Written Anayysis Wrap-Up

The Real Housewives Series

Taking a closer look into the series The Real Housewives, I learned to think about the program from a different point of view than the average viewer. I gained insight with each week. With that insight, I now feel that I have a better understanding as to the influence reality television has on popular culture. I feel that the theory of formula and the theory of cult of personality are the most noticeable theories in this reality television program.

            The enormous success of this series has been nothing short of unbelievable. The interest Bravo has stirred up by allowing us to take a look into the lives of those that appear to have it all was, in my opinion, a brilliant move on their part. I feel what has held our interest is the formulas that the show uses to keep us on the edge of our seats. The constant conflict and drama is a formula that makes viewers coming back for more.  Why do we watch every week? We want to see what is going to happen next, that’s why. We get entertainment out of the backstabbing, the arguments, the over-the-top lifestyles and the all together craziness these shows give us. I feel that so many people who tune into this program does it for 60 minutes of mindless entertainment.  So many of us live such busy lives and when you have 60 minutes to just escape you day to day routine, that in itself is relaxing.

            When I began digging a little deeper into The Real Housewives franchise, I was discovered that there are many different cities that are focused on in this series. The original show being Orange County, but in addition to that there is New York, New Jersey, Miami, Atlanta, D.C. and Beverly Hills.  It seems to have spread like wildfire and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. The series has given its reality television cast many opportunities. Some cast members have begun their own businesses, became actors on hit programs and even started singing careers. Regardless of where they are in life, it all started by allowing the cameras inside their homes.

            To some a show like The Real Housewives is pointless and mind numbing, maybe it is. But the bottom line is that Bravo found a something that the public enjoys and they ran with it. Reality television may have a bad rap in the whole scheme of things, but is reality television is so taboo, why are there so many networks jumping on the reality band wagon? I have learned a lot from this project. Like I said, I view the reality program in a different way, but I am still a reality TV fan and look forward to many years of The Real Housewives drama.

           

Journal Article Analysis

The article I chose to focus on is titled; Buying me love, 1980 Class Clash Teen Romances. The author speaks of many different movies from the 1980's. Each movie has actors who portray teenagers from different walks of life. Certain characters are from a wealthy, well to do family whereas others are from a less fortunate home. What the author has chosen to focus on the cultural differences between the upper class and the lower class and how romance can transcend the class divide.

Like the author wrote in the article, in the 1980's the United States was in a difficult financial state. Many felt that it was largely due to the ever growing unemployment lines and how the increase in inflation had to make the average American make their dollar stretch further than they had to in the 1970's. Not only were the working adults feeling the hardships of the economy, so were the American teenagers. The line between the “haves” and the “have not's” quickly became more defined and this made the high school years difficult for many young people. In the early 1980's film producers began to make movies that brought this issue to the big screen. Movies like Can't Buy Me Love, Loverboy and The Karate Kid all showcase the divide between the social classes.

In many of the movies of the 1980's, wealthy families were seen as arrogant, privileged and the writers made them look as if they felt they were above everyone else. The upper class always wore the best clothes, drove the best cars and lived in the nicest homes. On the flip side, the lower class was written into the scripts as the ones who deserved to have their romantic wishes come true. They always longed for the opposite sex that just so happened to be of a different social status. These films gave the viewers the hope that regardless of class a romance could blossom and happiness was to be found.

As I read the article I found that the author had written it in a way that was very easy to follow and he kept me intrigued by his views on the teen romances. The way Mr. Shary broke down the individual 80's movies as examples to the points he was trying to get across to the readers made it very easy for me to understand his way of thinking. It made me think of the movies in a different way, not just as a form of entertainment but as a representation of what the 1980's teen class-clash was like. As I read the article I was able to visually see what the author was saying because his words corresponded with the directors vision so well his words took me back to the the days of big hair, pegged jeans and blue eye-shadow.

The author, Tom Shary has many well thought out points in the article. He believed that if you are in the lower class you will ultimately want to one day be a part of the upper class. I believe this is true. If you see the upper class people living a better life than what you have it is only natural to want that. This is just as important for a teenager in high school. If a lower class teen sees how happy a upper class teen seems, he or she will want to fit into that popular group. It is human nature to want more than what you have, especially if what you have is not much. Tom Shary was able to touch on the fact that if the economical issues are poor then the social classes feel the brunt of economic problems. Economic issues play a huge role in social class. It can cause the divide to be wider and leaves people feeling defeated. The movies of the 80's showed this divide, but it also showed how a romance can overcome that issue.

I feel the article was well written and brought to light the affect the economy has on social class and the people to whose lives are affected daily by the status. I think that whatever the social status, people will always want to see the poor succeed and the rich fall. Many times that “green eyed monster” will show its ugly head and jealousy will prevail. Is it possible for a person to be content in where they are in life? Can two people from different social classes be happy together? These questions are some of life’s many mysteries. But as long as there are social boundaries being crossed, the producers and directors in Hollywood will continue to make movies that depict the struggles of the everyday person and we, as viewers will watch and relate to what is on the big screen.

                                                       References

Shary, T. (2011). Buying Me Love: 1980s Class-Clash Teen Romances. The Journal of Popular 

     Culture, 44(3), 563-582. Retrieved October 5, 2012, from the OhioLINK Electronic Journal

     Center database.

Heroes and Celebrities

Can a reality television personality or celebrity be considered a hero? I suppose it would depend on what your explanation of a hero would be. To some it is a fictional character that resides in movies and comic books, to others it is someone who left an impact on their lives. Does the people we watch living in million dollar homes, driving luxury cars and taking dream-like vacations fall into the category of a hero? In my opinion they do not.

The Real Housewives of (enter city) has become one of the biggest reality shows on the Bravo network. In the beginning the ladies of the O.C. (Orange County, CA) let us enter the lives of the elite and wealthy. They showed off their “perfect” lifestyle but beyond spending money like it was their job there wasn't anything heroic about them. Reality television is nothing more than mindless entertainment. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with enjoying this type of program, I immensely enjoy stepping into the lives of women I have absolutely nothing in common with. It is my escape from real life and a guilty pleasure. However, it is only a pleasurable television program nothing more. The ladies on the show will not change the lives of the viewers and more than likely they will not take advantage of their celebrity status and help others. If they did, that would make them a hero.

A hero leaves an imprint on the life of another person. He or she can feel good about how their actions either saved a life or help guide someone towards their dreams. A hero is someone that can be looked up to and someone who does good things out of the kindness of their hearts. There won't be any fighting and two-face behavior behavior from a hero, a realty television personality maybe but not a hero.

Rituals

                                                                              Rituals

    

Almost every one of us has some sort of ritual we partake in. It may be the way we start each day with a cup of coffee and the morning paper or it may be finishing the day watching our favorite television program. Whatever your ritual may be, it is something that is important to you or your family.

A ritual is something that is done on a regular basis because in some way, shape or form it is important to you. I enjoy watching reality TV. I partake in The Real Housewives programs that are televised on the Bravo network. What these programs give me is a 60 minute long retreat from the day-to-day routine of every day life. I get to escape into the lives of the wealthy and elite and am entertained by the shenanigans these women get themselves in to. Without any thought I curl up on the sofa or in bed, sit back and spend a little time with the ladies of Beverly Hills, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Miami or Orange County. The drama and the over the top life style has become very entertaining to me as a viewer.

A ritual doesn’t necessarily limit itself to television programs. Rituals can also be something that is found in a religious manner. Going to church each Sunday morning or partaking in communion is only a couple of religious rituals that many people in the world have. Religious rituals are something that people hold near and dear to their hearts. These rituals may be ones they have grown up with and were instilled in them by their parents. Regardless, religious rituals can be as important to a person as the religion itself.

Another form of ritual that many people enjoy is the celebrations of such events like weddings, birthdays or a child’s birth. It has become the norm to celebrate these events or rituals because they are happy, joyous times that deserve a celebration. It’s these types of rituals that brings friend and families together and gives them the opportunity to be one big happy family.

Whatever your ritual may be it is important to not allow others to judge you for what you choose to do. The rituals you share with your children today are the ones they will be sharing with their children long after your gone.

Icon Analysis

                                                                      Icon Analysis

The three icons I chose to focus on are Dunkin' Donuts, Coach Handbags and the movie “It's A Wonderful Life” Dunkin' Donuts was founded in 1950 in Quincy Massachusetts. Dunkin' Donuts is the world's leading baked goods and coffee chain in the US. Whether it is the 52 different donuts they offer or the classic coffee that gets your day started, Dunkin' Donuts is the best start to a morning. My second icon is Coach handbags. Coach was founded in 1941 as a family-run business. Coach is a perfect example of a classic American style that has withstood the test of time. From the beautiful bags to the comfortable clothing, nothing says style like this brand. Speaking of American classics, the movie “It's a Wonderful Life” shows how easy it is to forget the good things in life. This now beloved Christmas classic has not only become tradition in my home, but in homes across the world. The way the community pulls together for one of its own touches the heart of anyone who watches it.

Dunkin' Donuts was first introduced to me on my first trip to NYC. I immediately fell in love with the rich coffee flavor and the over whelming choices of donuts. There were many years that I wasn't able to get Dunkin' Donuts in my area so my father-in-law would send me coffee from New York. I always looked forward to getting that package and in a small way I think that gave he and I a special little bond. Every summer when my family and I go to NYC to visit family, my vacation isn't

complete until I have the traditional cup of coffee.

Coach Handbags is one of my most favorite things in the entire world. I love to treat myself to a beautiful new handbag and matching wallet. I think Coach is a perfect example of a classy brand that never goes out of style. Many people say that a handbag is simply a “container” for my personal belongings, I disagree. I look at my bags as an extension of my personality. If I am feeling “sassy” I may choose a bright color or floral print. If I need to be a little more conservative, then a traditional solid color bag would be the best choice. Regardless of the reason, shopping for Coach bags makes me feel good about myself. I never have to worry about if the size fits, I only have to worry about whether they have the matching wallet. ; )

It's a Wonderful Life. Those four little words have so much meaning to me. Tradition, family, friends, love, these are only a few things this movie stands for. A Christmas classic about a small town man who is given the gift of seeing what life would be like if he had never been born and seeing how his life had touched the lives of others is a lesson we all could learn from. At some point in each of our lives we get caught up in the day-to-day drama and forget that we have an impact on other people. This movie reminds us of that. I love the wholesome feel the movie has and the innocent nature the characters bring to life. This movie will always be one of the holiday traditions in my family. My children have grown up watching it and hopefully my grandchildren will as well. In the busy and hectic world we live in it's nice to escape to a place where “No man is a failure who has friends”.

 References:

Retrieved from http://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/company.html

Coach, I. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/genWCM-10551-10051-en-/Coach_US/CompanyInformation/InvestorRelations/CompanyProfile

Dirks, T. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.filmsite.org/itsa.html

What does pop culture mean?

What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you? 
     Popular culture is anything or anyone that is making headlines. The hottest celebrities, television shows and athletes are what makes today's headlines and therefore sets the trends for everyday society. 

Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?
     I am currently employed by a bookstore that services Ohio University. I assist the sportswear/souvenir buyer in supplying our store with all the current apparel and souvenirs to create revenue for the company. I have to constantly be aware of setting trends to that we can offer our student customers. I am currently in the Marketing program so being on top of all trends will help me be successful in my future.


What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?
     I chose The Real Housewives Series by Bravo TV. This franchise has grown into a multi-million dollar establishment and has been responsible for the blossoming careers of many of its casts members. Bravo has taken "everyday" lives of successful and wealthy women and put it our there for the world to see. By allowing the average person to peek into the lives of rich and powerful, it has left society wanting more and this statement is proven by the original Real Housewives of Orange County now beginning its 7th season.