Yet his appearance, as evident in the above picture, is not the stereotypical look of a wealthy successful man. It is simply an exception to this new rule and trend that has become wide spread in our society.

Quiz 4 Question 1

I know I have already posted a video of "the most interesting man in the world" but I feel like this marketing campaign for Dos Equis fits into most categories that we have studied thus far. This advertisement shows a man that exudes cultural capital because of his attire, but also because of his surroundings. The implications are that if you drink said beer, that you will appear as successful as the man labeled as the most interesting man in the world. This approach works because it puts more emphasis on the appearance that the consumer would achieve rather than the fact that the advertisement is for an alcoholic beverage.

Quiz 4 Question 2

This commercial also shows cultural capital, except in this case instead of showing an upper-class, wealthy cultural capital, it depicts the idea of the perfect, average, middle-class family. The commercial shows the family of four concept. It contains the mother, father, son, and daughter. The family is also in an average sized home with a lawn. The stereotype for this type of family is a minivan, so the commercial uses the image to give cultural capital to the minivan it is trying to sell. It sends the message that in order to be the average middle-class family, one needs this minivan.

Quiz 4 Question 1

There are several examples of cultural capital in this commercial for Nestle bottled water. Just within the first couple of seconds there are already two instances where this occurs. The first clip of the scene shows a busy city with cars driving by. This alone is cultural capital because it is usually assumed that one has more money if they can afford to live in a big city. Immediately after this clip is another one of a woman sitting at a table in a restaurant. She is drinking water out of a fancy class and reading a book. Her appearance gives off the performance of an upper-class woman. The commercial continues like this with many more examples, giving off the idea that if one drinks this particular bottled water that makes them a higher class.

Male Gaze Quiz 4 Question 2

Go Daddy advertisements are always very provocative and sexually. In their advertisements commonly relate to the "male gaze" and how men think women should look. Whenever they introduce the actor for the advertisement, more times than not they start off at their legs and slowly work there way up to their face. In this case for Go Daddy, their are two women in the advertisement, and they start off at their feet and work their way up to their face for both of them. The girls are both practically naked, with only Go Daddy signs covering both there breast, and other naked areas. At the end of the commercial there are three men talking about how they wish both girls had double D's.

Quiz 4 Question 2

In our recent reading "Contesting Masculinity's Makeover", it talked about how the image of a wealthy and successful man has changed over this years. Form the tv show Gossip Girl, I thought a perfect example of this was Chuck Bass. He is very successful running Bass Industries, and his dress is more metro and less typical businessmen. This further implies the trendy nature and how style is becoming an important staple in power, wealth and success, basically saying you have the money to dress well, and you know how to dress well.

Quiz 4 Question 1 Cultural Capital

This commercial relates to Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital rather than physical capital because it is marketing to a specific group of people. Physical capital in economics is described as just "capital" or more specifically as any manufactured asset that is applied during production. Cultural capital refers to a physical object that holds some sort of importance or recognition in society. This commercial makes society recognize that Grey Goose is top shelf alcohol. In the commercial their is a family on a gorgeous sailboat consuming expensive or stereotypical "wealthy people food" (lobster, oysters, etc.) They are marketing themselves for the white-collar society, rather than for the every day working man.

Quiz 4 Question 1

The caption for this commercial reads : Disney guests will begin starring on television as part of the new "Let the Memories Begin" campaign. For the first time, Disney Parks is featuring the home videos and snapshots of real guests in television ads and other marketing that will allow an audience of millions to share in true-life, heartfelt moments.

This commercial defiantly embodies the idea of cultural capital because it is marketing an idea and image that appeals to people of all ages. It is selling the idea of magical moments, family bonding, excitement, and memories that last a lifetime. They are not promoting the physical capital, and how much these "lifetime memories" will actually cost you. By marketing itself in this manner, Disney is no longer selling a product, but an idea and a way of life, so in order to continue to profit off of their shows, parks, and other outlets, they must continue to make this idea appeal to consumers instead of the usefulness or appeal of a specific product.

Quiz 4, Question 2: Brokeback Mountain

"Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 romantic drama film that depicts the complex romantic and sexual relationship between two men in the American West from 1963 to 1983." The film, which was positively received, also sparked many questions: were the men in the movie homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual? Many critics seemed to think were bisexual but Gyllenhaal, one of the main characters in the film, believed that his character was a heterosexual man who fell in love with another man. Perhaps Judith Butler, a feminist and philosopher, would have felt that the men in this film did not need to label or associate themselves with a particular sexuality. She believed that "sexuality is never fully 'expressed' in the performance or practice", and that every person, regardless of their gender or sexuality will express themselves in a completely individualized way. In Jay Clarkson's article "Contesting Masculinity's Makeover", a website called straightacting.com is referenced. This website "uses online forum to actively resist capitalism influence by denigrating gayness as an identity and reinterpreting the meanings of masculinity." Perhaps users of this website would have believed the two men in Brokeback Mountain were homosexual men who, instead of fitting in the the feminine stereotype of gay men, were very masculine.

Quiz 4, Question 1: Cultural Capital vs. Physical Capital

Cultural capital, a sociological concept, refers to "forms of knowledge, skills, education, and advantages that a person has, which give them higher status in society."

In the following commercial for the 1999 Cadillac Escalade, cultural capital is used to help sell the car to a particular social class.

The first line of the commercial mentions being able to find a "smarter" way through traffic (because of the Escalade). This seems to imply that people without Escalades, which is the majority of society, are not as intelligent as people who own Escalades because those people

A. Obviously aren't as wealthy or they too would be able to afford an Escalade

and

B. Obviously aren't as smart or they would have better jobs and be wealthier and be able to afford the Escalade

The commercial then goes on to mentions two things that are generally associated with being wealthy:

• A flight to almost anywhere
• Reservations at the finest hotel

Again, implying that those who are going to be driving or purchasing the Escalade must be in a certain class before they purchase the Escalade in order to "keep up" their luxurious lifestyle.

Using a cultural capital approach versus a physical capital approach, which would focus more on how many people are actually able to purchase this mass-produced, expensive vehicle, draws in the attention of the correct audience; the wealthy. Also important to note is that the price of the vehicle is never mentioned; perhaps this is done to keep the focus on the cultural capital. After all, the Escalade is not trying to market itself as "affordable" but rather as something that only the elite can attain.

Masculinity's Makeover

Jay Clarkson's article about how masculinity has changed definitely was an interesting article for me. I never really took the time to see how masculinitly has changed but after reading this it was an eye opener. I definitely see the concept of how in previous years a man's success was based on how much hard work he actually did, now it is more on looks; even then the "look" has changed. I chose this picture of Justin Timberlake as an example because he is definitely a man that seems to be worried about how he looks versus the actual "hard work" he does.

Cultural Capital in the California Commerical

This commerical to visit California definitely portrays Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital. When a person typically thinks of California they think of all things that the celebrities talked about in the commerical, such as that most people are surfers or a celebrity. I just find it funny how they just point out all that they portrayed as and show clips of it. It's not really selling the trip of California. The whole concept of California is definitely something that has been culturalized a lot of people dream of going out to California to "make it" in life but in reality it is really hard.

Quiz 4, Question 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3snyXTNmFm8

This Audi commercial that I found relies more on a sense of cultural capital than on physical capital but in a humorous way. It's cultural capital because they are trying to tell their consumers that this car will impress people in our society (its the "new" high-end car). They are saying if you buy this car, you are part of the upper-class (and will impress people) and not only that but the new upper class instead of the traditional. They say "Escape the confines of old luxury" and "Luxury has progressed".

Quiz 4, Question 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-eYKyUxX74

I saw this commercial during the Super Bowl and I found it quite hilarious. It's almost making fun of other car commercials by making the product do all these ridiculous things that other commercials do to "help" the product. It starts off with the car in the dessert going thru mirrors, then it goes to talking about the driver and says she (to have sex appeal) must be hot and then talks about how she must have a certain hair color. Then they move to a city, dodging hay barrels, etc. Then move into a chase with bad guys and then the car flies in the air and when the car lands, it ends up that she is a school teacher (part of a male fantasy). This commercial goes with the "male gaze" but in this case, they use it to make fun of it. From my point of view, they are saying that commercials now-a-days are based on the "male gaze" and are trying to show people how ridiculous it is.

quiz 4, Question 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C7lyLaGvqE

Another example of a commercial that relies more of a sense of cultural capital over physical capital is this Zales commercial. This commercial basically relies that culturally you know that diamonds are the only way to say I love you, or to mark on a special occasion. This lets them not even really have to show the physical diamond and what it looks like, or what you actually would buy. Instead it just shows the experience.

Quiz 4, Question 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7tEZUFdZxQ

When one watches this commercial about Las Vegas, you can’t help but to want to go. This is because the ad relies more on a sense of cultural capital as opposed to physical capital. They do this by portraying the need to do so to gain the social advantage. This commercial shows nothing about what Vegas actually has or is, what your money would actually buy you, and instead just shows that like you have been told all your life, Las Vegas is the place to go to have fun, and not have to talk about it.

quiz 4 question 1

Dior J'Adore Perfume

This commercial portrays an upper class attitude to appeal to the high-class consumer and consumers who would like to see themselves as upper class. The ad features celebrity Charlize Theron, a tall, thin, blonde, and elegant actress, and she exhibits an upper class, snobby and disaffected attitude with her comments disregarding wealth. For example, she says, "gold is cold," "diamonds are dead," and "limousine's a car." While making these comments, she strips off her jewelry and dress (carelessly), so she only "feels what's real," the perfume. However, the focus is not on the perfume, but on her sexuality. At the end of the commercial she talks in French, a signifier of high class. Overall, after watching the commercial, I did not feel impelled to buy the perfume, but instead found the explicit disregard and lack of care for her expensive items obnoxious.

Weekly Blog Post

So, since we talked about the ID, EGO and Super Ego in class, I thought that it would be funny to see if I could find any images that would relate to a person having a big ego. And who's picture came up in google images when I typed "man with a big ego" into the google search box? The one and only Kanye West. And why? Because all he does is act snub towards everyone else around him because he thinks that he is the s**t. Well I got news for you Kanye, you are NOT the s**t! Look at him in this picture, thinking he is all cool with his cigar. This dude is so vein he robbed Taylor Swift of an acceptance speech. So remember my fellow peers, if we have a midterm exam and we have to write something about egos, think of this jerk. P.S. Kanye, the 80's called, they want their white suit back.

Organic Medical Marijuana

There is quite an industry in growing medical marijuana- the legal stuff. In about 15 states, medical marijuana is sold to patients who are prescribed the drug. Like any drug, it must come from somewhere. Where does it come from? Growers of course. Within these growers, a political economy emerges among those who can gain the "Clean Green" organically grown certification. The USDA does not organically certify state-government marijuana farms because marijuana is still banned by federal law. Thus, the "Clean Green" certification has been granted to 80 different companies totaling over 8,000 pounds of marijuana according to www.alternet.org. Culturally, millions of Americans indulge in smoking (or using of some sort) marijuana. In legal states, they obtain medical licenses. There is a clear demand for marijuana. Economically, this "Clean Green" amounts to at least $33 million. There is an emerging market for companies to obtain this pseudo "organic" name in order to gain more business. The sale of marijuana is a major industry that continues to gain revenue as states continue to legalize medical marijuana and possible legalize marijuana altogether.

Superbowl!

Culturally, Americans have praised the superbowl for quite some time. Each year, families across the country, and the world for that matter, huddle around the television to watch the "big game". The game itself determines which team is the "world champion" (although it is really only played in America). Yet, if you don't care so much about the actual football, the commercials are just as entertaining. Thus, you have incentive for your husband and wife to watch it together in case one did not find interest in the game itself. The superbowl has become a national (and global) holiday in which nearly everyone must see it.

Economically, the superbowl reins in nearly $9 Billion according to www.alternet.org. There is a tremendous industry that involves an extensive market of advertising, restaurant business, product sales, and much more. Millions of Americans watch the superbowl each year- even though it is simply a sporting event that has no actual impact on our lives. Companies pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to put a 30 second advertisement during the superbowl. Restaurants host "superbowl watching parties" that attract many customers to their businesses. Even movie theatres rake in money by displaying the superbowl on their big screens. Apparel sales skyrocket for those companies that sell the winning team's gear. As individuals, those who associate with the winning team generally buy the new apparel features their sports team winning. I must admit, I did the same when Kansas University won the 2008 National DI Championship. Spending money wasn't a factor. When "your" team won, you bought "their" stuff.

Quiz 3: question 2

Has our culture gotten so skewed that watching videos online isn't enough? Now with shows like Tosh.O you can watch videos of people doing stupid stuff online, on your tv with someone commenting them, as your watching them. With the link I've posted below you can watch a video that someone put online, then comedy central put on tv, which someone else has put back online. Am I the only on that finds like a bit odd?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUR1GQe5EQY

Quiz 3 question 2

When Booze Was Banned But Pot Was Not

Another article I read, titled, "When Booze Was Banned But Pot Was Not" talks about how the Prohibition period did not successfully ban alcohol in our society. The same issue arises when discussing the legalization of marijuana. Because it is banned, more people are inclined to use it, as the sense of rebellion acts as a drive for breaking the law. From a political perspective, the question of how Prohibition could have been passed when there was so much alcohol around anyway. When there's that much of something existing, it almost makes no sense to make it illegal. Culturally, marijuana is so common and accepted by society, just not the law. This means that our political laws completely go against our culture because of the fact that pot is so common and accepted. This is a clear example of how the political approach conflicts with the cultural studies approach.

Quiz 3

MTV is a massive industry that effect largely the political and cultural economy. Take for instance pop stars like Britney Spears who can single handedly decide to the trend for teenage girls. Then put her with tabo headliner Madonna and have them say, I don't know, kiss at of the most viewed televison events in the world. Needless to say to the event is going to be the topic of discussion in many circles. Then top is off with the newest pop stars like Katy Perry singing hit songs like "I kissed a girl" and you see how many records she's sold. The industry is possibly the biggest effect on the political and cultural economy in all of the teenage world.

Quiz 3 question 1

Is This the End of Sarah Palin As We Know Her?

The article I recently read, titled, "Is This the End of Sarah Palin As We Know Her?" goes on to talk about how Sarah Palin has had her fair share of controversial remarks receiving negative reactions from our society. An action of hers that pretty much threw her off the edge was her eight-minute long video following the Tucson shooting, declaring her hatred for war and violence, and then accusing critics of perpetrating a "blood libel" against her. Simply using such a term stirred up a lot of controversy, especially among the Jewish population. This strange and bizzare act by Palin brings up the question of whether or not she is really a victim here. With the cultural studies approach, it is clear that she is able to play the victim more frequently, due to the fact that she is a female, and in our society it is often the female who becomes the victim. A male in her position may not receive the same reaction to his acts that Palin seems to create. In the political spectrum, one can definitely say that Palin stands out moreso than others because in the political spectrum, there are very few females. The fact that she is simply a female in the political world gives her automatic publicity, both negative and postive, but more negative in her case.

Gender as a Performance

This add truly shows how gender is used to sell a product. Here, you can see that the commercial is a take off on the stereotypical thought of what a "man" is supposed to consume. The makers of the commercial used men as their ploy to sell their product. In the video, the man who ate the real mans meal is strong and ready to face the outdoor winds. The man who ate a slice of salmon with lemon is taken away by a gust of wind. The ironic thing is that in real life the man who ate salmon would be able to work harder outside because salmon is one of the most healthy foods you can eat. Salmon would give a man great healthy energy. The hungry man meal would most likely slow a man down. The chicken is fried with a side of mashed potatoes and buttery corn. If a real man ate that they would probably fall asleep after their meal. (I didn't know how to upload a video so here is the link on youtube) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSLp5yt2C8Q

Quiz 3, Political Economy/Cultural Studies

"Jersey Shore"

The show "Jersey Shore" has created a spark within our society. Weather people agree with the language, habits and overall attitudes of the people being televised on the MTV series, it certainly has jump started the boardwalks revenue. If we were to look at this from a political economy approach, we can see that since the show has aired profits all over the Seaside area have been boosted. This is because people go to Seaside when they see it on TV. This happened because Seaside Heights was seen on TV which made people think that if it is seen on TV then it must be a great place to visit. But, if we were to look at this issue from a cultural studies approach we could say that more people now visit Seaside Heights because they want to be like the people on the TV show. If the party people want to party then they now know where to go. If the beach bums need a new place to apply sunblock then they have a new destination.

Quiz 3 Question 2

I read another article from the same site titled "Why Happy Meals Are a Crime". This article was about how the toys within the happy meals are one, dangerous for young children because they can be hazardous for their health (choking) and two, they promote negative figures such as "bad guys" in movies and tv shows. One mother is suing McDonalds for both reasons. From the political approach, the toy is economically pleasing to the corporation because many children order "happy meals" from McDonalds just for the toy. McDonalds could care less about the hazards because it helps make money for their corporation. According to the cultural approach, the toys could be seen as positive for children because they make children happy as well as promote good children shows and movies. It is sad how economically these toys are more important even though they are in fact hazardous for young children. Money should not be more important than a child's life.

Quiz 3, Post 2: What does it mean to be a "family" in 2011?

When you hear the word "family" what do you think of?

If you asked most people, chances are they'd probably say a dad, a mom, and children.

However, according to one dictionary a family is:

1. 1. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place

This definition seems to better coincide with the emerging, modern idea of a family; the idea that a family can be two women, two women and a child, two men, two men and a child, one mother and 3 children, and so on.

In this Us Weekly magazine cover above, Elton John and his partner David Furnish welcome their new baby boy. This modern family challenges the cultural norms. As the years progress, the concept of a family continues to be challenged. If this couple were not white (or wealthy) they'd also challenge the idea of "white patriarchal capitalism" simply by their subordinate standing.

Quiz 3 Question 1

http://www.alternet.org/culture/149623/%E2%80%9C16_and_pregnant%E2%80%9D_portrays_a_grim_reality_--_but_does_pregnancy_actually_benefit_some_teenagers


I found an article on alternet.org titled "16 and Pregnant" Portrays a Grim Reality--But Does Pregnancy Actually Benefit Some Teenagers?" In this article, the author Richard Korman discusses the motives as to why this show was in fact created and aired on a popularized channel such as MTV. He talks about how it is ironic how federal funds go towards promoting advertisements for safe sex and the use of condoms, yet the show promotes "cool and popular" teenage girls getting pregnant. Even though the show claims to promote not getting pregnant as a teen by showing real-life stories, due to the shows popularity, young girls could see getting pregnant and being on tv as cool. Relating this to the political economy approach and the cultural studies approach, the perspectives are very different. As seen through the political economy approach, this show is profitable and despite sending mixed messages about pregnancy and causing controversy, MTV wants to keep the show around to make money and profits. Within the cultural studies approach, this show would be profitable to show young girls the hardships of life after having a baby; its profitable because it is helping young girls stay away from pregnancy. It's ironic how different the meaning of the word profitable is in the two different approaches

Quiz 3 Question 2

Conservatives Freak Out Over MTV’s "Skins" -- Teenagers Have Sex. Get Over It

This article takes an interesting approach to current criticism of the new show on MTV titles 'Skins". Yes, the show is racy, but what is different that what is taking place in normal teenagers lives? A cultural studies approach could criticize this show saying that it is embodying the wrong ideals for such an age group, or reconsider and realize that it is reality and nothing more. A political economy approach would say that economically, this show is smart and is a money maker considering it is portraying the actuality of teenagers today, and it is a show that they can relate to. All teenagers are not like the ones feature don this show, certainly, but it contains all the qualities of good entertainment, and addresses issues most teenagers are either exposed to or are dealign with themselves or with friends. Culturally and economically, this show may not embody the best ideas, but the are real ideas that attract audiences.

Quiz 3 Question 1

I found an article titled "5 Ridiculous Fast Food Creations That Never Should Have Been Invented". This article goes over how fast food is now a science, not merely a typical food anymore. This article discusses this issue from both a political economy approach and a cultural studies approach. It is defiantly more critical of the political economy approach, saying we do not eat healthy because fats food is manipulated with tons of artificial ingredients that do not belong together. "It's hard to know which is worse, the Uno Chicago Grill Lobster BLT Thin Crust Pizza, which throws so many things together that simply do not belong on the same plate (for a total of 1,530 calories) or the Lasagna Sandwich from the UK's Tesco". The companies do this because it is a competing market to draw in customers, but as they are coming up with more original ideas, which is smart form the economical standpoint, they are loosing the actual health value of the food, turning it into something that should not even be consumed. The media advertises to us what looks delicious and as Americans, we are raised to think so because we cannot escape the media, it is around us everywhere, and they know how to catch our eye and the right moment to do so. In turn, we will purchase their product. Economically smart, ethically, not so much.

Quiz 3, Question 2

I recently read another article entitled, Why Diets Make You Fatter -- And What to Do About It. Just like the first article I wrote about, this article has conflicting views as well when looked at through a political economy approach and then a cultural studies approach. This article was not about the Superbowl however and was instead about dieting, and how they always end up failing. If you look at this failure from the political economy approach, one might think that they fail because it is easier and cheaper to get fattier foods. Meanwhile when looked from the cultural studies approach, one might think that diets fail so much because it is socially acceptable to eat those types of food and be a little chunkier. Once again, this article shows the differences between these two approaches.

Quiz 3, Question 1

I recently read an article entitled, Why Our National Superbowl TV Party Has Become the Last Supper for the US Empire. This article was very interesting for it can be seen from a political economy approach and contrasted with a cultural studies approach. This article was mainly about how profitable the Super Bowl is and all of the reasons surrounding it. If you look at this article from the political economy perspective one may say that the Superbowl is so successful for all of the economic opportunity surrounding the game including advertising and gambling. Meanwhile, the Superbowl can be seen as successful and profitable because of how it brings all Americans together but it is what they should culturally be watching, the superego, if you look at the Superbowl through the cultural studies approach. It is weird that depending on what approach, either political economy or cultural studies, how different perspectives can be!

Quiz 3 Question 1 Political vs Cultural

http://www.propublica.org/blog/item/bps-selling-its-troubled-refineries-in-texas-city-and-carson

BP’s Selling Its Troubled Refineries in Texas City and Carson

As a result of the BP oil spill and other accidents at their facilities BP found themselves in a large amount of debt due to safety issues which resulted in fines. "The company still owes $30 million dollars in penalties to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for new violations discovered in a 2009 investigation of the Texas City plant. If BP were to sell the two refineries, they would cut BP's refining capacity in the US in half and allow the oil giant to invest more in its other refineries around the country. The company said in a press release "that is expects significant market interest in the assets."

A political economy approach people may think that this a good idea because it would help BP's financial situation. By selling their land they would be able to make money which in turn could be used to try and pay off some of their fines. A problem with this is that it may not please many people. It could potentially take away future jobs, and also people maybe frustrated with BP selling before they pay off their fines. An example of a cultural studies approach would be "

In my opinion, no transaction should be consummated until all unpaid fines are resolved, and all deficiencies are corrected. Obligations that are incorporated in “transactions” seem to have a way of slipping through the cracks. Let BP correct the mess they allowed to fester."would This could be an example of the cultural studies approach because they asked someone how they felt about the issue. However, cultural studies would refer to getting multiple peoples thoughts about the situation, not just one.

Quiz 3 Question 2 Cultural Studies

http://www.alternet.org/story/149804/which_dangerous_toxins_are_in_your_marijuana/?page=1

Which Dangerous Toxins Are in Your Marijuana?

In this article they are talking about how it is important to start producing "Clean Green," which is essentially organic marijuana, however due to federal regulations they are not allowed to label it as organic. They talk about how marijuana is starting to become approved for medical purposes in several states now. In the article they talk about a new way of producing marijuana, in which they would grow it in a rich healthy soil, and add several different types of natural healthy herbs. This natural growth is a way to avoid getting marijuana which comes from Mexico, or your corner drug dealer. A cultural studies approach would interview people who are legally allowed to smoke medical marijuana and ask them how they feel about this "clean green," or organic marijuana. It is important to learn how these people feel from their own point of view rather than hearing the opinions from the government.