Group # 6 is made up of Kyle F., Marlena, Jose O., Daniel U., and Ying Liu. You will present your group case study on MAY 1st.
Guidelines for Group Presentations:
For the final group presentations, your group will locate a pop cultural artifact or phenomenon that has NOT been discussed within this semester’s class. You will all effectively be “teachers” for the day, presenting this artifact or phenomenon to the class and explaining why it is relevant to popular culture. You will be given an opportunity in class one day to work on your presentations, but you must also work with one another via this blog. Please post your ideas, thoughts, comments, updates to this blog.
Your presentation, which should last approximately 20 minutes, should include the following:
- Present examples of your artifact or phenomenon visually (either by bringing in examples that you can pass around or show digitally, via the computer and other equipment.
- Discuss WHY this particular artifact or phenomenon is an example of popular culture.
- Discuss HOW this artifact or phenomenon potentially reflects or informs popular cultural attitudes, anxieties, fears, beliefs, ideas, feelings, etc. So you have to go beyond just saying that it’s a popular cultural artifact, you must explain HOW it is.
- You can either choose one or two representatives of the group to present, or you can all take a small portion of the discussion to present individually.
- Turn in a page or two that reflects the work that each member of the group did for the completion of this group project, explaining what each person’s contribution was to the overall group project. This paper must be signed by each of you.
You will each receive a grade that reflects the overall effectiveness of the group project. So be sure that you all work together on this, because you will all be getting the same grade.
32 responses so far ↓
Marlena // April 14, 2008 at 2:49 pm |
Hey group, ive been trying to think of some kind of pop cultural artifact or phenomenon that we could do and what i came up with was maybe something in the field of weight loss supplements or eating healthy. any other ideas??
Ying Liu Zhen // April 14, 2008 at 9:53 pm |
I have an idea about American movie stars or singers. Because I think everybody may have a favorite movie star in mind, movie stars can be pop cultural phenomenon. Many people are crazy to adore movie stars. They respect the movie stars even more than their teacher or parents. Do you guys think so?
Kristin Scott // April 14, 2008 at 10:01 pm |
You could discuss the paparazzi (sp?) — and why so much fuss over these folks. Weight loss stuff is good too. Whichever is fine with me.
Jose Oblea // April 15, 2008 at 11:08 am |
we could discuss about paparazzi or just like zhen said we can work up on something into the entertainment business. LIke for example they dont leave britney spears alone. they follow her even we she goes to the bathroom lol. why do the people care so much about this. Im looking for more info guys.
Kristin Scott // April 15, 2008 at 1:14 pm |
Or — if you want to combine both (idea of weight loss and pop culture icons), you could talk about how these icons play into our cultural attitudes ABOUT weight.
Marlena H // April 15, 2008 at 1:27 pm |
very true and why hollywood is disappearing, literally and the impact on us as a society on how we want to look just like them
Marlena H // April 16, 2008 at 11:29 pm |
hey group, i was just wondering were we stand on this group thing if we’re meeting in the library or what we’re doing; im not sure since i was out on tuesday.
please fill me in! thanks!
Ying Liu Zhen // April 17, 2008 at 12:05 am |
Our group is going to present something about Blackberry cell phone. Blackberry phone is more and more popular because it is a more and more convenient tool in our daily life. We can communicate with others by talking on a Blackberry phone, and we can send an email to others with a Blackberry phone. Thus, a Blackberry phone is not only a cell phone, but also a little lap top. In the past, people sent email with a computer at home or in their office, but now, if they have a Blackberry phone, they can send email at any time even they are taking train or in bathroom. Blackberry phone helps people saving much time. It has browser that people can search information from Google or Yahoo really quick, so, internet can be in a pocket. In fact, a Blackberry phone is a little machine contains almost all things we usually need such as cell phone, media player, GPS, and Internet. Blackberry phone works these functions wonderfully. It changes the way people going to internet. Of course, it is cultural phenomenon.
Kyle Flanagan // April 17, 2008 at 2:45 pm |
Blackberry Outline
History/Background of phone
1) What a Blackberry is
2) How long it has been around/relevant
3) What separates it from other phones
4) What the original purpose of the Blackberry was
5) What it was made/marketed for
6) Why the History/Background reflects the attitude of the consumer
Business/professional functionality
1) How does it improve productivity in a professional sense
2) What features make business professionals prefer the Blackberry
3) Features Blackberry has/lacks
4) First to the market/Still number one?
5) What other functions the Blackberry has
Relationship between Pop culture and the Blackberry
1) Changed the way people communicate/stay in touch with each other
2) Shift in purchasing/owning of the Blackberry
3) Why Blackberry is used in a non professional sense
4) Blackberry to Crackberry?
5) It reflects status and success as well as functionality
Presentation outline
Visual aides
1) Pictures of Blackberry
2) Video/YouTube of Blackberry
3) Graphs/charts of sales/usage
Kyle Flanagan // April 17, 2008 at 2:51 pm |
As far as the research goes, at this point we are all going to commit on general research. Ying Liu mentioned that she would like to focus on Business/Professional Functionality. But this does not mean that she is only focused on this, or that the rest of us should avoid research on this. Post to this blog and we can stay up on what everyone else in the group had found. We should set a tentative deadline of this Sunday to have all of our research completed.
-Kyle
P.S. I found a great video on youtube that I think we can use for part of the presentation. It ties the Blackberry in to Pop Culture, and it’s fairly amusing. Let me know what you all think…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JqKEe_JEObg
dan // April 22, 2008 at 11:48 am |
the object that my group members and i agreed upon was that of the blackberry phone. the associations that it has with various age groups (business type executives, teens) and the many uses it has. the blackberry has evolved from it’s orignal model to fit the needs of today’s on-the-go society.
as far as the role that i was assigned in the group, i will be in charge of locating media that will be benefitial to the presentation & any other type of data that may serve as useful.
Jose Oblea // April 22, 2008 at 12:54 pm |
The blackberry has been around since the 90″s. but the reached popularity inthe early 21st century. this phone can be called the hand held computer. its popularity is realhigh in the market nowdays. This phine can be considered a popular phenomenon. Many companies give their employees these phones just for the buisness part. Phones like the blackberry pearl have become so popular to the average joe nowdays. for example if you put lets say 20 people in a room. most likely 2,3, or 4 of them may have a blackberry. That may not be that much but think about it. there are thousands of new phones out there. Blackberry in my world is the most popular phone in the market. this is what makes this phone a part of our popular culture.
Jose Oblea // April 22, 2008 at 1:00 pm |
hey guys im really focusing on the history part of the phone.there is so much info u can get of this phone its incredible.
Kyle Flanagan // April 22, 2008 at 2:50 pm |
A quick catch up…
I’ve already found plenty of multimedia for the presentaion (pictures and videos). It is just a matter of the group chosing which ones that we want to use.
As far as research goes, I’ve found info on features, sales (mostly currrent/recent), and seperation from the pack (what makes the crackberry so different). If anyone is having trouble finding info or anything please post to the blog.
We should also set a time in which all of us can get together to share our info and actually put the presentation together. I would prefer to do this sooner rather than later because
A) if there is any problems or holes we can fix them
B) the sooner it gets done the sooner we can relax =)
Like I said, if any of you need help fonding stuff feel free to email me (kyle_j_flanagan@yahoo.com). Hope everyone’s week is going well…
Marlena H // April 22, 2008 at 3:01 pm |
Body Image in America
I. Introduction- Obsession over how we look
A. The extremes that we go through to “look good”
B. The money that we put into to hopefully helping us reach our goal
C. Overweight Americans
II. Dieting
A. Weight loss supplements/gimmicks
B. gimmicks
III. Media
A. Celebrities; Thin Hollywood
B. How it’s effecting our youth
a. “thin is in”
b. eating disorders amoung young people
IV. Exercising
A. America getting fit
a. health clubs
b. personal trainers
B. New exercising machines
a. Advertising
b. money making business
IV. Eating Healthy
A. Fast food changes with their foods
B. Healthy food choices
a. Organic foods
b. Counting calories
Marlena H // April 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm |
this is just a basic outline for the new topic; feel free to add anything!
Ying Liu Zhen // April 22, 2008 at 3:17 pm |
If we try to present on this topic. I think we have more funy stuffs to present because more people know weight loss than Blackberry phone. Over weight is not a short-term problem. American People must be interested in weight loss. So, it’s easy to understand .
Ying Liu Zhen // April 22, 2008 at 3:22 pm |
Kyle, do you think weight loss is a better topic?
Kristin Scott // April 22, 2008 at 3:51 pm |
I like the new topic MUCH better. The outline clearly discusses the cultural attitudes, beliefs, and artifacts (such as advertising, gimmicks, etc) around weight and body image. Now — if you are going to discuss eating healthy and exercise, rather than tell everyone how people are trying to lose weight, you would need to focus on how eating healthy and exercise are becoming counter TRENDS or cultural phenomenon to battle the huge concern over body image in this country. See what I mean? So the issue is American’s attitudes towards body image, and these are all aspects that reflect those attitudes. MUCH better!!
Kristin Scott // April 22, 2008 at 3:53 pm |
You know, for fun and interest and comparison’s sake — perhaps Ying Liu could talk about how body image issues are or aren’t important in China — how we Americans, for example, compare to the Chinese in terms of our attention to that. That would make for an interesting comparison.
Marlena H // April 23, 2008 at 9:15 pm |
what section of the outline is everyone doing again?
Ying Liu Zhen // April 25, 2008 at 11:11 pm |
Over weight has been a global problem.Even Chinese people has begun to try the Western food. But Chinese mainly have rice,noodle, and dumplings every meal.There are some question, What cause the difference of the meals? Is it because of the difference of the region? Why not many Americans have lite meal? The American fast food is so different to the Chinese fast food. I was confused when the first time I knew what the fast food is in the America.
Kyle Flanagan // April 28, 2008 at 8:09 pm |
Hi everyone-
I’m hoping that we can all get together at some point to get everything together. We present on Thursday, so what works for everyone’s schedual?
Also… Is there anything (or any area) that still needs to be taken care of? I have no problem with doing whatever still needs to be done, or that no one else wants to do (as I’m secretly a nerd). Please post here and let me know when everyone can get together, otherwise I will see all of you in class tomorrow.
-Kyle
Ying Liu Zhen // April 30, 2008 at 10:07 pm |
I want to present something about the difference between female weight loss and male weight loss.
And the difference between the eating habit of Chinese people and American people.
Kyle Flanagan // May 1, 2008 at 12:45 am |
i have stats and trends. tomorrow at 1230 on fl. 2 kids….
Ying Liu Zhen // May 1, 2008 at 12:54 am |
I am sorry, My class is over at 1 tomorrow.
Marlena H // May 1, 2008 at 12:05 pm |
Even if “thin is in”, getting fit or even loosing a few pounds seems to be on everyone’s mind now thanks to extensive t.v. commercials and ads that seem to be everywhere we turn. Health clubs are being made available for everyone now; some places even offer their facilities just for women to make a more comfortable environment while other centers are open 24/7 to fit everyone’s busy lifestyle. The only problem, after you get the motivation to join a club, is choosing one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=877jOSQH6Z0
Even so, joining a gym can be expensive. $20 a month may seem like a good deal, but they don’t tell you about the beginning membership fee, nor do they express the 2 year agreement that you have to sign, and any other addition charges that you may have to pay up front. People are not only going to the gym now, but they are also hiring personal trainers- something that only celebrities really did. Personal trainers are made available either at the health center that you join at or some even make house visits. Since this is your personal trainer, rates of having this luxury range from $35-70 dollars per session. Based on experience, a six week session could cost you about $15,000 to shed a few pounds.
For those who may not have the time to make a trip to the gym or have some extra money to spend on a personal trainer, there are still ways to get fit. New exercising machines are constantly coming out that can fit into the comfort of your own home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thkZn7tACWg
Some of these as seen on t.v. machines are made available to you at affordable prices while other may contract you with only 10 easy payments of 39.99 and it’s yours. For those people who would actually use a machine like that, maybe it is worth it; for those who are more honest with themselves and aren’t really into running, getting out your control and playing some wii sports triggers weight loss too.
Marlena H // May 1, 2008 at 1:12 pm |
Celebrities with eating disorders on youtube.com
Marlena H // May 1, 2008 at 1:13 pm |
My Husband Ted on youtube.com
dan // May 1, 2008 at 1:15 pm |
The main difference between Europe and USA
http://members.lycos.nl/chursel/images/560.jpg
Kyle Flanagan // May 1, 2008 at 1:18 pm |
Stats…
Researchers also found that 63 percent of teenage females engage in “unhealthy weight control behaviors,”
researchers revealed that the intake of diet pills among high school-aged females had doubled from 7 to 14 percent, and reached 20 percent by ages 19 to 20.
• 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
• 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight
• 80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight
dan // May 1, 2008 at 1:35 pm |
real women have curves