Popular American Culture
The popular culture of America is expressed in almost every medium of communication in music and movies and mediums like sports. Another aspect of American popular culture is the evolving and adaptation of various elements like cultural icons (Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse) and foods like hamburgers, hibachi and pizza into its culture. In terms of fashion, the most commonly worn attire is blue jeans which originated in the 1850s as a cloth that can be worn even in work places. The professionals wear common business attire but most American teenagers wear the blues jeans.
The United States Theater is commonly based in the traditions of the west with various performing styles common in Europe, most specifically in England. American music has spread in all regions of the world. Bands and solo artists are popular. American movies are characterized by icons like the Karate Kid, Titanic, Star wars, the Matrix, and Schindler’s List which are very popular. The most common American actresses and actors are Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Brad Pittt, Angelina Jolie and Julie Roberts among others. The style used in American music are many such as swing, blues, Rap, hip-hop, dance, country, house, funk, R&B, pop rock & roll and others.
American music videos
Artifacts
American music videos are one of the most common popular cultures in America. The music videos comprise of various genres like rap videos, crank videos, fink videos, R&B videos, pop rock videos, blues videos and many others. The American cultural and social identity is passed through the scene and topics of the music videos. Aspects like social class, geography, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, language, and religions are depicted through the music videos. Musical meaning in United States is determined by the relationship between race and music. The constant theme in American music video is the identity of African American music with various sources from Europe and Africa. The music videos portray little about the colonial era music when instruments, songs and styles originated from West Africa traditions at the time of slavery.
Rap is music genre which has in the past years gained much attention. It is a genre that originated from African American music and influenced by blues and rhythm to form a fusion of contemporary bebop and gospel. Little research has been studied in terms of the images and themes of rap music videos though it is a genre that has influenced the behavior of many American teenagers and the adolescents.
A study by Wingood and her colleagues entitled a perspective study of Exposure to Rap Music videos and African American Female Adolescents health was carried out to investigate if exposure to videos on rap music was the source of sexually transmitted diseases and health risks behaviors among the female adolescent of African American origin. The outcome of the study showed that the study sample of the female teenagers had experienced confrontations that led to fights, arrests, drug and alcohol abuse had many sexual partners. May of them reported to have contracted sexually transmitted diseases. The adolescents usually viewed rap music videos, gangster, hip hop and bass videos. The adolescents were addicted to these videos leading to high unemployment rate. They are also less monitored by their parents.
The MTV Video music is a common medium through which most American music videos are registered. Top music of the year gets rewarded through MTV Video Music Award which is held every year since 1894. The top musicians are awarded in the prestigious ceremony of the Grammy awards known at the youth Oscar wards. In 2009, the ceremony was held on September 13th, in New York City at RadioCityMusic Hall. This year, the Video Music Awards is scheduled to take place in Los AngelesCalifornia on September 12 at the Nokia Theater. Most popular pop culture icons and bands attend the VMA. The best Female Video in 2009 was taken by Taylor Swift.
American music video especially by female artists has gained controversial responses. Madonna’s music videos are said to be too provocative, too sexual, undergarments as outwear and too much exposure of skin. In her music videos, sexuality constitute to a problematic theme and a most prominent theme. Race and religion are other themes that are common in Madonna’s music videos (Tamburri, 2002, p 48).
Decision making
Popular culture affects the way people, live, their lifestyle and even in arriving to decisions. This means that popular culture affect the general knowledge, the artifacts and institutions of a society. The practices and common knowledge is expressed by a group in a specified time as an influence of the popular culture. Poplar culture is expressed in the way people communicate with specified phrases from the artists, singers, and musician. They do influence the way people dress to become a common norm in the society. In conscious or subconscious ways, I have been influenced by American music videos. The musicians especially Beyonce is my role model. I can decide to dress like her, copy her attitudes, and uses phrases she uses in her songs.
Reference
Wingood, W et. Al (2009) a perspective studies of Exposure to Rap Music videos and African American Female Adolescents health. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447759/pdf/0930437.pdf
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