Assignment 1-4-3

My popular culture topic of “Will e-readers (Kindles, Smartphones, etc.) eventually replace the traditional paper book?” applies to both the theories of stereotypes and rituals. Stereotypes may be that people who have an e-reader are usually either students or avid readers. E-readers can also fall under the theory of rituals depending on what people have or use them for.

Others may see those who have e-readers as sophisticated and into the latest technology. If the person in possession of an e-reader is young, they are more than likely a student who knows that it is easier to download all their textbooks onto an e-reader than carry a heavy load of books around campus. Another stereotype of e-readers are those who have a love for reading and find that it is nice having the convenience of multiple books on one devise. You often see them hanging out by themselves engrossed in reading something that totally interests them.

Rituals can also be applied to an e-reader. I have my scriptures and several religious books downloaded on my e-reader. Every morning, I take ten minutes and read from my scriptures. I like the e-reader for this purpose because I can mark my favorite passages and write notes without scribbling all over my paper copy. In the evening, before I fall asleep, I like to pull up one of my Church magazines and read an article by one of our leaders. These articles help me to clear my mind from the day’s events and also to give me hope and inspiration for the day to come.

For having an e-reader, I wonder how others perceive me especially when I pull it out at church instead of bringing out an actual book of scriptures like everyone else. Do others see me as irreverent? Should I be concerned about that? I did not realize the rituals I have created for myself in using my e-reader. I will be more conscious from now on whenever I pull my e-reader out. Is it being perceived as a stereotype or creating a ritual? 

Assignment 1-4-2

My popular culture topic of “Will e-readers (Kindles, Smartphones, etc.) eventually replace the traditional paper book?” applies to the theories of popular belief, myth, and icons. Popular belief is that e-readers will become more popular than that of the traditional paper book. According to myth, technology will continue to make our lives easier and better. The e-reader is also an icon that everyone wants because it is cool and a lot easier to carry than books.

According to popular belief, the traditional paper books may become obsolete as e-readers in the form of Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, Smartphones, and even iPads are now available to download books on. It may be more cost effective to publish books in a digital format than in printed form. It also makes carrying of multiple books at a time easier. The myth that technology will make our lives easier can either be positive or negative. Technology has definitely made our lives easier as we communicate more with each other, take classes online verses an actual classroom, and in multiple facets of our employment. It is hard not to get passionate about the new technological advances that are happening all around us. However, it can also make our life harder with the many distractions and bad influences that can enter our lives and the lives of our children on a daily basis. The e-reader has become an icon to our society. You see some form of them everywhere you go. They are used not only for books but also for calendars, notes, and business meetings.

The insights I have gained from applying these theories to my popular culture topic are how everything is going electronic and how convenient it has become. It is also the status of having the latest and best technology at your fingertips. The simple things of the past that were once enjoyed are being replaced as new popular culture is being introduced into society. Questions I have to ask myself are how do I want to be a part of all this, and am I willing to give up paper books for the convenience of having them on an easily portable device? I love the feel of having a book in my hands however convenient an e-reader is. 

3 Contemporary Icons

The three contemporary icons I have chosen are Proctor and Gamble, Kraft Foods, and Microsoft. Proctor and Gamble manufactures a lot of the products in our home from Charmin toilet paper to Duracell batteries. Kraft Foods manufactures a lot of the foods we have in our home from Jell-O to Stove Top stuffing. And, Microsoft produces important software we use on our computers from Windows to Excel.

I chose these three icons because they represent the popular culture in our lives in three different areas. Proctor and Gamble gives us paper products, detergents, and cleaners to name a few. Kraft gives us macaroni and cheese, barbecue sauce, miracle whip etc. Microsoft gives us computer programs that we most likely use on a daily basis especially if you have your e-mail account through Microsoft Outlook.

These three icons are part of the popular culture that shape my life. If you look around my house, you will see these products everywhere you look. The list of Proctor and Gamble products I use would fill a whole document. Kraft is especially popular in my home because it does not use gluten in certain products such as barbecue sauce and salad dressing. My son-in-law is allergic to gluten so we have to be careful of the products we buy. I would be totally lost without Microsoft's programs especially at work and school.

Popular Culture & Artifact

Popular culture is what influences our life through media, art, music, technology, book and magazines etc. To me it is everything around me that helps to shape my life from the style of clothes I wear to the amount of technology I use every day.

In the business world, I have been a controller for troubled youth programs for five years. During that time, I have seen quite of few technological advances that continue to influence how I do my job. Some of these include: going from one monitor to two, advances in Microsoft software, and going from a simple phone to a smart phone. 

An example of a pop culture artifact is the ability to download books on an e-reader either on the computer or a portable device such as Amazon’s Kindle Fire or Barnes and Noble’s Nook. I would choose one of these for a couple reasons. One reason is because it is portable. You would no longer have to carry around a load of books especially if you can get all your textbooks onto the device. You would also be able to throw it in your purse and have it available wherever you go in case you find some idle time. The second reason is because it has a background light. I love being able to read at night without having a light on to disturb my husband.