Blog 8

*Make a connection between popular music today and one of the other themes we've talked about this semester, such as women & sexiness or men/masculinity & violence.  Can you find examples of popular music either support the standard message of those themes or working against them?  How important do you think popular music has been in spreading these ideas?

- When I read this my first thought was how rap music relates to masculinity and violence.  In most rap songs there is talk about men killing another man, how women are basically there to provide for their sexual needs, and how they have so much money.  It seems like people think that these male rap stars are more masculine because they talk about killing people, and calling women names.  I think that this is sending people the wrong message when women are willing to sleep with these men that talk about them like they are dogs, and the murder rate is going on.  They see all these rap stars making lots of money and having all these material things so they think that if they act like them they will be cool.  When in reality they will end up in jail or killed.  I'm not going to hide it, I listen to rap music and hip-hop music, but I do not always agree with the lyrics.  I think that it is very important that people don't take into consideration all the things that are said in these songs, because it seems like every year America's crime rate rises a lot.

Blog 7

*Look at readings for hip-hop AND country.  Where do you see similarities and/or connections between these two music genres?  What do they have in common?  Where are they fundamentally different?

-I think that hip-hop and country music are similar because people can relate to both of them.  The two groups of people may be completely opposite of each other though.  These two genres are both very popular in American Society, and top all of the other musical genres, they have their popularity in common.  Although they may have some things in common they are very different.  Country music hits home to a lot of people, it is the most popular genre in America.  Country music is easy to understand and the singers talk about the different stages of life.  Where hip-hop is more about misogyny and materialism.  Country musicians sing about treating their lovers with respect, and hip-hop singers talk about cheating, beating them, and leaving them.  I think that they are very different genres, but I enjoy listening to them both!

Blog 6

**Today we discussed how popular culture media might be making us smarter, stupider, nicer, meaner, healthier, unhealthier, gentler, and more aggressive.  In your blog post, address which of these changes to human behavior you believe to be the strongest in modern society as a result of popular culture media.  Make sure you explain your answer and include examples.

- I think that all of these can come out of popular culture.  The one that sticks out the most to me is healthier and unhealthier.  You see all these famous women who are thin, toned, and beautiful, but they have personal trainers, and dieticians that they can afford to pay.  A lot of women see these stars and think that they have to be skinny for men to want them or to be accepted in society.  They can't always afford the trainers or dieticians they need so they begin to starve themselves.  This is very unhealthy and can lead to death.  I just read an article today about a woman who got down to 82 pounds because she wanted to be beautiful and thin like all of the stars.  Starvation and bulemia is not the way to go, but it seems to be a big problem in America right now.