Week 5

Analysis 4

                As with any popular culture topic there are many theories that are not correct and are a down right lie, but also there are many that are true and electronic music is no different.  Through the weekly analysis’s that have been written, there has been a focus on the negative theories and how they do not apply, but this week’s analysis will be different in the fact that this analysis is all about theories that are true and can be applied to this topic.  I think that it is not only important to work on disproving some theories but to also understand some theories that exist and how they can influence the thought behind the popular culture topic.

            It is true that much of the culture of the electronic music is largely derived around what isn’t exactly popular within mainstream music.  A great example of this is again the genre of dubstep.  When dubstep was big with true electronic music fans, a majority of people hated the sounds and music, but now that mainstream music has gotten ahold of dubstep the larger population of true fans has begun to go back to more house and electro and even the lesser known hardstyle that is not big here in the United States.  Another theory that does apply but does not pertain to everyone is that yes there can be some illegal substances apparent at the concerts and shows, but this is no different than any other concert.  We have all been at a concert and smelled smoke that was not exactly from a cigarette.

            Knowing these things about this topic can allow a person again to not only know who to share their interests with and where it might be appropriate, but also that the scene is usually moving away from what is big today in mainstream music.  Also being ahead of the mainstream music industry can show how innovative and how what is big today in electronic music will usually be big with mainstream music a few years later.

Revision of the working class with the Deadliest Catch

            The article that I found and decided to write about was an article that discusses the Deadliest Catch reality television show and how it is having a long lasting impression with its audience.  The author of the article, Lisa Kirby goes into great detail about how and why this show has captured the fascination of the American public of today and why this is a good thing.  She first begins to describe the demographic of the audience that watches the Deadliest Catch being males above 25 of the upper class.  This is because there has been a fascination of the lower class and blue collar jobs by the upper class older males, even though most fishermen make a very good living.

Lisa describes the men of the Deadliest Catch as the last true cowboys and demand wonder from their audience at the way that they are truly free in the ocean.  Also the danger is never fleeting and is always present and the Discovery channel seems to focus on that as well because it creates suspense with the audience and keeps them watching.  The author constantly references how before 9-11 people only idolized those who had amassed a great wealth such as Donald Trump and the show Top Model, but after 9-11 blue collar workers such as fireman and police officers were placed on a high pedestal. 

This made it possible for the deadliest catch to take place because there was interest expressed into these jobs and how they work and the goings on within them.  Lisa then describes how our fascination has grown in these jobs and even our television viewing has grown as well with the Deadliest Catch and Dirty Jobs being the most popular shows on the discovery channel.  Furthermore near the end of the article, Kirby describes how the obsession with the failure of males by today’s society, there are few ways that males can be shown in a positive light and the Deadliest Catch does this perfectly. “In a media-saturated society that so often seems obsessed with what is wrong with American males, Deadliest Catch offers a refreshing alternative perspective: working-class men who are hard-working, adventurous, and striving for the American Dream.” (Kirby, 2013)

            This article was one that was very well written and was very easy for the reader to follow for the most part.  In the middle it did seem a bit repetitive, but I think this is because the author is trying to drive the point home and make the reader not only consider their own biases but also take a deeper look into the show Deadliest Catch.  I think that not only does the author make the reader dig deeper into the meaning behind the shows that they watch, but also look into their own at times prejudices.  I think that Lisa Kirby brings up some great ideas with this article and sparks some deep thinking.  I am not saying that males in American have it the hardest, but I do have to agree that there is a fascination with seeing the successful male fail.  Also I agree with the way that Kirby depicts the Deadliest Catch men as cowboys and perfect examples of masculinity in the workplace and of current jobs.  This is because you are adding in the factor of hard hours along with the extreme danger and damage done that is done to their bodies.

            This article is very important because in the recent years our country has been going through a great deal of change in many different lights.  There has been a great economic struggle and people have to work harder than ever before and the Deadliest Catch depicts this in a way that has not been possible before.  This show and article describe how common men are able to rise out of the blue collar population and have a great deal of freedom in life and have a great amount of success, but this does come with a price.  Their lives are fraught with danger, injuries and problems at home because of the nature of their work.  The old saying is that sailors are always first married to the sea and their boats before anything else, which takes a toll on their lives.

            The article that was chosen for this project was a fantastic read and gives some great insight into the working population of today and how our views are changing.  I think that after reading this article a person should go watch a few episodes of the Deadliest Catch, because until they do this they do not fully understand what the author is attempting to depict and the reader will not fully ever understand the depth of this television show.

Reference

Kirby, L. (2013). Cowboys of the high seas: Representations of working-class masculinity on deadliest

catch. The Journal of Popular Culture,46(1), 109-118.

electronic music week 2 analysis

The assignment for this week for the topic breakdown flows perfectly into the analysis that was completed last week.  This week we are looking at more into the ritual side of electronic music and also again at some stereotypes.  While there are precious a precious few rituals that go along with electronic music, they are very important to listeners of electronic music and can at times form the core of their interest.  This is done by choosing a genre and deciding to attend electronic concerts and shows.

            There are almost subcultures within electronic music from genre to genre of electronic music.  For instance nowadays the younger generation seems to be taking very well to the genre of dubstep while the older generations still prefer the trance and house genres.  This is a form of ritual within electronic music itself because your age dictates what you like most often, for example it is rare to find an older electronic fan that likes dubstep or a younger fan that truly enjoys trance.

Another ritual for electronic music is attending live performances or concerts of their favorite artists.  It is almost a requirement within the electronic music culture is that if you truly like an artist then you music attend one of their live concerts or performances.  This is done because much of the time electronic music is not only just about the music but about an entire experience and feelings the music can evoke.  Some artists will play different variations of popular songs or even play unreleased songs that have yet to be heard by anyone that does not attend these concerts.  Furthermore one must go to these concerts in a group of friends.  When you go with friends it’s almost a bonding experience because everyone is equal at these shows and it gives a common life experience together.  Unfortunately as there are few popular rituals, as discussed before there are many prevalent negative stereotypes.

Electronic music is full of stereotypes and many of them are very negative and can cause a great deal of judgment to be passed on to a person who enjoys this kind of music. From the drug usage that is thought to constantly take place to the stigma that people who listen to electronic music are also hippies and are extremely lazy is something that electronic music will always struggle with.  When a fan of electronic music is able to realize this though it can help them to protect themselves especially in the workplace.  In a professional setting as stated in the last blog, electronic music can be frowned upon and sometimes it should not be discussed or shared with some of the higher level executives.  Much of the older generation does not care for electronic music and they have some stereotypes that are engrained into their brains and they might look down upon a person for being a fan.  This is why personal interests should only be shared with great discretion and in the correct setting.

Written Analysis Week 1- Electronic Music

            There are many different myth’s, theories, beliefs and icons that go along with Electronic music and many of are negative.   This is a shame because there are many different genres that I think people would enjoy if they took the time to listen with an open mind and heart, but because of the social stigmas people are very hesitant when it comes to electronic music.  With some of the negative theories that come along with the topic I have chosen I hope that as the public becomes more accepting of electronic music, some of these will disappear.

            First people believe that all people who listen to electronic music or if they are a performer icon like Tiesto or Deadmau5 are avid drug users but nothing is further from the truth.  The same thing happened with people who listened to the Beatles and rock music back in the 60’s and 70’s; though I would never hold electronic music producers of today to the music genius of the Beatles.  There are a wide range of people that enjoy electronic music and there are only a small few that bring down all of the genres of electronic music.

            Another insight of negative theories is that people who listen to electronic are simply part of modern aged hippies and will not be able to amount to anything in life, again this is false.  There are many successful people that are able and willing to listen to electronic music and find it their favorite genre of music to listen to.  The best part about electronic music is that it is all encompassing with people in the way that it does not matter your social background or income, everyone is equal when at a concert or electronic show.  The music is a great equalizer for people and puts everyone on a level playing field and it is a rare place where you could see a stock broker having a full on conversation with an artist and they could look as best of friends.

            There is much to gain just from understanding this topic just from the two different stigmas and it can create a great advantage when you are looking to the future.  People may have these beliefs so there is always a time and place to discuss the genre of music.  In the work place or around older high level executives, they might not be understanding about the genre and it could create a negative image simply because a person listens to it.  Also it is important to have an understanding that people could feel this way and that you could personally attempt to change their opinion.