Written Analysis 3

As with rituals in country music, heroes are where the rituals started. Country music has a deep connection with heroes. The reason that every young country star wants to play at places like the Grand Ole Opry and the Bluebird Cafe is because of the country heroes that have played there before. Heroes are referred to in many songs from newer country stars because they grew up listening to those famous country artists. Today’s country stars like Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley have songs that refer to some of country’s biggest heroes and legends.

            Country music is filled with people who paved the way for today’s country that we know today. Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette are only a few to name. It is a very elite group. Something that I find very inspiring to see is that the heroes never really retire completely from the whole country music scene. Even after their singing days, they stay involved with today’s stars and many of them mentor the new up comers of country music. That is a very rare quality to find in today’s society. Many of them are best friends with today’s stars. Country legends are living heroes in the country world.

Written Analysis 2

     Country music today has many different rituals. I recently went on a trip to Nashville and learned a lot about new artists and some rituals that they do or try to do in their careers. There are many, small, local bars that a lot of famous country stars still go to today because they got their big start by playing there. The Bluebird Cafe is one of these bars that have young and upcoming country stars play there on the weekends to try to get exposure to record labels. The biggest and most common ritual in country music is the goal of playing one day at the Grand Ole Opry. Every young country star dreams of one day playing there because of the great history there. Only the elite artists of country music earn the right to stand up on that stage and play their songs.

            There is also a very big stereotype in country music today. The stereotype of country

 music stars and people who listen to country music is that you have to wear a cowboy hat,have 

a southern draw to your voice, and always wear cowboy boots. Sometimes these stereotypes 

are true, but in most cases now, it is not. Country music has really expanded its fan base. It is 

no longer all about being a cowboy with a sad love song. Some new artists that go against this 

stereotype include Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, and Brantley Gilbert. The newer artists in country 

music have succeeded in expanding the group of people who listen to country music.

Icon Analysis

     My three icons are Michael Jordan, Keith Urban, and Walt Disney. Michael Jordan was an NBA basketball player in the 1980s and 90s. He won six championships in his years with the Chicago Bulls. Keith Urban is a country music singer. Walt Disney is the creator of many beloved Disney characters including many famous ones such as Mickey Mouse.

     I chose Michael Jordan because he was my childhood hero. I would love to watch the Bulls games on tv and I would always act like I was him in my driveway when I would play basketball. I still love watching videos and highlights of him playing. I also still read every news article about him whenever something comes up on espn. I always used him as inspiration when I played basketball because of the way he handled things on the court. He is known as the greatest player of all time and also as the most competitive of all time. I loved his competitive nature.

     Keith Urban is another one of my role models. I started playing guitar when I was twelve and have always loved country music so I naturally love his music and his guitar playing especially. I had the privilege of seeing him in concert last year with my fiance at the time (now my wife). It seemed unreal being that close to someone I admire and look up to so much.

     My third and final icon is Walt Disney. I only recently became a big fan of his because I went to Disney World for my honeymoon in August. I had not been there since I was twelve, so I did not appreciate it at the time. Going there for my honeymoon was a completely different experience. It's amazing how much one man can do for so many people. He seemed like such a great man that wanted to literally make a place for people to go to get away from life. A lot of owners and CEO's of companies don't seem to care that much about their employers or even their customers as long as their product is selling. Walt Disney was not like that. He cared for his employees and wanted them to enjoy working for him. He also wanted his customers to leave with a very different feeling that when they came, which I found to be very uplifting when I was there.

Summary Answers

Here are my summary answers for my Pop Culture Blog

1. What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you?

     I would say that popular culture is the mainstream beliefs, views, thoughts, actions, etc. of modern society. I would also describe it as what is generally accepted by the general public. Popular culture does not mean a whole lot to me. I've never really just accepted what the media or society say. I have my own thoughts and beliefs on things generally.

2. Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?

     Understanding popular culture is very relevant in a business environment. I am an accounting major and will be dealing with people everyday of my work. Knowing what is going on in popular culture and knowing how stuff is done now is important in accounting. Clients will not be comfortable having their taxes and investing done with someone who, for example, doesn't have an up-to-date cell phone or new technology. It comes off as being stuck in the old times and not able to handle the new technology or new ways of doing things.

3. What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?

     When I think of pop culture, the first two things that come to mind are cell phones and social media. The reason that those come to mind is because if you don;t have both of those, you are almost considered irrelevant in society. Everything is done with those two things now.

My picture for my Pop Culture Topic

First Blog

Test #1 :)