90's : What I want to Learn

The topics we briefly scanned through in class that caught my interest was the school shooting, the gangs of the period, and the problems Somalia were having. Why did school shootings influence others kids to do the same at their school? Why did the bloods and crips hate each other? And why did we have soldiers in Somalia ?

1980s: Television

Television during the 80's was awesome even though it was really corny at times. In class we watched the A- Team whiched displayed numerous cheesy fighting scenes and multiple corny lines were always brought up, but in my opinion I love that kind of stuff. It brings us back to the appreciate those really unrealistic fight scenes because they are very hard to find now a days in film like today. The A - Team was a great show filled with great action and especially some great lines of humor from Mr. T. The Bill Cosby Show was a hit of a sitcom that displayed quite the histerical moments some of the characters get into. The Bill Cosby Show was great because it gave viewers something to relate to in their lives especially ones in their family. Bill Cosby and as well as the rest of the cast, in my opinion, displayed quite magnificent acting roles especially for the ones who stayed for the whole eight seasons. Another great show we saw in class was Cheers. Unique friends that would hang out and discuss their problems in a bar in Boston. I enjoyed the show fairly because at points it made me laugh but I felt like it was a shoe not specifically for me. I feel like the show is target at the middle aged men where they can view the show and  laugh at the characters that remind them of their own friends.

1980's: Movies

Movies from the 80's were brilliant. The decade had it all in the film industry the humor, the horror, the emotion, and the cheesy-ness. I couldn't help but to notice but the film's we saw The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day off, and War Games all really focused on the adolescents. I guess the decade in my opinion was more about how people viewed teenagers at that time. In the movie Fast times at Ridgement High it really depicted our they viewed teenagers as dim minded, sex addicts, and stoners. It's quite evident that the blockbusters and popular films included teenagers. I really liked the 80's movies because it really defined a generation based off their actions and they really pin pointed the lives of them.

1980's: Does music reflect the events of the decade?

Besides 99 Red Baloons I don't think music from the 80's reflected the events of the decade. Music idols such as Michael Jackson and Madonna usually sing about themselves. In the song Billy Jean he talks mostly about him and his fame and how it has changed him. In Modonna's song Like a Virgin she talks about how she was "touched" for the first time. Michael Jackson and Modonna were two very iconic artists of their time yet the music they produced did not reflect events that occured in th decade. They usually produced music based off their own lives.

1980's: Music from 70's vs. Music from the 80's

As we enter a whole different decade music begins to morph and change. We go from the decades that birthed Rock n Roll, punk and disco to the decade where rap crossed into the mainstream. Music in this generation began to use more synthesized pop. The 1980's was also known for Madona who brought a whole new fashion statement to teenage girls. Music was more powerful just in terms of lyrics. In Michael Jackson's Billy Jean it tells quite a story about himself and his fame as oppose to most of the song lyrics from the 70's that consisted drug experiences. The 1980's was great for music it opened up a new genre of music at the end of the decade, rap, and MTV was brought to life as well bringing the best songs on television. What I didn't like about the 80's was Modona. I'm not a big fan of her because the influence she bring upon female adolescents.I'm not a fan of her making girls change into something their not.She made the girls become quite more independent. Not only that but Modonnas lyrics just make me awkward. I can't stand two minutes of her singing. Also country kind of sucked in the decade. It was not popular at all and when we listened to the music in class I couldn't stand the southern voices and  and the lyrics. The lyrics I just couldn't connect with personally. 

1980's President Reagan

As I watched Ronald Reagon in his documentary I found it quite interesting the things he had accomplish such increasing the employment rate. Who knew that Reagan was an actor before becoming the President of the United States? His acting skills helped him greatly on his speeches and his debates against Jimmy Carter. When they both debated in fromt of the their country on public television Reagan seemed to be more calm and livily in answering the questions as opposed of former president Carter. Reagan was an old president but that didn't stop him from showing his natural humor to the public. President Reagan's funny remarks was another reasons why the American people loved him but that later changed when he was on he compared our founding fathers to the Contras who were quite violent and not really good people. Eventually Reagon's presidency came to an end in 1988.

1970's Music

Two main genres that were born in 70's were disco and punk. Disco was a more upbeat, had joyful melody, and it was music that you could just can't resist to dance to. On the hand punk began to form as well. The most of the lyrics coming from this genre couldn't even be comprehended because the vocalists just scream in the mic. The two genres attracted completely different audiences. Punk had was categorized as just a bunch of conformists who go against what is being said at the time. While disco found its way to get the attention of teenagers, women and gays. The fashion between the two were also completely different. Punk had people wearing make up, ridiculous clothes, and crazy hairstyles. On the contrary disco fashion was made up very clean atire trying to attract the opposite gender in the club. After listening to some tracks from the 70's I found that they all have a lively up beat to their lyrics and to the music in the song. For example More than a Feeling by Boston and I will Survive by Donna Summer just changes your mood instantly to the positive side. Although most lyrics consisted still consisted of love and drugs still lasting from the 60's era.

1970's Movies

Don't get me wrong but but The Apocalypse and Jaws are two very great and iconic films of the 70's but I just think Saturday Night Fever represented the decade the best. It introduced the popularity of disco and displayed a teenagers life in the time period. Tony, a pretty boy, was a hard working kid who had made his money from a clerk at a paint store. Back then it felt as though everyone had a job when it came to the right age. Also the movie showed what some teenagers would do on a Saturday night. When their hormones were craving sex they usually had one to a night club to dance away the good times. Also throughout the movie Tony was smoking in almost every scene as well as his friends making poor decisions with him.  Another characterization of the 70's showing the ignorance of the youth generation when it came to drugs. In addition the movie represent the fashion of the 70's very well with tight t shirts popped collars and dresses from the ladies.

1970's Television

It's funny how much television has changed from back then today. In the television show All in the Family. The show was about a family living in their lives but would encounter problems that Archie would have to face and deal with. Archie Bunker, the elder father, displays great amount of racism towards Lionel and other African Americans intended for humor. I couldn't help but to actually laugh at his racial remarks at some instances.  Also in the televised program two characters in the show speak out their political views in the first episode about President Nixon. The show can reflect how the decade was much more easy-going than today. Also the decade present the show M*A*S*H, which also reflected much sexual content and military-base life for the 70's. It didn't spark my interest but when our class watch The Muppets, it definitely grabbed my attention. The show was great because it was something that no one at the time has ever seen before which reeled in a diverse audience. In my opinion it was quite a creative show that must of had the whole decade laughing. Sadly there are not much shows that are like these programs.now a days television shows do not  hold racism and political arguments, puppets hosting a variety show neither doctors having sexual-relations in a military base.

Overview of 70's: Slideshow Presentation

Looking through the Slideshow most pictures had their ups and downs. During the 70's they definitely had a better economy than us. In addition it had a lot of crisises such as kent state and the Iranian hostage issue. It was a time of rise and at the same time problematic as more issues poped up such as gas shortages and the roe vs. wade situation. Although it still gets me wondering why Nixon resigned during this decade.

Overview of 60's: Slideshow Presentation

As I was going through the presentation RFK assasination really caught my attention and kept me wondering why Kennedy family was so unlucky. I knew somewhat of MLK' death but I did not know that he died outside of a motel. The celtics basketball always caught my attention as Bill Russel dominated the league for almost a full decade.

Moviese of the 60's

The movies that's we're displayed in in class, The Planet of the Apes and Butch Castle, had there ups and there downs in my opinion. I couldn't really get into Butch and his gang although it did really show the sixties interest since it was categorized as a western movie. The humor was actually not that bad and it consisted of a lot of action. In The Planet of the Apes it continued to have my interrest wondering what would happen next. The acting and the special effects weren't even that bad too for a 60s movie. All in all two very solid movies.

Does Pop Culture Reflect or Drives Society?

Pop Culture reflects society because it defines our generation. It represents our interests and what we are into in comparison to some other generations.

1960's Music

In th early 60's most of the music was about happy love but has we inclined towards the end of the decade, it was evident that the song meanings turned into the artists' drug experiences. Most artists that took place during that time period performed with integrity and passion for their music. Although in every song up until the late 60's the songs were fairly simple in terms of a beat and background music. Most songs consisted of a vocalist, a guitar player, a drummer, and on an occasion a bass player. In my opinion the 60's were a great year for the Beatles but other than them the decade didn't produce the greatest music.

1960's Beverly Hill Billies

The Beverly Hillbillies was just a terribible show in my opinion. Humor was very terrible and I couldn't pick up on the references they were leaving out there. I also just thought the concept of hillbillies in Beverly was just dumb. When would you ever see a wealthy hillbilly be a movie star? Never. Some shows are similar by to the Beverly Hillbillies such as Family Guy or American Dad because like the Beverly Hillbillies each episode is consisted of references. The Beverly Hilbillies is worse in my opinion by the fact it was too far fetched to be a sitcom and it was a little difficult trying to understand the characters such as Granny.

Pop Culture

What is Pop Culture?  Pop Culture can be found everywhere. Take a look outside and you'll see some people jogging and walking their dogs with head-phones. Looking back on our past generations people weren't excersising with music hugging their ears. Even take a look in the mirror. Your clothes were nothing compared to what the 70's held for fashion. Pop Culture is the top variety of current favorites according to the generation. Pop Culture defines a generation because it is made up of our favorite interests and activities that we like to do in our daily life that include fashion, music, movies, hairstyles Ect. And over the years Pop Culture changes. It's what we do as a whole that make up our own personal Pop Culture.