It is important to study popular culture especially for foreign people. I have definitely influenced by pop culture. To understanding the pop culture helps me to fit in a new social life easily and make my life more colorful. For example, face book is one of entry of pop culture that let us getting closer each other. We can communicate in face book during our free time. Listening pop music, watching new movie are also a part of pop culture that make our life not boring at all. Most of out activities are considering pop culture.
In this class, I’m getting understand pop culture deeper tan before. The pop culture influences differently in different people, like married people, single people, younger people, and older people. I also learned the different between pop culture and high culture.
China has five thousand years history. Do you know in some of Chinese dynasty was controlled by minority? I think history is a part of country culture. Here are the last five dynasties of China.
This is Yuan dynasty. It began in AD 1271 to 1358. It was controlled by Mongolian nationality.This dynasty had the greatest land in Chinese history. North to Russia, west to eastern of Europe, in that time, the country had the most powerful in the word.
Qing dynasty, it began in AD 1636 to 1911. it was controlled by Man nationality. This is the last dynasty of China.
In this semester, I have read many articles about culture. The reading I did in class that spoke to me a lot is “I Wand To Be Miss America”. The reading is talking about a young teenager Alvarez from Dominican Republic who wanted to be American and how she was doing to changer her own identity. According the reading, I wonder why some people so motivate to lose their own identity. Although I am a person who like to fit in the culture of this country, but I don’t identify as strong as Alvarez does. I don’t want to lose my own country’s identity. I am proud of where I came from.
Can you imagine our life without music? I love all type of music, as long as it is good; no matter it is classical music, country music, or rock and roll music. One of my favorite bands is Beyond. Beyond’s songs always influences many people. Their songs have different style. Some of them are wild. Some of them are calm. They created about 250 songs; most of their songs are so touch people. I love sing. Sing can reduce the pressure from our life. I like to sing the song that is meaningful. One of my favorite songs is from Beyond “No Longer Hesitate”.
Jamal K. Malik grew up in slum who didn’t have any diploma. He attended a TV show “Who want to be a millionaire” and answered all the questions correctly. How did he do it? Did he was cheated? Was he just lucky? Was he a genius? Was it destiny?
The movie related Jamal’s childhood and told us how he would know all the answers. Beside that, it also narrates how Jamal had done for his beloved girl. Even went to the TV show that reason was to find the girl. “Slumdog Millionaire” is a inspiring love, and romantic movie. It touched my heart while I was watching. No matter how the girl treated him badly and how his life tough, Jamal still believe the girl is his destiny.
Technology
The 21st century, technology is quite important in our life. Technology product is so important because it make our life more convenient and easy. For example computer is one of technology products I cannot live without. I use it every day for communicate family and friends, search information, and do some entertainment. Nowadays, technology is not just convenient for personal life, but also for social condition, such as school, hospital and so on. I can’t imagine our life without technology.
Blog
Our group blog’s line: http://wtlxt2011.blogspot.com/
In “Scavenger Hunt”, our group interviewed two people on Michigan Avenue. We asked their opinion about pop culture and high culture. We also took many pictures in downtown Chicago that relate to pop culture and high culture, such as “Cloud Gate”, “Thomas Center”. “Cloud Gate” is a public sculpture, and it is very famous in Chicago. That relate to pop culture. “Thomas Center” shows about high culture. It is the building that could be the landmark of that place. Many years later, people will still remember it.
Bonus section
The only TV show in America that I would watch is NBA Basketball. Sine I came this country, I have almost never missed one game on TV. The NBA not just American would concern, it is popular around the world, especially basketball lover. NBA is conceder to pop culture. Unfortunately, in this year 2011, there is no NBA show at all. That is definite disappointed to many people, including me.
