Written Analysis 1

Facebook

Facebook is a social media website that was created by Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook allows friends to connect by having personal websites that friends can communicate and share photos. Facebook has become a pop culture phenomenon. Facebook is made up of many myths and has become a pop culture icon. 

Firstly, Facebook itself is not a myth but the things that are on Facebook along with things that Facebook itself have communicated have turned out to be myths. Firstly, there is no fact checker on Facebook so users are able to create fake profiles and enhance or lie about information on their lives. The most important myth  that Facebook has communicated include privacy setting allowances. Facebook has communicated many times that pages are secure but this has been proven many times false when updates make all user’s information readily available. Recently, Facebook has removed the option to make your name unsearchable (Constine, 2013). 

Facebook has become an icon. Facebook is mentioned in Television shows, in magazines, and in movies. The creation of Facebook was even depicted in its own major motion picture called the Social Network in 2012. Facebook allows businesses to promote themselves for free and connects people for purposes of business or pleasure. Facebook has also branched out and has purchased other social networks such as instagram. Facebook has began to monopolize social media by making these purchases which pushes Facebook farther into icon status. 

The insights I get from analyzing Facebook is the progress that has been made from the creation of Facebook. Facebook allows people to easily connect with family and friends that live far away. It allows businesses to promote themselves without spending a fortune. Lastly, Facebook has encouraged other forms of social media to pop up such as Twitter, Instagram, and Snap Chat. Facebook has greatly increased technology’s bounds.  

References

Constine, J. (2013, October 10). Facebook Removing Option To Be Unsearchable By Name, Highlighting Lack Of Universal Privacy Controls. TechCrunch. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/10/facebook-search-privacy/

Contemporary Icons

The first contemporary icon I chose was the Instagram icon. Instagram is a form of social media. I would say it is the latest “craze”. It allows users to post pictures with different filters and formatting options and then allows the user’s followers to comments and “like” the photos. Instagram means a lot to me in recent years as many of my best friends have moved out of Columbus and it allows us to post memories and continue our communications with each other even though we no longer live in the same places. 

The second contemporary icon I chose was the Geico Gecko. This little guy is part of a automobile insurance advertising campaign that brings humor and lightheartedness to the insurance industry. This icon means a lot to me as I work for an auto insurance company. I find this to be the best advertising campaign in the industry. 

The third contemporary icon I chose was the American Horror Story: Coven symbol. American Horror Story has been a pop culture phenomenon. The show has a cult following and has gotten rave reviews with many critics. There have been three seasons that all have a different storyline. This allows someone who had missed a season to watch another season and not have to catch up. This icon means a lot to me because it is my favorite show. My friends and I have weekly viewings together. 

What is Pop Culture

What is popular culture, and what does it mean to you?

Pop Culture is commerical culture that combines music, movies, art, fashion, magazines, dance, and television., literature, and radio. It brings together different people's opinions, ideas, and interests. Pop culture can change perceptions, motivate, and make people scared. 

According to Dictionary.com, pop culture is "a contemporary lifestyle and items that are wellknown and generally accepted, cultural patterns that are widespread within a population." 

Why is an understanding of popular culture relevant to you in a business environment and in your present and future career?

Pop culture will be very relevant to me in a business environment as I am a marketing major. Marketing is the business of promoting goods and services for the purpose of selling. Pop culture has a huge influence on consumers as pop culture involves what's "in" with fashion, music, art, television, and film. Pop culture's influence can be used to influence consumer purchases. 

What would you consider to be an example of a pop culture artifact? And why would you choose it?

I think that an example of a pop culture artificact would be anything that is current and "in". This could include a music sample, pictures of celebrities, shows, clothes or movies.  I chose a picture of the cast of the show Modern Family. This show not only is one of the most watched comedies on television but it also brings to light a very large social issue of gay rights as Cameron and Mitch are a gay couple on the show with a small daughter. 

References

"popular culture." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/popular+culture>.