Journal Article Analysis

The article, The Loss of Fame: Psychological Implications is targeted towards a general audience only because it references celebrities in movies, and in television shows, as well as, writers and musicians. There are not a lot of people who are excluding themselves from these different types of celebrities.

            This article focuses on celebrities and the different impacts obtaining fame and then losing that fame. Due to the reporters, paparazzi, and very public celebrity life, celebrities have a very high self-awareness (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). Self-awareness cause’s people to evaluate themselves, monitor their behavior, and evaluating how they are stacking up against others and their own expectations (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011).  This high self-awareness can feel unpleasant if the celebrity feels that they are falling short of standards and a common reliever of this self-focus is drugs and alcohol (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). The constant self-focus and self-criticism can lead to depression and suicide even if a celebrity remains famous their entire life (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011).   

It is difficult for celebrities to stay on the top and when fame is lost there are 3 possible reactions; clinging, reinventing, and downward spiraling (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). Clinging usually occurs for people that play a specific character or a certain persona (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). It can be difficult for these people to set themselves apart from their previous role when fame is lost. An example includes Bob Denver who played Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). A lot of people didn’t even know Bob’s real name because he rarely played a different role than Gilligan (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). If Bob did play a different role they were not exceptional roles like Gilligan and therefore Bob clung to his Gilligan role since this role was making him famous (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011).

            The second reaction to a loss of fame is reinventing (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). When a celebrity reinvents themselves they completely reject their public, famous-self, and accept who they really are (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). There is no attempt to capitalize of their former fame but instead find a new life and a new career (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011).

Shirley Temple Black is a great example of reinventing (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). This tight-curled blonde child was in 59 film appearances in the first 17 years of her career (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). According to Smalley and McIntosh, Shirley is probably the most famous child actress of all time, however with the loss of her youth she also lost her movie career (2011). Temple Black reinvented herself and is now a successful politician (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). She serves as a US delegate to the UN, the first female US chief of protocol, and a US ambassador to the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Ghana (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). Although Shirley will probably always be associated as the child actress she was able to reinvent herself and move on with her life successfully (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011).

            The last of the reactions to loss of celebrity is downward spiraling (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). This reaction is usually shown the most in the media (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). In downward spiraling, the loss of fame leads to despair which can possibly cause depression, substance abuse, and suicide (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). The most well-known example of downward spiraling is Judy Garland; the star of The Wizard of Oz (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). This extremely famous movie pushed Judy into the limelight, but later when she began to lose her stardom she began to take prescription medication and consume alcohol (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). Her substance abuse eventually leads to the elimination of her contract (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). Judy made guest appearances in attempt to cling to her fleeting fame but her substance abuse made performing difficult (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011). In 1969 Judy had a drug overdose, whether intentional or unintentional nobody knows (Smalley & McIntosh, 2011).

            This article was very organized and easy to read because it separated the 3 reactions to the loss of fame as well as provided examples that related to the topic. From this article I take away the dangers of stardom and the different copping mechanisms within a persons mind. It is clear from the article that stars should be physiologically evaluated and seeks therapy before or after a movie, television show, or concert. This may help insure that a celebrity’s fame isn’t causing the individual to lose their sense of self and separate them from their public selves if needed.

           

Reference

Smalley, B., & McIntosh, W. (2011). The loss of fame: Psychological Implications. The Journal of Popular Culture. Retrieved from DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5931.2011.00838.x.

Written Analysis: Heroes and the Cult of the Celebrity

Children can be easily manipulated and are very impressionable. Children look to their peers to determine what is socially acceptable (Common sense media, 2011). This can be positive and negative depending on the hero or celebrity that they look up to.

Unfortunately many television shows utilize celebrities for entertainment in a way that impacts children negatively. These celebrities are typically not the best role models because television networks exploit celebrity lifestyles with sexual content, foul language, and fighting.  

            Who wouldn’t want the lifestyle of a celebrity? They get paid to pretend to be extraordinary people, everyone loves them, and they get everything they want. Children look up to these people and want to be like them. When television shows, like E News, show these celebrities drunk, and getting in arguments, children develop an understanding that this is how people are allowed to behave.

            The celebrities can actually have the opposite impact on children as well.  These celebrities include the boy band called the Jonas Brothers and the actress, Anne Hathaway. Although the Jonas Brothers receive criticism they have always promoted abstinence, and avoided drugs and alcohol (Soukup, 2011). Anne Hathaway has never been shown in the media drinking or arguing. She always conducts herself with class and she is involved in several charities (Soukup, 2011). These types of role models deliver the right message to developing children.

            Children can also look up to heroes as role models. Heroes provide lessons to children about nobility and doing the right thing. Heroes on television like Rick on The Walking Dead provide examples of a man with good qualities and attributes. Rick never

Written Analysis: Heroes and the Cult of the Celebrity

leaves a person behind and is always trying to do the right thing even if it means sacrificing his own life. This may teach children to be selfless.

Reference

Common sense media. (2011). Celebrity role models. Retrieved October 17, 2011 from

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/celebrity-role-models

Soukup, A. (2011). Good and bad celebrity role models. Retrieved October 17, 2011

from http://www.babble.com/celebrity/celebrity-moms/celebrities-role-models-for-children/?page=16

Written Analysis 2

Television is included in pop culture because everyone owns and uses their television daily. Unfortunately there are many stereotypical television shows broadcasted and rituals are mocked. These shows are reaching younger children and young adults and as a result stereotyping and ridiculing of rituals may increase.        

            Certain shows, such as, the Jersey Shore, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, South Park, and Family Guy are all great examples of television series that stereotype. The Jersey Shore depicts Italian-Americans as fist pumping Guido’s that only like to drink, tan, and go to the gym. According to Iaconis, his students were not even aware that Guido is an ethnic slur because MTV is promoting the Guido as a lifestyle (2009). The daily rituals, such as, nightly drinking, add to the stereotype.

            Queer Eye for the Straight Guy stereotypes sexuality. This show provides an image to the audience that gay men are very fashion forward and flamboyant while straight men are bad dressers. The media in pop culture also focuses on the extreme, flamboyant and feminine gay men and very masculine women (Stossel & Binkley, 2006). Stossel and Brinkley comment that the gay pride parade is one of the rituals that the media focuses on because of the outrageous attire and activities (2006). This only aids in the stereotypical behaviors children and young adults recognize on television.

            The show that seems to stereotype everyone is Family Guy and South Park. These shows stereotype gender, sexuality, religion, race, and the physically impaired. These animated series have made crude comments about Catholics, Jews, and Christians, as well as, the Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. They also joke about

Written Analysis: Rituals and Stereotypes

yearly religious rituals like Christmas, and Hanukah. Although these are not all the stereotypes that occur on Family Guy and South Park it is important to recognize that children and young adults are watching these shows and can be easily influenced to stereotype in the real world.      

            Although I already knew that stereotypes occurred in pop culture I was unaware of how many shows broadcasted these stereotypical behaviors. I also hadn’t realized that rituals were not limited to religious behaviors. It is unfortunate that certain shows meant to provide comic release are setting Americans back many years.

Reference

Iaconis, R. (2009). Why do young people ignore the stereotypes on Jersey Shore? Retrieved October 10, 2011 from http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/12/17/2009-12-17_why_do_young_people_ignore_the_awful_stereotypes.html

Stossel, J., & Binkley, G. (2006). Gay stereotypes: Are They True? Retrieved October 10, 2011 from http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2449185&page=1

Written Analysis 1

As technology becomes vaster and television becomes a larger component in life there is an impact on society and pop culture. American children will watch an average of three to four hours of television daily (AACAP, 2006).

The pressing issue today with concerning parents is the violent and sexual content introduced in television. According to the American Academy of child adolescent and psychiatry (AACAP) television can cause children to imitate the violence they observe because extensive viewing of this television causes great aggressiveness (2006).

            It seems to be a popular belief among society that violent television can cause this aggressiveness and as a result parents are monitoring the time their children watch television. There are also devices that allow parents to block certain channels from their children in order to prevent violent or sexual content to be available.

            The concept in pop culture that can help support this theory is the concept of icons. An icon can be anyone that a child is impressed by, possibly looks up to, or obsessed with. If this person is on television and plays a violent character, the child may take on these traits in order to replicate his/her icon.

            This is not to say that all icons are antagonist but the hero may have to battle and fight the antagonist in order to save the day. This conflict management is being studied by today’s youth and possibly being used in the world to solve problems (AACAP, 2006).

            The insight gained by applying this theory to my topic is that icons have a much larger impact on children than I was aware. Although the icon may be an object, it can also be a person

Written Analysis: Popular Beliefs, Myths, and Icons

on television that displays violent activities. As a result children are replicating these acts to be identical to their icon or idol.

Reference

AACAP. (2006). Children and tv violence. Retrieved October 7, 2011 from http://www.aacap.org/galleries/FactsForFamilies/13_children_and_tv_violence.pdf

Icons

The three icons I choose were Xena the warrior princess, a Ford Explorer Sport Trac, and HBO. Xena is a television series a watched when I was younger about a warrior woman who fought evil during mythological times. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac was my first vehicle that I purchased at age 17. Lastly, HBO is a television channel that provides entertainment by playing different shows and movies.

            I choose Xena because I was impressed by her character. She is a very strong and determined individual. I choose the Sport Trac because I didn’t let people drive it, get inside it with anything that could spill, and they had to have clean shoes. I choose HBO because I am impressed by their ability to entertain me through their hit shows, such as True Blood and Game of Thrones.

The show Xena takes me back to my childhood on Tuesday nights when my family would sit down and all enjoy the show together. As a child I wanted to be just like her and watched the show every chance I got. My Sport Trac makes me look back at my teenage years I was not without this vehicle. When I got in a car accident I cried, not because I was scared, but because someone had damaged something that meant so much to me. Lastly, HBO presents some of my favorite shows. These shows are the only shows I can watch with my husband because we both enjoy them. I like the time we spend together while watching HBO.

Pop Culture Artifact

1. Pop Culture is the way in which people as a whole can be defined by their taste. Taste is a persons dislikes or likes. Pop culture to me is what I am entertained by, such as, televisions shows like True Blood or Game of Thrones. Pop culture also is the network that these two shows are aired on; HBO. 
2. Pop culture is important to business because pop culture also includes the Internet and sites, such as, Facebook, Twitter, etc. These sites are utilized by consumers everyday and a business must be up to date on different ways to reach the consumer in order to sell their products. In my current and future career I utilize these tools to stay up to date on my companies accomplishments.
3. The below picture is what I believe to be a pop culture artifact. Although you cannot see the person inside the egg everyone knows that this is Lady Gaga. Even if they did not watch this award show different radio stations and news stations broad casted about this incident to let everyone know about Lady Gaga's shocking behavior. My father, who doesn't even listen to Lady Gaga's music and didnt watch this award show knew that she hatched out of an egg on stage.