Analysis Blog #1 PoP CuLtUrE TeXt

So I'm fresh out of class with analysis in my head. My pop culture text that I analyzed in class, and am about to analyze now is my iPod.

Up until a few years ago (can't remember exactly) the WalkMan was still the cool thing to have. The portable Cd players and all of that. Obviously, when things like LimeWire and Napster and Kazaa came around, the music industry was in trouble due to illegal downloading. They were losing money so Apple decided to come up with something that would #1 spread popularity fast, #2 bring money back to the music industry, and #3 create a design that would be marketable to everyone.

I think that #3 is probably the most important one. As it was spoke about in class, certain music-listening devices had racial connotations in the past. But the company didn't make the iPod for race, because I think that when it comes to music people are way more open minded when it come to race. But I think that they made the iPod the way they did for different age groups. Speaking from personal experience, my father is obsessed with mine. It's easy for him to understand how to use it. They have made it very easy to download the program onto you PC at home, and putting the actual songs on the iPod is extremely simple. I've never seen him have it so easy with my CD player. All he does it put on like one song ("Heard It Through The Grapevine," by Creedence Clearwater Revival). That leads up to another strong marketing point of the iPod.

Another reason why the iPod is marketed the way it is because it is a device that can be used for people of every music genre. I guess it could be stereotyped because especially down here at Wayne, it has become a status symbol...BIG TIME. But, I have seen all different types of people carry them. It is an extremely good design because you can have a little bit of everything on yours. It also is de-sexed. They come in different colors and have different colored cases and accessories to go with everyones including both male or female users.

Also, the simplicity of the design is amazing. My own personal iPod plays videos and movies so that's a plus for people who live life on the go like myself ;).

Back to numbers 1 and 2 on the list of reasons for making the iPod. The Apple company knew that this trend would spread fast. Everyone knows the iPod commercial with the dancing shadow, which illustrates even more the fact that the iPod is for everyone. When you market something the way that the iPod was marketed; for everyone, they knew that people would catch on to it fast.

Lastly, due to the decline of the CD industry, the iPod fit in perfect. The sale of CDs is still down, but at least now on the iTunes program (for downloading music onto the iPod), they have gift cards and you can use your credit card as well for you to pay fast, with no strings attached and get your music immediately.

And that's about it regarding the iPod....I strongly recommend them though, they rock it out!!!

Blog 3

Well...my past experiences with writing. In high school, I was in honors english for my first three years, and my senior year I decided not to take it because I wanted to take a Shakespeare class. That was the BEST. But, back to writing. In high school, I would write papers, and do good on them, but I always [to this day] feel like I'm just buLLsh***ing everything. That's why I wanted to take this class. Not only do I want to just write better, because I don't think I write THAT bad, but I want to feel comfortable writing. I don't want to feel like I'm filling a page as much as I can with "descriptive words." Also, I felt kinda dumb in class when Ms. Welter was talking about the 2 page long paragraphs because that is totally me. But, honestly, I've always thought that that was good because I always assumed, and was told, that you do not stop a paragraph until your thought is finished....so maybe it takes me a couple pages. I would have to say though that my most favorite experiences in writing...writing meaning physically writing, not writing papers, would be poetry. Writing poetry is such a big outlet for me. I adore it. I don't do it as much as I used too, but I still love it nonetheless. I think it's because it's NOT like writing papers. There is no format, I mean there is if you want one, but it all depends on you. It doesn't HAVE to rhyme or have a certain amount of syllables. It's just such a free art form. I love it. Another experience I had with writing was last semester. We had to write 2 legal memorandums and a brief in my Legal Writing class. So I've pretty much been all over the map with the writing world.

Blog 2

Yeah guys...sorry about the not commenting back totally. I know there's no excuse but I really don't have internet access readily available and it sucks. So what do I expect to get from this class? I basically just expect to feel more comforatble when it comes down to me writing papers. Every time I get assigned a paper, #1 I freak out, and #2 I wait until the last minute. I eventually end up just sitting in front of my computer (THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE INTERNET) and just writing it all at the same time. That's for sure one of the main things I hope I get better with in this class because I'm in my second year of college....I need to start writing rough drafts. Also, I would totally love love love it if this class would make me feel comfortable with the MLA. When I was in high school they said that all we would need to know in college was MLA. YEAH....every single paper i have written in the almost two years I've been at this school has been APA. I would just like to get comforatble with the actual documentation of the sources. I always freak out about citing online sources so I just end up doing all books, and I feel like I miss out on information I could have totally used to make my paper better. When we worked in class with our partners, and cited all of that stuff, weirdly enough, I felt comfortable. Maybe it was because I had a partner ( who was awesome by the way :) ) , but honestly, having that book (SF Writer) really made me feel better about it. I got it a little late, so I've been catching up on the reading, but I think I'm Good. All in all, I think this class is going to interest me and get me pumped about papers, because for the first time in LIFE we can write about what, who, when, and where we want. See you in class...

Hello!

Hey guys whats up? My name is Megan. I am a second year Criminal Justice major. I'm going to be a Probation Officer which I am soooo incredibly stoked about. It's something I've always wanted to do. Well, let's just start from the beginning. I'm 19 years old, and have the most amazing boyfriend in the world, his name is Matt. He is in school to be a firefighter right now. I have enjoyed his company for almost two years now, and the only reason I'm mentioning him is because he such an extremely big part of life. Even bigger than that is my family. I am 50% Lebanese from my father's side and 50% French from my momma's side. I currently/unfortunately live with my parents :). I guess it could be worse though. Matt and I are currently fixing up a house that we hope to move into by the summer. Another HUGE part of my life is UP NORTH baby! Every single chance I get I am up north boating, swimming, LAYING OUT (I know you feel me ladies), I'm down for whatever, as long as it is up north. Due in large part to the fact that my boyfriend and all of his friends are obsessed with cars, I have grown a large interest in the subject. Every Wednesday night in the summer you can find me and my boys in the city for the weekly car shows. SUCH a good time! What else? My favorite food is probably Lemon Rice Soup...I happen to be a soup fiend. Other than that it would probably be a Jimmy John's vegetarian sub or a Subway veggie sub that I happen to be eating right now. I'm not a vegetarian but you can't help but feel good after you eat vegetables. Getting off track...I went to an all girls private high school and SHOCKER I LOVED every minute of it. My best friend (Jessyca) and I met the first day of high school and six years later, it's the same thing. I am interested in all types of music, mostly indie, alternative, YES GRUNGE MS. WELTER, basically any type of music that makes you feel your surroundings. Some favorite bands of all time that are on my iPod right now are Sublime, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Alice in Chains, old Green Day and RHCP, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley. I also like chill music like The Cranberries, Sarah McLachlan, The Gin Blossoms, Del Amitri, The Counting Crows, or harder yet, Metallica, Pantera, and love love love Slipknot (or Corey Taylor's voice in general. And YES I love Young Jeezy haha. I work at my Dad's law office so I guess it's pretty good experience for what I want to do since he does criminal defense. Matt and I are currently OBSESSED with the Sopranos. Last night we just rented the second season....Awesome so far. That's pretty much it about me, I like to think that I'm a laid back person and I WILL make you talk to me because I have such a big mouth and hear it all the time. Alright 521 words later I'm done...hope to get to know all of you and see you in class, I'm the loud one in the back ;)