Intertextuality

Intertextuality doesn't look like a real word, but trust me it is. It basically means taking one form of text, (book, movie, idea) and mixing it together with something else to create something new and creative. You might not think of a lot of things as being intertextual, but it can actually be quite surprising. In the article we read in class called "Bootleg Culture" intertextuality was part of what the author talked about with taking to works and mixing them together. The article also talked about plagiarizing works, but mostly about taking music and mixing it with more music to make a new song and how Copy Rights are tough to work with, but usual lead to creative new products that are better than what they would have been the first time.

For example, in class our professor showed us images of pez that looked like The Simpsons, Chubaka as a lego, and Harry Potter with a theme park. At first we may just think these things are nothing more then fun places to go or cool advertising ideas, and while they are, they are also a completely new product that is a mix of two things we as consumers have already grown to love. Now that there is a name to all the interesting mix of products out there, I am happily surprised at how much of popular culture is intertextual. I myself have several products of One Direction that are intertextual. I've got bracelets, magnets, stickers and a few more things that are very interesting, but that isn't all. I have seen a show I watch do it many times, but one particular set of episodes really stands out to me. Family Guy is a cartoon show and it's quite clear from the effort and time put into the episodes it shows that the creators love Star Wars.

I have actually seen this episodes and it is quite good. Anyway, I think this is a really clear depiction of intertextuality. It's basically a big sore thumb sticking out to fans of the show and the movies. The episodes follow the basic structure of the movies, but with the shows characters playing the roles in the movie and a few typical Family Guy scenes thrown in.

I like intertextuality and I'm actually really interested in finding more mix ups with popular culture, especially since pop culture is everywhere and part of every day life. I'll be keeping my eyes open from now on.

What I've Learned So Far

Well, it's been an interesting journey so far. I have learned a lot, even though I usually have no idea how. That's how class is for me. I sit there and follow along with everything but never real feel like I'm learning. Then one day I'm with friends and I just spew knowledge and fact at them and we all sit back in shock. That's when I realize that I learned a lot from my past and present classes and it really makes me feel good. I'm sort of glad that I'm learning without knowing it. It feels less like work and more just like life. Which, isn't that what life is all about? Learning while you go along?

We have covered many topics in my Popular Culture class this semester and I have learned a lot, despite not really knowing it. But I recently had a discussion with my mother about violence in the world right now. I asked her what she thought of the world and how much violence she thought was in Iowa and our city alone. She watches a lot of Law and Order and murder investigation shows, so I wasn't surprised when she told me that she thought the outside world was really dangerous. That was when I remembered the topic we discussed in class about violence and "Mean World Syndrome". My mom TOTALLY has this. She's so paranoid and afraid that whenever I leave the house, even during the day time that I'm going to get hurt or killed or something. Even when I'm just going right up the street.

I told her about the things I learned in class. How media and television shows dramatize reality to sell a story or show. How crime has actually gone down in the last several years, yet gun purchases have gone up. I told her that people are actually much safer now for many reasons, and I was met with two reactions. She first started off by trying to say that I wasn't entirely right and that there was still violence outside of the walls of our house and then when I tried again to just ease her worries, she got angry and stopped listening.

This actually scared me a little. If my mother, whom I think is a fairly reasonable person (depending on the subject), won't listen to me when I give her facts done in studies, than who's to say that the majority of the world or even just the U.S. won't turn a blind eye to the facts after awhile. If it's not what they want to hear then it's not worth listening to. Now I could be wrong here, but it seems like my mother and perhaps a percentage of the world, want to be afraid. It feels like they want to think that it's dangerous out in the real world. And whether this is just used as an excuse to stay inside or if they really feel this way, it seems sad and rather lonely. 

I for one am rather happy that the world isn't as cruel and evil as I may have thought. I was raised to look for the good in people and if there is evidence supporting this, that's even better. However, that's not to say that I will be leaving my house without even thinking of protection or looking out for myself. But I will be leaving with an eased mind. If I can get rid of any form of stress on my person and my brain, then I'll take it right away.

Muscular Violence

What makes an attractive man? Shape? Intellect? Smell? Sure some women will put those on their list, but a lot of women like a man to be rough and physically fit. And willing to get into some danger or a fight probably wouldn't hurt their chances either. After all, as a society, that's what we want, right? Haven't we always said, "boys will be boys" when they beat the snot out of each other? Our culture clearly expects it, thus we as the people do too.

A typical "hot" guy is usually one with muscles and a shaped body who could mess someone up if he needed to. Violence just fits right in there nicely. Right alongside masculinity. Boys are encouraged to defend themselves and stand up for their families and ladies to show dominance and courage and bravery. Not just with domestic issues, but in war they are also encouraged to get out there and show that they aren't afraid.

I, personally, am a little neutral on the subject. I mean, yes if I was with a man, I'd feel better knowing that if someone tried to attack us, he'd be ready and able to kick some butt to protect me/us. Then again, I'm not one who really likes violence when it happens. I'm a little hostile and may talk a big game about taking action against someone or something with less then passive means, but I'd never really do it. I don't like the idea of others getting hurt due to the actions of another, especially if I could prevent it. But, if I had to pick a side, I'd say I fall more on the negative aspect of pushing boys and men to be violent just to show that they are manly.

When getting to the subject of violence on television, like in the articles we read, I don't think children should be exposed to so much. As an adult, I know I can handle it, but they are young and impressionable and may not know that it's either (a) not okay, or (b) really scary and intense when it happens in real life. So, on the one hand I agree with the APA about being weary of what children watch on television. It can have long lasting negative effects. However, I also see where the ACLU is coming from and I support keeping the rights and such upheld. As the matter goes, I think what the FCC is doing right now is pretty much all they can do. T.V. is pretty regulated and the harsh stuff only comes on at night in the later hours when children should be asleep. It's on the parents if they keep them up or let them stay up and watch adult content on T.V.

High School Football Is Too Dangerous!

Call me old fashioned, but I don't think football should be as intense as it is. I know it's the second biggest sport in America next to Baseball, but come on people! It's bad enough that we have grown men having horrible problems from the sport, but now young teenage boys are getting hurt and even dying! Okay, can we all just take a step back for a second and actually think about that? Teenage boys, kids, are d y i n g. Their lives are being lost because grown ups can't get it through their thick skulls that they are just kids and should be treated that way. A college scholarship means nothing to a kid with permanent brain damage or a boy who's lost his life.

In the video we watch, two teen boys were hospitalized due to heat stroke because their coaches wouldn't cancel practice when it was way to hot to be outside. One of the coaches even said that they won't cancel because of the heat. They still have to have practice. No, I'm sorry, you don't have to do anything. No one is making you practice that much and I know for a fact none of those kid's parents want them out there when their lives are in danger. The video talked about how high school football is more intense than college football and even gets national coverage. College level football is where NFL players get picked from. How in the hell is this more intense than basically try outs for the professional sport? That literally blows my mind.

When I was in high school, we never took football that seriously. Ever. Sure, the coach would get a little intense and yell at the players, but my school's team was never pushed so hard that their health was in danger. I'm not sure if it was because we were a smaller school and never would have really gotten any coverage, or if it was the fact that the coach understood the dangers and never wanted to win bad enough to put boys in danger. I can say one thing, I'm damn glad I never had to experience a fellow classmate being hospitalized for a sport.

I know something needs to be done about this, in fact a lot of people know this, but the truth is not enough people want to do anything about it. All they do is set rules and guidelines and hope those work, or even give advice, but that still doesn't do much. Young men and children are having serious brain injuries and trauma which can lead to horrible diseases like dementia and even suicide. That is just not right. There is no reason for that and it really makes me sad. I hope I can help improve this problem in some way. That'll be a life goal of mine now, for sure.