Too young to drive, but old enough for big time college athletics?

I read a story recently on CBSSportsline.com about college basketball coaches recruiting children as young as 12 years old.  Am I the only one alarmed by this?!  The NCAA has done nothing to stop it and is only concerned with making money.  An organization formed to govern collegiate athletics has become focused on one thing: money.  How is it that the NCAA can justify imposing penalties on a coach for helping a player financially, a la Jim O’Brien (former OSU basketball coach who helped a young foreign player's mother), yet turn a blind eye to the recruitment of babies? 

Children these days are forced by youth coaches to commit to one sport at much younger ages than ever before.  When I grew up, we played football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and any other sport that would afford us the opportunity to hang out with friends.  Gone are the days of sno-cones after tee-ball games and pizza parties to celebrate the end of basketball season.  No more using sports as a way to teach kids teamwork and sportsmanship; the untalented kids are pushed to the side and forced to ride the bench, or not play at all.  Why?

I think that the amount of money being made off of college athletes is driving the push for younger recruits.  College coaches make anywhere from $1-4 million/year, which is quite a bit to coach a sport, but their salaries are directly related to success.  If a coach doesn’t win, he’ll be fired within a year or two.  The term coaching carousel has become part of the everyday vocabulary of sports writers.  To avoid being fired, coaches across the country have joined the “arms race” and begun recruiting children.  It’s a sad commentary on athletics in our country, yet we all continue to watch.  I hope responsible parents will step in and stop it from happening, but I’m guardedly optimistic.  Look at the mother of NBA All-Star LeBron James: she was on welfare for most of her life and then began driving a brand new Hummer during LeBron’s senior year of high school.  Did his mother suddenly find a new job?  Nope; the vehicle was bought by a professional sports agent to garner favor so he could represent LeBron during his career.  LeBron was 17!  I find it hard to believe that he wasn’t swayed to skip college for the riches of the NBA.

Ultimately, the burden falls on the parents.  If they choose to let their children be exploited in the hopes of landing that pro contract, then so be it.  I just hope parents take a good look at their motives and let their kids be kids.  Bring back kickball on recess and playing wiffle ball in the backyard.  Don’t keep your kids from playing basketball in the driveway because you’re afraid they’ll get hurt and won’t be able to play first base for the traveling baseball team that you shell out thousands a year for!   

Assignment 2-1: American Idolatry and Chris Daughtry

I am amazed by the ongoing success of American Idol.  It seems as though it will continue on for another 10 years if it continues at its current rate.  A.I. has definitely become a pop culture phenomenon as itis now the most-watched show on television.  I feel that it ties in with our examination of the hero myth in our society, as we all watch for one of the contestants to become "the next American Idol" and be thrust into the spotlight.  The cameras chronicle every audition (good and bad) and follow the hopefuls all the way to Hollywood.  This perpetuates the myth of the American Dream, as evidenced by past winners such as Fantasia, a single mother who is now a multi-millionaire.  When aspiring singers who may be struggling see someone they can connect with make it to Hollywood, it encourages them to try out with the hope of making it big.  Not everyone who tries out makes it to Hollywood; this is obvious in the numerous funny auditions by those who cannot sing, yet try their damndest to belt out Aretha Franklin's hits.  I feel bad for the people who get up in front of millions of viewers only to be laughed out of the audition room, but I wonder if some of them are doing it as a publicity stunt so their friends back home can see them on television.  Nonetheless, A.I. is growing into a pop culture icon and will most certainly be looked at as changing the face of the music and entertainment industry.      

Assignment 1-3: Journal Article Analysis

The article I reviewed is definitely not intended for the common reader, let alone anyone outside the realm of professional psychology or sociology.  I consider myself to have a decent vocabulary, yet cannot seem to connect with text that includes phrases such as, “I contend that this symbolic trumpeting of pain offers dialectical and diacritical opportunities”, “heterodox fragmentation”, and “coexisting ideological interpellation and rebellion”.  I contend that the author used too many fancy words when fewer, simpler words would have conveyed the message just as well.  I realize that I am not the intended audience for such material, but feel alienated by the use of language.  I do get that the idea behind the article is to examine Robert De Niro’s roles in films and how those roles perpetuate the masculine norms set forth by society.

            The article explores Robert De Niro’s acting methods and his history of taking on roles that seem to scream macho.  He has starred in some very violent and visceral movies such as, The Godfather, Goodfellas, Ronin, Heat, The Deer Hunter, Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, and Raging Bull, to name a few.  According to Schwartz (2008), “the enduring public perception of De Niro remains one of the “top dog” male in a dog-eats-dog world, the extreme individualist who would excel under cultural Darwinian models of survival.”  That is to say that De Niro’s appeal lies in the fact that other men want to be him.  The power he displays on screen is intoxicating, especially to young men with high levels of testosterone who wish they had some of the power and freedom he exhibits in film.

            In Taxi Driver, De Niro plays Travis Bickle, an alienated cab driver who plays “God’s lonely man” (Schwartz, 2008).  He is part violent, part vulnerable in the film and that is ultimately what we glean from De Niro.  Schwartz describes this as “a hard exterior, composed of fragmented gender norms, while reminding viewers that this identity is in part an act.”  She further examines Travis Bickle’s plight as she delves into the meaning behind the tagline, “You talkin’ to me?”  According to Sparks (1996), “exaggerated masculine icons in dramas, crime narratives…often have a “number” as one might have in a musical, a moment that defines the protagonist’s image…”  I have personally reenacted De Niro’s scene in many instances; whether it’s answering a friend’s smartass comment or messing with my wife, I have used Travis Bickle’s phrase numerous times.  In fact, De Niro’s realistic depiction of Travis further solidified that quote as a memorable movie line.  

            The article explores many of De Niro’s roles in a very logical manner, yet the language was definitely a stumbling block for me.  I followed the general meaning of the article, and concur that De Niro represents the exaggeration of masculine norms set forth by our society.     

References

Schwartz, G. (2008). “You talkin’ to me?”: De Niro’s interrogative fidelity and subversion of masculine norms. The Journal of Popular Culture, 41(3), 443-464.

Sparks, R. (1996). Masculinity and heroism in the Hollywood ‘blockbuster’: the culture industry and contemporary images of crime and law enforcement. British Journal of Criminology, 36(3), 348-361. 

Assignment 2-2: Icon Analysis

Icon is a term that can be applied to people and things rather easily, but when it comes down to it, only special people and things are truly iconic.  I'm talking about someone who changes the face of music, or turns the sports world on it's head.  This brings me to my first example of an icon: Michael Jordan.  He is an icon in every sense of the word, and he's only in his forties.  He singlehandedly changed the game of basketball and his name and face became synonymous with the game he dominated throughout the late eighties and nineties.  Who hasn't seen the ubiquitous Air Jordan symbol?  His achievements on the court spawned an entire generation of players to pick up a basketball and attempt his high-flying feats.  He has moved from the basketball court to the realm of revered athlete.  A collector's card from his rookie year in the NBA fetches north of $1,500! 

Objects can also attain icon status, as evidenced by the adoring masses of Chevrolet's Corvette.  The Corvette was first manufactured in 1953 and has long been a symbol of American pride.  While competitors are charging hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Corvette is available for a fraction of the cost with just as much power.  The Corvette's icon status is evidenced by the many classic car enthusiasts who devote countless hours and retirement dollars restoring and displaying their cars.  Even non-enthusiasts can spot a corvette with it's long hood, aggressive stance, and menacing growl.  It is also a symbol of cool and one that will not go away any time soon (provided Chevy stays in business).  I, for one, look forward to my retirement in Florida so I can wax my '66 'Vette in the driveway before cruising the strip!

Music has long been a breeding grounds for icons; from Elvis to The Beatles to Madonna and beyond.  The constant exposure via radio, internet, iTunes, albums, concerts and more increase the public's awareness of musicians like never before.  One musician who stands out from the crowd is the deceased Kurt Cobain.  He did not invent the music form known as grunge, but he did become the face of the grunge movement in early '90s Seattle.  He was and probably still is reluctant about his stardom, but there is no denying his icon status.  Until his suicide in 1994, no one's star burned brighter than Cobain's.  He is, in addition to being an icon, a cautionary tale for those who might want to follow in his footsteps.  Pain from a previous life cannot be cured with money, drugs, or booze.  Cobain's case makes a compelling argument against a music industry that seems to constantly feed on the young and talented musicians who help line the pockets of top executives.  Many of the names are already in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame: Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Keith Moon, John Bonham, Shannon Hoon, Sid Vicious, Duane Allman, Jeff Buckley, and Jerry Garcia, just to name a few.  Kurt Cobain and Nirvana's sound have defined an entire generation and paved the way for many musicians to follow.

Assignment 1-4: The Hollywood Formula

I consider myself a big fan of movies and like to stay current on new releases, but I don't understand why the same formulas always work.  Every year we are inundated with trailers for the next "can't-miss actionthrilleromanticomedydrama" blockbuster, and every year I'm disappointed with the unimaginative offerings by Hollywood.  Granted, I enjoy buildings being blown up, bad guys getting shot, good guys getting the girl, and fart jokes just as much as the next guy, but sometimes I'd like a movie to challenge me intellectually.  In this age of instant gratification Hollywood is just giving the masses what they want.  I mean, it's not as if there isn't a precedent; look at the hundreds of thousands of Romans who used to enjoy watching men be torn to shreds by tigers in the Coliseum.  Now we turn out in the hundreds of thousands to watch modern day gladiators tear each other and their knee ligaments to shreds for our enjoyment.  But I digress.  

The fact is that Hollywood follows a very strict formula and very rarely are we given anything worth watching.  When movies such as Little Miss Sunshine, Gran Torino, and History of Violence come out briefly in theaters (near Oscar time) they are lauded by critics and people like me as breaths of fresh air, yet are soon pushed aside to make way for the Sex and the City sequel and seventh installment of Die Hard.  I believe this entire phenomenon is an excellent example of pop culture in that the basic formula remains the same, while the next "it" actor/actress is plugged in for the aging one who must now wait a few years until a role comes along that will allow them to finally grab the "lifetime achievement" Oscar for their role as an aging boxer/soldier/policeman who takes an at-risk youth under their wing and shows them the right way to live.  Well, that's all I have for now - there's a Die Hard marathon on Spike TV I need to go watch! 

Assignment 1-2: iPods and Pop Culture

While attempting to define popular culture, I realized something; it is not easily defined.  Pop culture artifacts are extremely organic in nature and change frequently.  They include everything from iPods and televisions to songs and movies.  I have always thought of pop culture as something defined and lived by people who reside in the O.C., New York, or the pages of US Weekly and live in trendy lofts filled with expensive, uncomfortable furniture and small, designer dogs and/or children.  I now know that pop culture runs deeper than that and is all-encompassing.  I eat, drink, drive, listen to, watch, and consume pop culture on a daily basis without even realizing it.  It's  not for the elite - that's high culture, and it's not for counter or folk culture; it's for everyday people like you and I.  

I work for a company that supplies refractory material to the steel and iron industry and am therefore exposed to many forms of pop culture throughout any given day.  I work on a computer, talk on the phone, and send/receive emails frequently.  Since I work in supply chain management, I also go to lunches and dinners with vendors and speak with a wide array of people every day.  This makes my understanding of and relation to pop culture imperative to my success in the business world, now and in the future.  My understanding of pop culture and ability to make small talk with random people allows relationships to be fostered quickly, thereby opening the lines of communication for business discussions.  Pop culture knowledge and awareness can also assist me in the future if I am in a management position and need to relate to an employee.  

I think the iPod by Apple, Inc. is a great example of a pop culture artifact.  It changed the landscape of digital music as well as the music industry as a whole, and the iPod itself continues to evolve rapidly.  It has allowed people to take their music with them anywhere and now holds movies and tv shows!  Prior to the iPod, we had to carry around a Walkman and the only way to achieve the jukebox capabilities of the iPod was to make a mix-tape from the radio or hope you had a friend who had one of those fancy dual-cassette recorders.  I think the iPod IS pop culture.  It inflences people to buy due to its popularity, and has initiated a massive shift in the way people buy and enjoy music.