Culture and its Influence

After reading an article from the World Net Daily (Published by a Christian Fundamentalist organization) criticising youth culture, I was absolutely shocked. I had to seriously sit back to take it all in, after reading the first article I was so intrigued and fascinated about what David Kupelian had to say that I went on to read the initial article headed (selling sex and corruption to our kids). At the beginning of this article there was a personal anecdote from David’s life which I related too as I thought this is soo true because that’s exactly what happens to me all the time.

This is just a little part of it:

Our family had travelled to Cape May, New Jersey, to vacation on a warm Atlantic beach with close relatives we hadn't seen in a long time. Joshua hit it off great with his cousin Mark, several years his senior. A fun-loving and thoroughly decent kid, Mark didn't have a mean bone in his body. One little thing, though. Mark wore a choker around his neck. Of course, Joshua had always regarded necklaces, bracelets, earrings and the like as strictly girls' stuff, and wouldn't dream of donning such gear himself and "looking like a girl" (or a "weirdo"). Inevitably, obviously he wanted to be like his older cousin, hence the desire to wear a dumb-looking neck choker, you guessed it. By the end of one week, Joshua told me he really wanted to get a choker, like his cousin's. He just … felt like wearing one, that's all. No big deal, Dad.

When I read this I immediately thought to myself how many times have I been influenced by someone or something around me, and I came to the conclusion that this is always. I remember back when the converse chucks came out, I was completely against them and disgusted by the way they looked, less then six months later I was so used to seeing them everywhere that I thought I need to have a pair of those and now I’m absolutely in love with my pair of chucks, same goes with the Jeanie pants I couldn’t stand them when they first came out now I own a pair and once again I love them because they are so comfy. So does that mean we are a culture that is highly influenced by the society we are a part of, I believe so.

Every single day, we are bombarded with advertisement which is influencing our culture, from the typical ‘you need to by this product because so and so uses it’ to the ‘get your hands on the latest i-pod so you know you will fit in’ commercials, there everywhere!. But in saying that, this isn’t just happening in or society and culture today but has been happening all through out history. It all goes back to the idea of social norms, one must try to fit in and abide by the norms of society or else they are a weirdo, outcast or just plainly a ‘freak’.

As Kupelian suggests to be a part of society today there is a uniform that one must abide by, as the military has a uniform, schools have a uniform and so does every type of sub-culture or society for example a gangster is uniformed in baggy jeans massively long t-shirts and the basketball looking shoes not to mention the bandana and the awesome caps they wear. However in complete contrast someone who for example belongs to a formal group or political party is always seen dresses in a suit and all done up.

Through out the article (today's youth culture has gone insane) Kupelian eludes to the fact that youth culture today is insane, to some extent yes it maybe however, I believe this is an overly exaggerated generalisation, as with all culture there is the ‘insane’ factor evident. If we think about culture which posses ‘insane’ characteristics we would have a never ending list, some may think that having the death penalty for committing adultery in some countries is insane, others may think that not being able to have the freedom of speech in other counties is ‘insane’ so does that make the world an insane place to live in. yes I must admit some of the things Kupelian mentions in his article like the ‘bug-chasers’ yes that is insane and the suspender people yeah that’s insane, but these people are a tiny portion of society which to me where none existing till I read this article. So as an over all generalisation that all ‘today's youth culture has gone insane’ I completely disagree with that.

To conclude, for some people belonging to a sub-group may just simply be having something in common with someone else, all with the same intention, goal and life. Belonging to a sub-culture is not something to be ashamed of, as society is made up of subcultures which define who we are today as individuals. As an overall view, I support and believe that Kupelians view of being influenced by culture is inevitable in society today however I don’t believe that all youth culture is ‘insane’

The Art Behind Gaming

Video games shape our culture. It’s time we took them seriously (Henry Jenkins)

Over the past 25 years, games have progressed from the primitive two-paddles-and-a-ball Pong to the sophistication of Final Fantasy, a participatory story with cinema-quality graphics that unfolds over nearly 100 hours of play (Jenkins 2000) . The computer game has been a killer application for the home PC, increasing consumer demand for vivid graphics, rapid processing, greater memory and better sound. The release of various next-generation consoles by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, signals a dramatic increase in the resources available to game designers (Jenkins 2000).

So as Henry Jenkins asks, ‘are video games a massive drain on our income, time and energy? A new form of “cultural pollution,” Are games teaching our children to kill, as countless op-ed pieces have warned? ’ these are all questions which have been brought up over and over again by media representatives, political bodies and people who have nothing better to do then point the finger and blame at whoever.

The 1999 columbine high school shooting massacre brought the gaming industry under major scrutiny as it was believed that the teens went on this rampage due to the content of Videogames which was believed to have lead to the boys’ trigger-happy nature. But, where does the blame truly lie? When the two boys entered high school, they found it difficult to fit into any of the cliques a normal yet common problem which most young teens face at school which could lead to a feeling of anger and hate. The boys found themselves frequently picked on by athletes and other students once again a common reason to feel anger and hate and also a sense of vengeance. However, the two boys seemed to spend their time doing normal teenager activities. They worked together in a local pizza parlour, liked to play Doom (a computer game) in the afternoons, and worried about assignment which needed to be due. So does the fact that they played ‘Doom’ as a part of their daily activities immediately become the reason behind the massacre, while the fact that they were bullied and harassed is completely left disregarded. A new study has since found that, Video games will only make children more violent if they already have a tendency towards aggression or even if they are simply provoked (Sydney Morning Herald 2007). Such as in the unfortunate case of these boys.

Although, it is gaming that is seen as the art form of today as film was to the 20th century and a novel was to the 19th century it is easy to see that although film and written texts may take the mind on a journey, they are not as interactive as videogames taking both the physical and the internal body and mind on an overwhelming journey to places never sought possible. Take the WII console for example who ever thought that one could play tennis with the TV in the lounge room, or even with playstation having a whole band play to and with others from around the world.

To finish off, I think all the hype and negativity around video games has come from background fear. Deep inside people are always afraid of change, a concept that many people don’t adapt easily too. Hence, from this constant generation of fear came the idea that video games are one of the main causes behind violence and aggression in children, when clearly it’s the misconception of society which has lead to this overrated conclusion.

www.geocities.com/lgartclass/handouts/ArtfortheDigitalAge/ArtFormfortheDigitalAge.html

www.technologyreview.com/printer_friendly_article.aspxid=12189&channel=computing&section

www.smh.com.au/news/National/Mostkidsunaffectebyviolentgames/2007/04/01/1175366055463.html

culture jamming

Culture jamming is a form of expressive art allowing one to express inner ideas and thoughts, although some may consider graffiti to be a form of vandalism, I see it as a form of self expressive art. Why should we as individuals with individualistic ideas sit back and let those in power control our thoughts and ideas inevitably becoming string puppets controlled by ‘superior bodies’. Everyday, evidence of the works of culture jamming is seen in our society and within the mass media. Through any of various methods of modifying mass media (especially advertisements) to convey a different "message" culture jamming is at work. However does this mean that culture jamming is good or bad. Personally I agree with the use of culture jamming because I see it as a way of self expression on an issue that one is passionate about or even just keen on spreading the word on. However this once again depends on the view of different individuals, as culture jamming is seen as being individualistic turning away from all forms of herd mentality – including that of social movements.

As the famous American blogger Mark Drery almost perfectly explains culture jamming‘might best be defined as media hacking, information warfare, terror-art, and guerrilla semiotics, all in one. Billboard bandits, pirate TV and radio broadcasters, media hoaxers, and other colloquial speech media jerks who intrude on the intruders, investing ads, newscasts, and other media articles with rebellious meanings.’ The Internet has been at once inescapable and counterproductive in the theory and practice of culture jamming. It has been a place where ideas of culture jamming are promoted and jammed material is displayed. Thus there are many websites devoted to billboard alteration and website spoofs(William Thake's ) such as ‘Shovelware’ Mark Derys’ site, Adbusters and even sniggel.net AKA jammers encyclopaedia.

Consider this following photo for example:

When I was on the Adbusters site I found this image and I must admit this is one of my favorite photos on that site. When i look at this image I just think that all my thoughts on how young women and girls are depicted through out the media as being the perfect weight the perfect body, the perfect hair and skin, and it just makes me so angry because its as if there is a certain criteria a girl or women has to follow to be able to fit in with society. I must admit when I flick through magazines such as Girlfriend, Cleo, Dolly and even just normal everyday stuff like the target or Kmart advertising mags that come in the mail I look at the perfection of the models and think well how could I become like that and as stupid as it may sound im sure most females who read this will agree with me when I say on more then one occasion after flicking through regular mags you have considered either major surgery, starving yourself or even simply just feeling horrible about the way you look for the next week. I know im like that.


Once again found on the Adbusters site this is the perfect depiction of culture jamming at work therefore, when putting mark dryers comment into perspective one can then begin to understand the origin of his idea. This image is simple, however conveys a deep effective meaning about the McDonald’s food chain. With the heart reading in the shape of a ‘Big M’ and the quote ‘Big Mac Attack’ this image immediately allows the consumer to consider their options before forming a decision. I believe that is exactly what culture jamming is about, allowing people to consider their options before being persuaded or wrongly directed to follow the usual form of advertising.

Just before I finish my first official blog (woohoo), I think culture jamming is a key part in the sanity of mass media because without it the world will be a dull opinionated free society with absolutely no controversy to stir up the ordinary.



Sites that were used:
http://www.english.ilstu.edu/bmthake/folio/docs/finalcj.html
http://www.markdery.com/culture_jamming.html
http://www.adbusters.org/gallery/spoofads/fashion