What Is Your Truth?

So what is the truth? Everyone has their own. Such as everyone has their own story, their own view, or image; but is it always the truth? The article states, “People can take everything away from you, but they can’t take away your truth. But the question is can you handle it? Can you handle my truth?” (Myers, 2009). This article suggests that the history of celebrity in western culture is closely linked to the history of communication technology. In this case, it suggest that new research has to find away to reach larger audience quicker. This causes the public to tune in around the world for the flow of information. (Schickel, 1985). According to the author, Richard Schickel, the celebrity image is useful ideological symbol for constructing meaning within the modern western capitalist. In other worlds, celebrities are just idealist; their images are not always real. Which in many cases makes their images not true? The article suggest that celebrity people are more false in value. They do not always accept their images, some in fact reject the social values formed by their celebrity images. (Myers, 2009). If a celebrity is brought out into the public and revealed as a normal person, many may not recogonize. If a celebrity is placed on a stage or in a movie, everyone knows this person. The true images are not always seen on stage. So, these images seem in so many movies are not true. These images are fake or false.
The name of the article is “Can You Handle My Truth?” Authenticity and the Celebrity Star Image. So, why do so many people hide or give a false image? Why do they not just give a true image? Is it the fact they cannot handle their own truth? In my opinion I think people do not reveal their own truth because they are afraid of not being accepted. For example, when you begin middle school, as a girl you begin wearing makeup, tighter jeans, watching your weight; things that were not important to you before. This is because you want to be accepted by other children your age. The makeup makes you look older or adds a different look about you. Many celebrities use makeup to look younger or uplifting their age. The tighter jeans, show off your figure as well as catching young gentlemen’s eyes. Watching your weight, it because the media puts so much on girls to be skinny. If you are overweight, you do not get accepted as well as if you are skinny. Therefore, when you enter the world where you have to hide your actual truth, you begin to change yourself to a fake; inorder to be accepted.
The article discusses the relationship with Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Britney was always view as the girl next door. She wanted to be viewed as an average person. After all, she did produce an official Web site and her own reality television program to present the real person. (Myers, 2009). To me, she is trying to introduce her truth to the public. Her reality show is helping to bring the real Britney closer to her fans. This is a way of coping with being a celebrity and its pressures. (Myers, 2009).



Reference
Myers, E. (2009). “Can You Handle My Truth?” Authenticity and the Celebrity Star Image. Journal of Popular Culture, 42(5), 890-907.
Schickel, R. (1985). Intimate Strangers: The Culture of Celebrity.

Assignment 1-3

What Is Your Stereotype?

My favorite television show is the Golden Girls. I have watched every episode several times. I don’t have a favorite person in the show, I like them all. The show is about four women who are elder who live together. Sophia is the oldest, she is very sarcastic. Dorothy is Sophia’s daughter; she is very realistic and serious. Next there is Rose, is very silly, many would call her dingy. Finally there is Blanche, she loves all men. She is always out to get her a new man. Putting all of these women in one house and you get a very entertaining television show. The question is why this television show is your favorite television show. Well, I love to watch this television show. There is never a dull boring show; it is always funny and entertaining. (Harris, 1985)
According to dictionary.com, a stereotype is a conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. ( An Ask.com Service). To me a stereotype is an opinion about something. It is how something is looked at of viewed by others. This television show would have different stereotypes hidden in it. The Golden Girls television show would have implicitly well hidden thought-out different episodes. The girls always have drama, as well as trust, and honesty. This show would rarely have explicitly stereotypes during an episode. There is rarely any violence or harsh words. The stereotype of this show would have to be funny, entertaining; the girls all have trust and are very honest with each other. The drama stereotype comes into play when something happens. For example, in one episode, Blanche and Sophia are dating the same man. Therefore, there was a case of drama. Blanche couldn’t understand why a man would want her and Sophia who is older. (Harris, 1985)
The contributions of this stereotype may have come from life experiences. Many men have several different girlfriends at one time, therefore there is drama. Cultural family beliefs may have contributed to some of the stereotypes, such as trust and honesty. These women are like family, since they all live together. Therefore they have built trust and honesty.
My opinion, I think stereotypes emerge because people are so judgmental. Once people form an opinion about you, it is hard to change it. Many people form their opinion without knowing you or anything about you personally. For example, if I was a drunk in my younger days, but after I got married I joined church; there would still be someone with and opinion that I am still a drunk in church. Everyone has an opinion that shapes the stereotypes about others. Like the example I gave before, someone would say,”oh she hasn’t changed and never will.” That would form an image or opinion about me. This is the reason there are many stereotypes on the world.
In my own personal opinion, stereotypes do not fulfill very many functions. Forming a stereotype is simply forming an opinion. This can either hurt a person or support a person. Labeling a stereotype on someone or something follows them throughout the whole career or lifetime. In this case stereotypes are positive. The stereotypes influence the way people view the television show. The Golden Girls show is view as a funny and entertaining television show. Although, there is drama in the television show on different episodes, the drama is view as entertaining. Therefore, the drama would have a positive stereotype.


References
An Ask.com Service (n.d) Retrieved November 27, 2009 from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/
Harris, S. (director). (1985). the Golden Girls [Motion Picture].



Assignment 3-1 Deidre Farley

Idols: Reality or Religion (Assignment 1-3)

“Idols: Reality or Religion”

Religion has been on a steady decline for many years. The reality show “American Idol” is the starting of music culture. According to the article, this has been an attempt to the article; this has been an attempt to distill potential religion-theological implications for contemporary culture. (DiBernardo, 2009). The holy bible states, “You shall not have not other Gods besides me. You shall not carve idols. You shall not bow down before them and worship them.” There are more idols those realities in the world. (DiBernardo, 2009).
There is a mockery being done of the bible when you call it the golden globes. For in the bible it was a golden calf. In this article, music is presented in the form of culture in comparison to the Holy Bible. In other words, the golden globes, idols, and religion have a long history with each other. Although the reality show was just for entertainment, it has now been transformed into a mockery of the Holy Bible. You cannot help but look at the way “American Idol” captures the popular culture’s imagination. The reason this reality show is such a mockery to the religious world is because they are searching for an idol. Not only are those who audition for the part to become an idol, but those who tune in every week, vote, and post blogs, as well as accessing the videos are also a part of the mockery.
I completely understand the articles point, in the bible it says not to have any other idols, but the world has disowned the bible to earn money. Many people today, who are religious, say I can’t watch this of that because of nudity or profanity. These same people will turn in every week to watch a reality show that is searching to another idol in the world except God. This reality show was more than likely made for entertainment, yet it will destruct many homes and lives. Putting another idol in the world will help to destroy the world.
One who is superficial or fake cannot be spiritual. In other words, entertainment cannot be spiritual. One another note, how about the taking pray out of schools, or the ten commandments out of public places. Thou shall not kill should be placed everywhere in this day and time. Where I am from, religion is a big part in people’s lives. Although Christianity is not the only religion, other religions have the same beliefs that you should not kill, steal, or make false gods. Although the article states that many believe that “American Idol”, is a mysterious allure of a superstar idol. (DiBernardo, 2009). It still mocks the illusions of the Holy Bible.

References
DiBernardo, S. (2009). American Idol: A Religious Profanation. Journal of Religion & Popular Culture, 1-1.

Your American Dream, Can you Reach It?

What is a myth? In my opinion, a myth is something that is believed and lived, but is not true. Many people live and believe the myth that is taught throughout their lifetime. An American myth is very much like an American dream. Most people believe the American dream having luxuries, happiness, and respect. In my opinion my American dream was to work hard, be honest, and to treat others the way I wanted to be treated; I would have the American dream.
One artifact that represents the American dream is the Great Immigration period. During this time people from all over the world came to America to live. Many of the immigrants arrived at Ellis Island in New York between 1892 and 1954. The reason for this was to have freedom and to be allowed to follow their personal dreams. Many of the people ever planned to return to their original homes. The percentage of people to return was about two. The peak of immigration periods were early spring through mid fall. There was never much violence in during the immigration periods. The people just wanted to be in America. They had plans of starting their life over here. (Researchers, 2009)
Another artifact that represents the American dream is Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. was as Baptist minister and a social activist that lead many civil rights movements. He won the Nobel Peace Prize. Martin Luther King Jr., came from a middle-class family. He wanted his life to be different. During the time that Martin was growing up, blacks and whites were separated. Martin wanted to be treated the same. The only hatred Martin had in his heart was toward racial segeration. Martin Luther King Jr., was a non-violent man. He did not believe in violence. His American dream was to be treated equal. At this time, this was only a myth. Although his dream is somewhat fulfilled, there are still some people out there that are racist. (Martin Luther King Jr., biography, 1996-2009)
I chose these two artifacts because they both had a desire to have something different. At the time of this, it was myth; not everyone could stay in America and not everyone got treated equal. Both of these situations have a goal to achieve, but yet, it can still be a myth that is not ever going to change or enhance the life of others.
Some people in America set their goal so high it is virtually impossible to achieve; therefore it is unrealistic. The reason for this is because people are never satisfied, or happy with what they have; there is always something bigger or better. Competition is the main problem with making the American dream a myth instead of reality. People always want to be able to say look what I have got. This has affected me my whole life, as it has others. My American dream was to have happiness. Although I have had happiness, I have had heartache. I have shed tears as well as had laughter.
A movie that comes to mind when I think of the American dream is the “Butter-cream Gang” by featured family films. In this movie, two boys grow up as best friends. One boy, Scott, stays behind with his family and learns morals. The other boy, Pete, leaves the small town for a big city, he joins a gang experiments with drugs. He later returns home to the small town. The two boys are reunited, but things now have changed. Scott has a goal to help others, work, and be happy. While Pete, is out stealing from the honest town people, doing drugs, and miserable because he wants have Scott has. This is how people are today. Many have set their “American dream” in arms length, therefore they succeed. While others have set their “American dream” high as the sky, therefore their dream never comes. The smaller set dreams become reality, while the high set dreams will always be a myth. (Neibaur, 2004)





References
Martin Luther King Jr., Biography (1996-2004). Retrieved November 20, 2009, from BIO True Story: http://www.biography.com/articles/martin-luther-king-jr.9365086?part=1

Neibaur, B. (director). (2004). the Butter Cream Gang. [Motion Picture].

Researchers, L.C. (2009, November 3). Selected Images of Ellis Island and Immigration, ca.1880-1920. Retrieved November 20,2009, from Prints and Photographs Reading Room: http://www.ask.com/barq=Ellis+Island+Immigration&page=1&qsrc=6&dm=all&ab=4&title=selected+images+of+Ellis+Island+and+Immigration%2c+ca.+1880-1920+u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.locgov%2Frr%2print%2Flist%2F070_immi.html+sg=PljYxrql48N%2BwwyNLigoDN6HfRUrgOHBpZpLD2w


HUMN341
Assignment 2-3

Obama in 09

Although he was voted in as president, the world is still not ready for him. Obama was voted in on the 2008 election, to start his term in 2009. The world accepted other presidents, but Obama was more intellegent than expected. He has not only read books, but has written them as well. Many believe that he may resemble Jack Kennedy. Who we all know was all about philosphy as well as being a sophisticated idealist. But speaking on another note, Obama also is up to date with Jay-Z and Ludacris. He is more pop cultured than any other president.
Obama has a chance at influencing the society today, by being a speaker. He speaks with upward tones to give uplife; instead of speaking to down grade. He has addressed problems of America, but America is still not ready to deal with these problems. This will affect the outreach to success.
http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/ObamaWins08/main.asp

Changing the world of Sports

There are a few people who have changed the world by being the first to complete something, but you never hear about them because of their race or gender. This is what makes the world what it is today. These people regardless of their race or gender.

Henry"Hank" Aaron was born February 15, 1934 in Mobile Alabama. He was one of the world's best all-time baseball players. He was known for having 2,297 runner batted in. His home run career average was 755, which beat Babe Ruth's 714. Henry Aaron held this top average until 2007. His true baseball skills were never really appreciated until he broke Babe Ruth's record in 1974. http://www.biography.com/articles/Hank-Aaron-9173497

Willie "Say Hey" Mays was born May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama. Willie began playing baseball when he was sixteen years old. He joined the major leagues right after the colour bar ended. He had a total of 660 home runs.
http://www.biography.com/articles/Willie-Mays-9403845

Jack Roosevelt Robinson "Jackie Robinson" was born January 31,1919 in Cairo Georgia. He was a great baseball player but also a civil right activist. Breaking the color barrier, Jackie was the first African-American to play baseball's major leagues. Jackie was name the most valuable player in 1938.
http://www.biography.com/articles/Jackie-Robinson-9460813?part=0

I chose these three people to represent my icons. All three of these players were a major part in baseball history. This is important to me because I believe that everyone should get credit they deserve, although these people did not. These three baseball players helped to change the world of sports. Before their time, African-Americans were not allowed to use the same restroom much less play professional baseball.