Assignment 3-1 Weekly Analysis

A popular game at family gatherings, tailgate parties and office picnics is Cornhole. This game is gaining players both young and old all over the United States. This simple act of throwing a bean bag into a hole on a wooden board is a great way to pass the time. There are two teams that compete to be the first to reach or exceed 21.

This game is played for fun and also as a tournament. There is a local pub in my area that has a Cornhole tournament every Thursday where the team wins a cash prize. Some nights there are a lot of people that attend while other nights there are hardly any.

To learn more about the game and purchase special gear simply go to www.playcornhole.org. This is the website for the American Cornhole Association. This site lists the rules, how to play, how to start a tournament and any recent news related to the game. Cornhole boards can also be bought on numerous other sites or you can have a set made especially for you. Due to the fact we are in the Buckeye state it is not hard to spot the popular OSU Cornhole boards with scarlet and gray bean bags.

Some other accessories for this game include scoreboards, totes for the bean bags and even lights for the holes on the board. These lights run off of a 9 volt battery and can be attached to any board. This type of accessory can allow for all night cornhole playing.

Who would have thought a simple bean bag game would gain such popularity in society. It is a game that is played year around in our family whether outside in the grass in the summer or in the barn in the winter time.

Assignment 2-1 Weekly Analysis

Although John McCain did not win the Presidency this November, his running mate Sarah Palin left a mark on the election and hopefully opened the door for women to fight for their spot in politics and their place in the White House. Sarah Palin is currently Governor of Alaska and has worked to eliminate senseless spending and even removed the private jet, chef and driver designated for the Governor from the state’s expenses (About Sarah Palin, 2008).

Governor Palin has been married to Todd Palin for 20 years and is a mother of five. Her oldest son recently joined the military, her daughter became pregnant and her youngest son has special needs (About Sarah Palin). While dealing with various family issues in the public eye she handled herself in professional and strong manner that showed she was not one to back down over a little criticism.

In recent news Governor Palin recognized and honored fallen soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq (News & Announcements, 2008). While these two soldiers were from different states they were stationed in Wainwright, Alaska (News & Announcements). Last week she also appointed people to several government boards including the Mental Health Board and the Natural Resources Conservation and Development Board and recognized that the unemployment tax rate for Alaska has been decreased (News & Announcements).

The work that Governor Palin has done for Alaska is remarkable and she sets a great example of what someone can do when they are determined to make changes and works to accomplish them one step at a time. Hopefully this will encourage other young women to make their mark in their community and eventually obtain a position such as Governor and possibly even President.

References:
About Sarah Palin. (2008). Retrieved on November 18, 2008 from http://www.johnmccain.com/about/governorpalin.htm
News & Announcements. (2008). Retrieved on November 24, 2008 from http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1550

Assignment 2-2 Icon Analysis

When thinking of icons that have made an impression in society three that come to mind are Elton John, the television show Friends and the ever popular NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. These three are all very different from each other but are easily recognized by a song, character or a number.

Elton John has had an incredible career since the 1970’s and can be recognized for famous songs such as Crocodile Rock, Rocket Man and Candle in the Wind. I had no idea who Elton John was until I spent time at my friend’s house as a kid. Her father was from England and was a huge fan of Elton John. From the time I was in third grade to now it never fails to hear an Elton John song playing at some point. I had it played at my wedding in honor of her dad who was not able to attend. Although I only know a few songs of his, his music will always be a part of my childhood.

The show Friends had a fantastic run on NBC for 10 seasons. This show can be considered an icon because it left mark on society and kicked off the careers for six actors who no one was that familiar with. The episodes are still being run on various channels and while there are no new episodes I am sure many people can sing the theme song while having flashes of the shows introduction going through their head. This has been and still is one of my favorite shows of all time.

When Dale Earnhardt Sr. died at Daytona in 2001 the NASCAR community suffered a great loss. He was a legend and an icon in the sport. His death prompted the initiation of head and neck restraints in the race cars. He was not only known for his famous number 3 but also as “The Man in Black.” He was my dad's favorite driver and his car was the first one I learned to recognize.He had a large following and while he may have been disliked by some he was loved by many. When thinking of NASCAR his career comes to mind and the fact that even though he had a full and successful run, it still seems that it was cut short.

These three icons may not mean much to other people but they always will to me. It is very interesting that while individually they are very different, they are each an icon of societies music, television and sports industry.

Assignment 1-4 Weekly Analysis

Popular culture affects people of all ages; toddlers, teens, adults and senior citizens. Each person has their own idea of what they enjoy and what influences them. For most three year olds a popular television channel is Noggin. This channel offers all of their favorite animated characters such as Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Backyardigans and Wonder Pets. For teenagers this channel is probably not watched much unless there are youngsters in the household. Noggin teaches preschoolers different shapes, animals, rhymes and numbers through the different shows. They understand how to relate to children and keep their attention.

Twenty years ago this type of educational programming for children was mainly through Sesame Street and a few other shows on PBS. Nowadays there are several outlets for children to learn basic and out of the ordinary information. For example, Go Diego Go is about a young boy who rescues animals in the jungle. These animals include pumas, llamas, sloths and even chinchillas. This type of cartoon educates children that there are animals other than just dogs, cats and fish. It also interacts with them about what type of equipment he should use to save them.

Most of the cartoons include music in their story line. The Backyardigans sing almost the entire time and even perform well known dances like the Charleston. These musical songs can be very catchy for the parents as well as the children.

Whether you are 3, 30 or 80 there are popular shows on television that have an influence, great or small, on the way we think. Noggin is very popular for children and while it is time that they are in front of the television, at least they are learning new things in a creative and nonviolent manner.

Assignment 1-2 Popular Culture Blog

Popular culture includes people, things and concepts that are at the forefront of society. It can be a person, place or object and depending on a one’s education, likes and dislikes and financial state it is different for each individual.

In marketing it is especially important to be aware of the hot trends and concepts in the business world. This will help in staying current on what competitors are doing to market their products and what types of promotional shows and items will make the greatest impact on potential clients. A company needs to make a mark with current and potential clients to maintain and gain business. In order to do that effectively the marketing team needs to show that the company is up to date from its collateral to promotional products, advertising and even its holiday card. It is the little things that companies do that can make an impact.

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

Above is a link to view Taylor Swift’s video Love Story on YouTube. YouTube is in my opinion a form of popular culture. Millions of people use this site to post and view various videos. It is even used as a promotional tool for artists as you can see from this clip. It contains videos from all types of people regardless of class, status and preferences. This site contains the ideas and thoughts of what popular culture is.