Written Analysis 1 Due. Aug 31, 2014

            Today’s news headlines out of Ferguson Missouri are in direct relation with the portrayal of race in American media. Just like in older days the American Indians were portrayed as savage beast to be shot down by cowboys, black and brown people are today portrayed as thugs and hoodlums that need to be apprehended, incarcerated or just plain killed. In the sixties, those images of blacks were of drugs gangsters or prostitutes. And the role blacks were assigned to play in the media such as films and television were in the line with that image.

With the advent of television the images of blacks stared to change little by little thanks mostly to Black Entertainment Television (BET). The 1970’s were still a bit stereotypical, the shows were funny but still portrayed blacks in a back shade. Then came the BET cable channel launched in January 1980, the programming of which gave birth to the pro-eminence of HIP-HOP, probably the world’s greatest American cultural export phenomenon, copied and imitated the world over. Hip-Hop has made black culture “cool” all over the world.

The 1980’s brought about a sort of revolution in the media when it comes to black’s image in the media. NBC television started broadcasting The Cosby Show, a SITCOM about a middle-class family in New-York, whose father Bill Cosby was a Medical doctor and his wife, Felicia Ra-shad was a lawyer. Their children were college bound kids and well behave. This show was not about the usual ghetto types of before. The offshoot of the Cosby show was A Different World, a show about the college campus life of young black men and women, which also showed that black kids could actually aspire to higher education.

These days black entertainment executives like Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry have built up their own entertainment empires, allowing them to produces movies and TV shows that portray blacks in favorable lights. They have been able to bring about an era that promotes black people in better way. The so called mainstream media still does not help and continues to kill black image in their portrayal of them. That is what leads to a lack of democracy evidenced in the treatment of blacks by the police and the powers they have.

My three contemporary icons are Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jackson.

Bill Cosby.

Who is Bill Cosby? Bill Cosby is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician, and activist. I chose Bill Cosby because of the good advice he gives to both black and white kids of this nation, especially to the black people. Mr. Cosby’s dissertation discussed the use of Cosby Kids TV show as a teaching tool in elementary schools. He is also a role model to blacks. Most black kids who think and have the mentality they can never make it in life because of the color of their skin. This icon means a  lot to me in so many ways, but what touched me the most are his speeches about education that urge black child to go to school and get an education that would lead them to higher achievement and a better life.

 Oprah Gail Winfrey.

Who is Oprah Winfrey?  Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. I chose Oprah Winfrey because of her good work done not only in America but around the world. The so-called Queen of all media the greatest black woman philanthropist in American history, In fact, she is one of the most influential women in the world. And as a black woman, that means a lot. My most memorable moment of Oprah Winfrey was when she was awarded the President Medal of Freedom by the president Barack Obama. She is an inspiration to many women, black or white, putting smiles on their faces when all hopes seem to be gone. Her generosity is immense as evidenced in her investments in girl’s education, especially in Africa. That mission of empowerment is based on the thinking that when you educate the man you educate individual but when you educate a woman, you have educated a nation as a whole.

Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, businessman and philanthropist. I chose Michael Jackson because of his great contribution to music, dance and fashion as a whole, but especially to black culture in particular. He will remain a powerful global figure in popular culture forever. The King of Pop as he was called, Michael was known with his music since he was a child. He sang and danced into the hearts of American and the world with his brothers. Looking back to the early 1980 he became a dominant figure in popular music and helped continue to break down racial barriers in entertainment. This icon means a lot to me because of the way his music and dance took a lot of kids out of the street to put their life in to good use through music. Many artists today owe their entry in music to Michael for he was a role model to them. It was a sad day and a shock to many in the world when the news came he was dead. Even after his death he is still the King of Pop. His legacy in Pop Music will endure forever.

Tuesday August 19,2014.

·         Define popular culture

Popular culture is the system of attitudes, behavior patterns, beliefs, customs, and tastes that define the people of any society. It is the entertainment diversions icons, rituals and actions that shape a society’s everyday world. Pop culture is the shared knowledge and practices of specific group at a specific time, pop culture both reflects and influences people’s way of life.

What does it mean to you?

Popular culture makes me aware of different cultural norms which helps me interact with a particular audience or race without disrespecting any culture.

·         Discuss the relevance of popular culture to you in a business environment and in your present and future career.

Businesses do not exist in a vacuum, and even the most successful business must be aware of changes in the cultures and societies in which it does business. As society and culture change, businesses must adapt to stay ahead of their competitors and stay relevant in the minds of their consumers. A major socio-cultural factor influencing businesses and business decisions is changing consumer preferences. What was popular and fashionable 20 years ago may not be popular today or 10 years down the road. Different styles and priorities can undermine long successful products and services. Currently I work in the health field; the popular culture now is converting all patient information electronically due to the more advancement of technology. This allows a patient to assess his/ her medical information anywhere in the states.

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

An example of a popular culture artifact I chose is “Rosie the Riveter” an iconic figure of a strong female war production worker. I chose this because it shows the growing number of percentage of working class women since the World War II. This has empowered a lot of women to work and be independent.

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