research blog 15

 I must say doing this research assigment was extremely difficult! I had a really hard time with it i am not sure if it is the topic i chose or is i just wasnt well prepared. I did miss my in class meeting and the may have helped some.After doing the assigment i realized that the mj community is not a subculture just a group of fans. The assigment paper with the questions did make the process a little bit easier without those i wouldnt have had much to say. the questions made me think more and come up with ideas and go more in depth.

I feel like we didnt spent enough in class time discussing the paper. more guidance was needed we probably should have had a day dedicated to write some of the paper in class. We could have shared some of our paper with not only you but the class they could have gave back good feed back and criticism. also sometimes things are better understood when you hear them from  a peer. Over all this was a really hard assingment for me!

Research Blog 13

King, Adam B. "Finding Online Subcultures in Shared Meanings." Academic Search Premier.EBSCO, May 2008. Web. 29 Nov. 2010

The article talks about  Online subcultures. It goes into how they differ from Subcultures in everyday life anf if they are really valid or not. The article talks about the differences and similarities and what tradiotanl values are lost with it being online. This article will help with my paper because i can relate it to my online subculture in many ways. I also can use this article to decide if my topic is truly an online subculture. here is the quote i plan to use......




According to Adam B. King “An online subculture like and offline subcultures may spill over into regions beyond traditional boundaries. In such cases seeking to understand the online subculture by looking in one location would be as limited as trying to understand Chinese- American culture by looking in only traditional china-towns.” (138, King).

Research Blog 14

Works Cited

Wedro, Benjamin C. "Micheal Jackson's Cause of Death." 2 Oct. 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010.

Lamb, Bill. "What Is Pop Music?" Web. 1 Dec. 2010.

King, Adam B. "Finding Online Subcultures in Shared Meanings." Academic Search Premier.EBSCO, May 2008. Web. 29 Nov. 2010.

Mattar, Yasser. "Virtual Communities and Hip-hop Music Consumers in Singapore." Academic Search Preimier.EBSCO,Oct. 2003. Web. 29 Nov. 2010.

Cave, Damien. "Michael Moonwalks." Academic Search Premier. EBSCO, 24 June 2007. Web. 29 Nov. 2010.

O'Brien, Susie, and Imre Szeman. Popular Culture: a User's Guide. 2nd ed. Toronto: Nelson, 2004. Print.

Reading blog 9

Chapter nine talked alot about different subcultures and the politics of those subcultures. The part that really stood out to me was the section about subcultures hiding in the light. I never really took time to think about that but it is very true. They are visibe enough for us to see but invsible enough to where they stand out from main stream and can practice there own believes within their community. For example punk rockers they dress different have what i consider to be weird concerts and stuff. they still stand out and are within the main stream but at places like concerts they can become invisible and just do things within the privacy of their own community.

 I also liked the part about the invention of the skate board. Skating boarding has become so mainstream compared to how it started out. I my self would like to learn how it seems fun. I feel like skating boarding start off as something people in the punk subculture practice but now people from all tyes of subcultures skateboard. The art about subcultures in cyber space just made me think of how facebooks has all types of groups you can join for all kinds of subcultures. i also thought of the different chat rooms you canjoin based on your intrest. Cyber space has become a major lace where subcultures meet and share ideas.

Reading Blog 8

 Guidos would be considered a subculture. Being a guido and guidtte is not consider  going againsts anything like a counter culture would be. It has become something that is under main stream society. The show Jersey shore on mtv is all about a group of guidos and guidettes from jersey. This has actually become a big thing now and people are proud in many cases to be apart of this subculture.

 This picture of a bunch of hippies sitting on some kind of court steps would be considered a counter culture. they are being rebelious. Going againsts the prevalant culture and it is polistical. They are obviously doing some kind of protest to fight for what they believe in.

Research Blog Part 10

Applying one (or more) key terms from Chapter 6, analyze one area of your research site in terms of that key term. Some terms may include performativity and habitus. How does your previous research work with these new terms in clarifying how your research site constructs itself? Do you see similarities to other terms? How are they different (even subtly)?
The mj community site site constructs it self as a subculture. makes the meber feel like they are a part of a seperate community that comes with a certain status as if you have to accepted which is why a membership is needed.non material commodities are on the site as far as all the information it has to offer. They have information about micheal jackson everywhere on the site.  everything on the site has a sense of essentialism the sites has many ideas and concepts. I also think of asethics when looking at the site it has a sense of beauty. All the pictures of micheal jackson look ike works or art they are pleasing to the eye. I not sure i see any similarites or how they are different for that matter. those are just the ones that stood out and i could relate to the site.

Research Blog Part 9

Analyze how interpellation works in your research site (apply concepts from Chapter 6). Analyze how members get "hailed" into becoming a member--look at the way they are talked to by the web designers, look at how identification in that community functions.

The website instantly hails memebers into becoming a member. I myself am a Micheal Jackson fan but not enough to join the mj community. when i went on the site i considered it after seeing all the cool stuff they have to offfer. The site as a glow, kinda shimmer to bright lights type of thing grabs your attention. At the top it has mj walking in the moon there are youtube videos of never seen before interviews all kinds of things. People like to feel like they are exclusive and have exclusive items so the site having so much never before seen items makes you want to join. Being a member makes you feel special and accepted. They have all the latest MJ news to keep you updated. they even have something at the top that say mj secret vault makes you feel as if they are trusting you with important information "members only." the web designer over all did a good job selling the idea of becoming a memeber almost got me for a second there!

Reading blog 6

 I have attented Bowling Green State University and now Owens they both use the same things to interpelate me into a paticular role as a student. At Bowling Green i had many Lecture style classes where there would be rows and rows of students. the professor would be far away all the way in the front at a desk fourtimes the size of ours. Usually they have a projector so everyone can see the lesson and a mic so everyone could here. Us the students have our books pencil,paper,bookbag all things required to learn and take good notes. All of those things put us in the student role. The teacher is always at the head of the class the one in charge which  which shape there social position.All of these things would make u assume the one sitting down taking notes has to be the student trying to get where the one who is standing infront of the class is which has to be the teacher.

Research Blog Part six

Using aspects of representation from Ch. 3, analyze how you think your research site represents themselves to their audience. Focus on pictures, written text, comments, music, format of the website--anything. Based on the way that the home page looks (use thick description in this), how do you think these members are representing themselves to their cohorts and there visitors.

     I think they are representing themselves to their cohorts in a appealing way. The site is really for people who are true fans! there are so many pictures of micheal jackson everywhere there are even videos. they also have other links to clubs and sites you can join.They have picture you can bid on to buy that have never been seen . they also have memorabila you can buy and just all sorts of mj collectables. They also have tributes to him on the site to appeal to their cohorts.

I think they are representing themselves to their visitors as possible future memebers to the community. I feel like they are really trying to draw them in with all the pictures and videos. They have a statement on there that says the mj community from nation to nation. i think they are using this to show that they are a friendly united community that everyone can be apart of.

Reading blog # 5

Put together a collection of familiar logos that you encounter on a regular basis, whether in media, on your computer, on products around the home, even on the clothing you and others wear. Choose one or two as case studies of how logos work as forms of communication and persuasion. Some ideas you might consider:

• Do the images represent real objects (like an apple) or are they more abstract (like a swoosh)?
• Where do you encounter these logos most often? why do you think the creators of the logos deploy them where they do?
• how have people adopted and adapted these logos as part of their own wardrobe, decor, or other aspects of their identity? What are the attractions of logos as fashion statements or markers of status? who is using whom in these transactions, in your opinion?

The first logo i chose was  mcdonalds logo we love to see you smile. I chose this because not only do i love mcdonalds i feel the logo says alot about them as a company. It says to the consumer that there happiness is important to them. it makes you feel as if when you go to mcdonalds you are going to be well taken care of. also it gives you the idea that you could be having a bad day and a trip to mcdonalds could brightening it up . Millions of people go to mcdonalds everyday so obviously the logo is working but at the sametime i left mcdonalds many times with a smile. I have been there in not got the best service many time but still at least once a week I go.

 My second logo I chose was burger king logo. I also like burger king and feel the logo says alot to consumers. I mean who doesnt  want to have it there way?! Not only with food but just with life in general. Burger King is using this logo to sell the idea that coming there and buying there food you can have your way. This logo is somewhat true because you can make special request at burger king such as a sadnwhich with no tomatoes and cut half. At the sametime can you truley have it your way at bk?? for example say i want mac and cheese can i get that a burger king??  They dont offer everything so what really is having it your way?!

Reading blog number 4

Locate a company website that you really think "nails" you as a consumer. Using Chapter 4 as your guide (i.e. market segmentation, lifestyle, packaging...), analyze that website to see HOW it caters to YOU-AS-TARGET. It must be two full paragraphs and link the site

A comapny website that really nails me as a consumer is christian louboutin this is a shoe site. as soon as u enter the site in the center is a pair of red and gold sandal pumps. the back of them are very gold and sparkely! The heels are sitting on top of a rock. i personally luv shoes so this draws me in instantly. Around the  red and gold shoes are a whole bunch of pretty butterflys. Above that are the different links you can go to on the site. there is a sneak peek tab, shoes tab, hand bag tab, red carpet tab, and a bridal tab. above this are little red heels walking back and fourth. going across the screen are beautifull shoes and hand bags.
      
        To me this site sells a lifestyle of the rich and famouse. It is full of glitz and glam. It appeals to what I want my future to be . These shoes are very expensive which requires a certain status and a certain level of success. I mean they have a tab for shoes for the red carpet that pretty much says it all right there! I love this site and although i am not able to buy any shoes or purses of tis site right now  I can go on the site and enjoy  the fashion . I look at the items and dream about my near future!:)

Research blog part 5

At first glance i just think wow micheal jackson is really gone. Then I think of tributes to him. the first think that catchs my eye is this picture of him with some random guy and i think of how many people loved him so much. next pops up a picture of chris brown imitating him and I start to think of what a great dancer he was and how he influenced younger artist.Then i start to notice all the ads and sales on the side of the page . Makes me wonder how much his music is being sold for and other items of his. the site has alot going on over all makes you think about alot !

Reading Blog Chapter 3

Ive honestly never seen either of the shows. soI went on you tube and looked at The Daily Report and The Colbert Show. These shows are just more opinion based the your local news stations are. News stations just release the information exactly as it happened without public opinon or there own personal opinon. where as shows like the Daily report you get more insite into how they feel about whats going on. The show appeals to a differnt model everyone is not going to like an opininated news station especially if they dont agree with there take on the subject. I feel that having different models is important now that way you appeal to many different people in a sense there is something for everybody.

What I think About my research site!

At first glance i just think wow micheal jackson is really gone. Then I think of tributes to him. the first think that catchs my eye is this picture of him with some random guy and i think of how many people loved him so much. next pops up a picture of chris brown imitating him and I start to think of what a great dancer he was and how he influenced younger artist.Then i start to notice all the ads and sales on the side of the page . Makes me wonder how much his music is being sold for and other items of his. the site has alot going on over all makes you think about alot !

Blogs I comment on each week !

sept 2......http://ashleymhelmke.blogspot.com/
Sept 7.....http://aeschuster.blogspot.com/
Sept 14 ....http://dustinspopblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-on-chapter-3.html?showComment
Sept 16.....http://ashleymhelmke.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-on-chapter-3.html?showComment
Sept 23......http://aeschuster.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-blog-4.html?showComment
Sept 28......http://royshoemaker.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-blog-4.html
Oct 5......http://kimthornton07.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-blog-5.html?showComment
Oct 7......http://generalewok.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-blog-5-labeled.html?showComment
Oct 19.......http://royshoemaker.blogspot.com/2010/10/activity-62.html?showComment=
Oct 21......http://ashleymhelmke.blogspot.com/2010/10/reading-blog-6.html?showComment=
Nov 1......http://dustinspopblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/reading-blog-7.html?showComment=-
Nov 4......http://ashleymhelmke.blogspot.com/2010http://cjspopcultureblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/reading-blog-9.html?showComment=
Nov16.... CJ'S blog and
http://royshoemaker.blogspot.com/2010/11/reading-blog-9.html?showComment=_
Nov 22....http://cjspopcultureblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/reading-blog-10.html#comments
http://dustinspopblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/reading-blog-10.html#comments

Hegemony

This picture is a good example of hegemony because it speaks for it self. It is really the oppisite of it which helps explain it better for me. The two babies are holding hands to show equality. No one baby is better then the other or more powerful. The quote says the dont want to live in a hegemonic system where human rights are ignored. In hegemonic systems there is a dominant group a group that is over another. so when you think of hegenomy just think of the oppisite of this adorable picture!

This picture is a great representation of hegemony. It has corporation on top of corporation in order of dominance. It shows howNAFTA has more power then walmart but the WTO has dominance over NAFTA. Also if you close at the bottom you see bulls with blood running down its back and under that you see people pushing the bulls. this is showing how the working man is below all of the corporations trying to carry all the weight. then above every thing comes uncle sam the biggest thing in the picture. He also has the whip that has been hitting the animals back with blood at the tip of it. This is a great example of how a hegemonic system works the bigger the object in the picture more power and dominance!

This third and final picture is also a good representation of Hegemony. This is the cover for hip hop artist Kanye West's new song called power. The song basically talks about how no one man shoud have all the power that he does. This  is showing how something can be dominant over something else. He feels like do to his money and fame he holds alot of powe over many people. Kanye does not see him self as equal to everybody else he feels as if there is some dominance he holds.You notice in the picture power is over everything and ends up k9lling the king says alot !

Research Decision

 I am going to do the mj community.....http://www.mjjcommunity.com/site/

Research blog part 1

http://www.animecons.com/
http://www.theforce.net/
http://twihards.com/
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/site/



I found four sites  to look at for research  they were really the first four that came to my mind. I have a friend name Karen who is obessed with anime. personally I think it is super weird and that she is a dork but to each its on. Anime is a japanese cartoon similar to dragon ball z. she is actually really big on the japanese culture in general so much to where she rencently move their to teach. The seond site I picked was the force net when I think of communitys like this the first group that comes to mind are treekies. I know they have those start wars conventions and all kinds of fan clubs for this community. They even get dressed up like the characters out of the movie.Ive always wanted to know more about this community so i didnt think twice about choosing this.
     The third community I chose was twidhards , this is a fan club for the movie twilight. I chose this because i love twilight!I have seen the first and second twilight still have to see the third. Although I am not big on vampires i still love the spin the put on the movie. I would not consider myself a twihard becauseI am not that in love with . You want catch me in one of those team Jacob or team Edward shirts lol but i am still intrested enough to do research on the topic.Lastly, but not least I chose the MJ community. This is a community for Micheal Jackson fans. I am a fan my self whichi is why I chose this community also due to his death last year I figured it would be a good topic to research. basically I chose all four because I take some kind of intrest in them so this should be a fun assignment!

Consumption

I picked a picture of the words I shop therfore i am to represent consumption. Accordig to wikipedia Consumption is the use of final goods by a consumer until disposal. final good are things that arent use in production for another good.we consume things everyday something as simple as going to mcdonalds and buying a cheeseburger is consider consumption. Personally I love to shop so the picture really stood out to me .

Commodity

August 18, 2010


I chose a picture of myself to represnt commodity. The reason I chose this is because a commodity is something that is in high demand and well I am ! I am smart,cute,and well rounded, i have alot to offer that many people tend to want. Guys are always trying to date me and my friendship is in high deman as well. Also people love to be around me so my time is in high demand.I am in pretty good shape and being fit is really a big thing for my generation. Basically im what you can call me a hot commodity ! :)