Monday, February 9, 2015

Last Post-Analysis 5

            The idea of pop culture can vary from person to person. Someone may see a celebrity, athlete, or a political figure as a hero or icon but in reality are just a average person. The subject chosen of tattooing is an excellent example of something being misunderstood by many but an iconic ritual to others.
            Stereotyping can be seen as the biggest theory to affect the subject of tattooing. In the society today, there is not one particular type of person who will get a tattoo. It can be anyone like a mother and daughter getting matching ink to commemorate a time in their life or a celebrity to accentuate an aspect of their style. The idea of tattooing being a current fad is far from wrong. It has been slowly growing since the 1970s and is becoming more acceptable to express yourself with the images on your skin and body. Although you may still not want to get your entire body filled with tattoos for the fear of never finding a suitable career. Long gone are the days of being labeled ‘freak show’ if you are adorned with ink.
            The one thing I found most interesting about tattooing during the process of this class was the history of the art. In the beginning, it was not always about self-expression and more about necessities of everyday living. The fact of tattooing criminals and using techniques to mark where maladies were located on a body is an example of usefulness in the eras of the past.

            As a person with tattoos, I have not possessed any qualms or judgment on people who chose to adorn themselves with ink. Personally, I think tattooing will become more and more popular as society continues to be accepting of them. While I may not agree with having your face tattooed or even gauging you ears, it is to each their own and they will have to deal with the whispers and snickers.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Analysis 4

The principal formula utilized in analyzing pop culture in tattooing could be stereotyping. People of an older generation tend to categorize people who have tattoos because of their lack of knowledge in the art or modern pop culture. Typically, this category is labeled as being a criminal or someone with no respect for authority. As a person with a few tattoos, it is a way to show my artistic side and interests.
            Some areas within tattooing could be said to use a formula of sorts as well. The stylistic renderings and content that is tatted on a person sometimes is a reflection of what is popular at any given time. In the 1990s when tattooing started to become more main stream, the styles of tattoos that were popular were, Polynesian tribal, arm bands, and lower back tattoos called tramp-stamps. Today, the more popular placing is to get your ribs done or full sleeves. The ‘in’ style is that of new school, which consists of bold coloring and usually abstract drawings. Old school traditional is a style that has been popular on and off for many years. This form of tattooing was simulated with the early sailor in their tattoos, consisting of bold, thick outlines, and vibrant colors.

            Because of bad mistakes some have done in their earlier stages of life, laser removal or a cover up can be essential to rid yourself of poor choices that you have made. When deciding or attempting to get a tattoo, it is best to not rush into the decision. Do not follow trends and utilize your own personal style and drawings when possible. The tattoo will not only be unique, it will also make it an original. The art of tattooing is only becoming stronger and is starting to finally buck-the-trend of the stereotypes that use to be associated with them. While copying someone may be the sincerest form of flattery, being an individual when it comes to tattooing, would be the most straightforward form of originality. 

Journal Article Analysis: Beneath the Surface and Excess: An Examination of Critical and Aesthetic Attacks on Films of the 1980s


               Movie critics say the films of the 1980s lack artistic creativity and only display the excess demanded by the conglomerate studios. In the article, Beneath the Surface and Excess: An Examination of Critical and Aesthetic Attacks on Films of the 1980s, the author, Elissa Nelson, explores various books and articles proving why the films of the 1980s cater to the theme of excess similar to the culture of that decade.
            The author states that “the 1980s are known largely as a time of greed and neo-conservatism, where economic reforms and deregulation, conservative social agendas, and interventionist military policies overtook the more liberal social and economic policies of the 60s and 70s” (p.1030). The theme of living excessively can be noticed in the films of the decade like Wall Street (1987), Trading Places (1983), and Scarface (1983) which display that money, power and prestige is the only way to survive, live, and be successful. The 80s also brought out the war movies and the age of the modern action hero.
            The term blockbuster became synonymous with any movie that made exorbitantly more money than was expected. This lead to “high-cost, high-tech, high-stakes production” (as cited in Schatz, p. 1032). This is the point where critics say the movies of the 80s lack real art and artistic qualities. Movies had to become flashier and bigger in order to attract the audience to see the film. Another genre that contributes to the critics disdain is the development of the slasher horror films like Friday the 13th (1980) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). The lack of story and glorification of body mutilation took the horror genre to a new level that was never experienced before.
            If the 80s is categorized as the decade of over-indulgences and excess, the studio executives had started to recognize that the way to make the most money possible was to change the old format of doing business. Instead of signing directors and actors to long term contracts, the studios began to pay for individual projects, this way if a movie is a flop, the director or actor will not work or receive a large sum for their next project. The 1980s also was the decade that tied in merchandise and product placement into the movies. Executives realized that they could make more in profits by selling rights to companies to have them put their product into the movie. This could help bolster a higher return rate for the movie, or the ad money could be used in the aid of financing the picture. Even though Steven Spielberg was a hugely successful director with The Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), in 1982 he was more successful with the release of E.T., in which Reese’s had E.T eat a new candy, not on the market yet, Reese’s Pieces.
            Elissa Nelson quotes Peter Lev saying “what qualifies as an art film depends on the individual spectator, and these examinations and distinctions of categories are mitigated by what is “available for viewing and by the possible interpretations within a society at a particular time” (as cited in Lev, 1993, p. 1035). It is stated that some films try to capture the film noir of decades earlier by blending a modern story with film techniques made famous by leading directors such as Hitchcock and Orson Wells to maintain that they are, in fact, artistic (p. 1045). The blending of films types can be seen in the movie such as Blood Simple (1984), Body Heat (1981), and Miller’s Crossing (1989) (p. 1045). Because of the over-produced films consistently being produced, Robert Redford started the film festival movement, with the beginning of Sundance, in the late 80s. This allowed actors and directors alike to make Indie films that the big productions studios would never touch due to the bankability. In the 1980s and 1990s, the idea of an art-indie film being produced by a large studio was virtually unheard of.
            The author Elissa Nelson does a good job of explaining the disdain and disappointment by the critics for films of the 80s, but the article tends to become disjointed and repetitive throughout. She elaborates a similar sentiment to the author Peter Lev and states, “my intention is to say that these films are worthy of analysis, that they should not be disregarded as trash or critical failures because of their commercial tie-ins, or worse yet, completely ignored because more interesting things were happening” (1048).
            The films of the 1980s have set the precedence for films today, with the big budgets and banking on star power. They have become the platform for which the studios continue to follow. Even with the invention of the Sundance Film Festival, it has been proven that blockbusters and Indie films can be made and coincide together. Studios can also market an Indie film and have it result in a sleeper hit like The Breakfast Club (1985) which made $51,525,171 on a budget of $1,000,000 (“Club”). 80s films have resulted in some of the best creative work and made unknown actors into mega stars. They should not be discredited for lack of artistry because it does take talent to come up with originality in script writing, acting and directing. Many movies of the 80s have resulted in some of the best cult classics like Escape from New York (1981), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), The Goonies (1985), and The Lost Boys (1987) (imbd).

References
Best cult movies from the 80s. (2012, August 31). Retrieved from  http://www.imdb.com/list/ls008346474/
Breakfast Club. (n.d.). Retrieved January 30, 2015 from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Breakfast_Club
Lev, P. The Euro-American Cinema. Austin: U of Texas P, 1993 (Cited).
Nelson, E. (2013, October). Beneath the surface and the excess: an examination of critical and aesthetic attacks on films of the 1980s. Retrieved from Franklin University Database, The
Journal of Popular Culture, Volume 46, issue 5 (October 2013), p. 1029-1050. ISSN: 0022-3840, DOI: 10.1111/jpcu.12065from site http://0journals.ohiolink.edu.olinkserver.franklin.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=00223840&issue=v46i0005&article=1029_btsateaofot1
Schatz, T. “The New Hollywood.” film theory goes to the movies. New York: Routledge, 1993.

38-36. (Cited).

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Tattoos-Heroes & Cult of Celebrity

            In Ancient Greek, a hero or heroine was a person or literary character who faced danger and adversity from a position of weakness and displayed courage or self-sacrifice (Wikipedia). Heroes and heroines can take many forms in today’s culture. Some people still idolize imaginary beings as heroes where others idolize real life figures. In the world of tattooing, heroes are the ground breakers or those who have reached celebrity status.
            The popularity of tattooing has grown exponentially in the last two decades and has become socially acceptable to possess ink. With this popularity, rises those ground breakers to a hero type status that can often be confused with being a celebrity. Don Ed Hardy is a famous tattoo artist out of Oakland, California, who in the 1970s set the bar for the new age of tattooing. He has since retired, but his brand and style can be seen in many stores across the world as he has developed his brand into clothing and other wares (“Ed”).
            Along with this rising popularity, the television has given tattooing the forum to express their creativity and popularity. With shows like L.A. Ink, Miami Ink, Tattoo Nightmare, and competition shows like Best Ink and Ink Master being immensely popular, has allowed the artist to become somewhat of celebrities in their own right. Kat VonD is the most famous female artist that has allowed her to have her own shop, have her own television show and start her own makeup line being sold at Sephora stores.

The television shows have also given the hosts a celebrity status boost and a cult following of sorts. Ink Master had allowed Dave Navarro (formerly of Jane’s Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers) to have a career away from performing music. Chris Nunez has gone from being just a tattoo artist to having his own show and now is a judge on Ink Master on Spike TV. With the acceptance of tattoos gaining popularity, it has allowed people who are entirely covered in ink to have very lucrative careers like Rick Genest. Known as ‘Zombie Boy’, Rick has taken his artistry to a new level and is now an actor and fashion model (“Rick”). Being different shows that anyone can be whatever they desire no matter how they look and how they are marked.
David Beckham- Soccer star, model & entrepreneur

Rick Genest aka-Zombie Boy












Thursday, January 15, 2015

Icons

The three icons I chose, are of things that are highly recognizable to me and others. Starbucks represents my present and love of their coffee, Legos because of the many long hours playing and creating during my childhood, and The Statue of Liberty for the beginning my great-grandfather experienced coming to America.
Starbucks
original logo
new logo

I chose Starbucks as my first icon. Starbucks is one of my favorite indulgences. The company started as one shop in Seattle in 1971 and has evolved to become a phenomenon around the world. The mermaid has been their trademark from the beginning, but has had many versions over the years. Not only have they endured expansion of their brand to include K-cups and bottled drinks in the grocery stores, the coffee shops continue to grow as well. Starbucks is also a leader in community involvement, green sustainability, and aid in humanity to farmers and producers in the countries in which they do business. Starbucks is also a leader when it comes to their baristas and workers. They offer their part-time workers with health benefits, higher wages and tuition reimbursement. This is very different from how most corporations operate today. Starbucks is one company who practices corporate responsibility.


Statue of Liberty
The second icon chosen is the Statue of Liberty. The Green Lady represents freedom and a new beginning to millions of people, especially those who arrived through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. “It has been estimated that close to 40 percent of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island”. The statue was a gift from France to commemorate the lasting friendship between the two nations. My own great-grandfather came through the processing station at Ellis Island in 1916 from Sweden, so she holds a special place in my heart.

Lego

I remember playing with my Legos for hours on end as a child and also being yelled at by my parents when they would accidentally step on one of the pieces. Lego has been around since 1932 and was started by a Danish man named Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has remained in the family the entire time and is now run by Ole’s grandson Kjeld. The word Lego means “leg godt” in Danish and translated means, play well (“Lego”). I still own the Lego’s that my sister and I use to play with which were then handed down to my daughter. I recently asked her if we could give them to my 3 ½-year-old nephew. Her response was, “Absolutely not!” She is almost 24 years old. It just goes to show that you are never too old to play with one of the iconic toys of the century, Lego’s.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Popular Culture

Pop culture is the system of attitudes, behavior patterns, beliefs, customs, and tastes that define the people of any society (Browne, 2005. P.3). Pop culture tends to be what is “in or a fad” at the moment with the middle and lower classes. It tends not to be associated with higher educated or higher earning people. Pop culture can take many forms such as the clothing that is worn, types of movies being produces, music on the radio, toys being manufactured, types of television shows being shown, what sports to like and teams to root for, how to save the earth by going green, and so much more.
In a business it is critical to stay on top of the latest in pop culture or trends. If they fail to monitor the changes of pop culture, they could lose business and potential customers. This is extremely prevalent in the retail business. With the recent development of Facebook, Twitter, apps and social media as a whole, businesses who had failed to embrace the changing culture from the beginning were left behind.
Throughout my life, I have experienced many changes in pop culture which some became very memorable. In the 1970s, it was the wearing of bell-bottoms and listening to American rock music. The 80s brought about the age of excess, along with changes in the music with new wave and the birth of MTV. With the early 1990s, grunge was the rage in the way we dressed along with the music of teenage angst flowing through our portable disc players. The later 90s were full of teenage girl and boy bands such as Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys.



Duran Duran- 80s
The Eagles-70s

Pearl Jam- 90s













Browne, R. (2005). Profiles of popular culture: A reader. Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin Press.