Today Lindsey Lohan is going to jail. Not really such a huge surprise to anyone, but with all the attention surrounding her fate - it makes me wonder how it will effect the rest of us.
Now, you may not think that Paris Hilton or Lindsey Lohan have anything to do with you or anyone you know. But they do have a huge effect on society as a whole. They are social icons that represent style, taste, fashions, and trends. They are walking billboards of celebrity and fame.
Our culture is obsessed with celebrity and fame. In our entertainment choices and attitudes we mimic and parrot those who have fame. With reality television so popular now and the ease at which we can all post our lives on line......so many in our society clamor to be like those in Hollywood.
In the past celebrities were not known to go to jail. There were a few exceptions, but those were extreme cases and it was easy to separate ourselves from those people. We as a society did not relate to them on a personal level. Usually these people had committed heinous crimes to get put behind bars.
But, Lindsey is really kind of the girl next door. She is the spoiled girl down the block....she is the "sweet sixteen" brat who just "wants what she wants"....no matter the consequences. And now she is going to spend time in the Big House. Is this something else that people are now going to find just a little more acceptable?
One of the best things that deters people from breaking laws and going to jail is the social stigma of the jail itself. No one else you know is going to jail, so why would anyone want to allow themselves to go there either? Jail is considered a scary place filled with unknown hazards and consequences. With celebrities now going to jail more often than ever, the spotlight is spreading from the red carpet to the prison cell. It seems a little less scary and a lot less uncommon.
I would bet money that there is a study that shows that people who know someone in jail or that has been to jail have a higher probability to eventually go to jail as well.
I think it is fair to say that a jail visit just became a little more of a probability for a whole lot of people today. It has entered people's minds as a possible scenario now instead of something never to be a consideration at all.
Some people may learn a lesson from Lindsey's consequences, but I think there are others still who will live on and continue to emulate her....right into a cell block.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Phenomenon of Lady Gaga
Since I just started writing my blog, I am taking the first few entries to catch up on some of the main topics of the day. One of the most exciting performers lately has been Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga is celebrated as a huge commercial success at a time when the music industry is registering record losses. With the advent of iTunes and digital mediums, music today is in a fluid state and the old market methods are not in play anymore. People are rare to buy a CD. It just does not make sense to spend $11.99 on a CD when all you want is that $1.29 hit single. And then if you wait about four months you can get a "hits" CD with 20 hit songs for only $9.99. Even then it is hard to justify a CD purchase. If the only thing you do is load that CD into your iPod and then toss it aside, why not just download the whole thing and not have the waste?
How does this relate to Lady Gaga? She is that rare example of an artist who creates a compelling reason to buy the whole album. And even if you download it off the internet, you probably want to consider buying the whole album. Lady Gaga puts together a collection of songs that all have ear appeal. They together build a cohesive story of sorts and as a conceptual artist deliver a greater over all message. Sure, we all want to sing and dance to Bad Romance.....but that song is just the intro to get you into great gems like Teeth and Monster.
As an artist, Lady Gaga has shown to not be willing to compromise. She refuses to lip-sync her lead vocals. She plays and writes her own songs. She dances and helps create her own choreography. She supports equal rights for all people and is doing great work empowering women.
But, the bottom line on Lady Gaga is that she is fun. Her songs are catchy and infectious. They translate easily to ballads and remixes alike. They are full of imagery and metaphors that allow them to be translated to a persons individual experiences. Her fashions are wild and creative. She is a spectacle to behold. She earns the title of celebrity by playing the game and not being played.
It is great to see a strong woman choosing her own headlines instead of being a victim of them.
Lady Gaga is celebrated as a huge commercial success at a time when the music industry is registering record losses. With the advent of iTunes and digital mediums, music today is in a fluid state and the old market methods are not in play anymore. People are rare to buy a CD. It just does not make sense to spend $11.99 on a CD when all you want is that $1.29 hit single. And then if you wait about four months you can get a "hits" CD with 20 hit songs for only $9.99. Even then it is hard to justify a CD purchase. If the only thing you do is load that CD into your iPod and then toss it aside, why not just download the whole thing and not have the waste?
How does this relate to Lady Gaga? She is that rare example of an artist who creates a compelling reason to buy the whole album. And even if you download it off the internet, you probably want to consider buying the whole album. Lady Gaga puts together a collection of songs that all have ear appeal. They together build a cohesive story of sorts and as a conceptual artist deliver a greater over all message. Sure, we all want to sing and dance to Bad Romance.....but that song is just the intro to get you into great gems like Teeth and Monster.
As an artist, Lady Gaga has shown to not be willing to compromise. She refuses to lip-sync her lead vocals. She plays and writes her own songs. She dances and helps create her own choreography. She supports equal rights for all people and is doing great work empowering women.
But, the bottom line on Lady Gaga is that she is fun. Her songs are catchy and infectious. They translate easily to ballads and remixes alike. They are full of imagery and metaphors that allow them to be translated to a persons individual experiences. Her fashions are wild and creative. She is a spectacle to behold. She earns the title of celebrity by playing the game and not being played.
It is great to see a strong woman choosing her own headlines instead of being a victim of them.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
There is no Arizona
Arizona. Where to start? Where to end? There is just....so....much.
I appreciate Arizona. I like the area. I have friends in Arizona..
Ok, now that I have said that..... Arizona is being run by radicals. Jan Brewer is a pretty scary person. I know she looks harmless, but really if you listen to just about anything she says on any subject you can hear how flustered and out of her league she really is.... John McCain is increasingly horrible. He has changed his position so many times on so many issues, it is a wonder he can remember exactly how he feels about anything these days. And for him to have ever thought associating with Palin was a good idea, well.....any respect I had ever had for him is long gone.
It is not that I disagree with the premise that illegal immigration is a problem. I can understand all of the logistics of such an increasingly tenuous situation. I know that this issue raises its head every so often. Most Presidents in the last forty years have had to deal with this issue in one way or another. I do not think this is a new issue. And I really do not believe that it is an increasingly worse issue these days either. It is ongoing.
There needs to be something done to address the issue. Most illegals are not here to commit criminal acts against the population. They are here to make money and support their families. They do jobs that many do not want to do. They are an important part of our economy really.
The law that was passed in Arizona is not necessarily a bad thing. But, as it is written, it is sloppy legislation with the opportunity for abuse very high. Legal American citizens should not be threatened with this kind of law. It should not be an issue. But, unfortunately it is. And there is valid concern to be weary of this law and how it will be implemented. Many in law enforcement have made the comment that it is not enforceable. These issues must be addressed.
Let's fix the problem.....but let's make sure we do not make more problems in the process.
I appreciate Arizona. I like the area. I have friends in Arizona..
Ok, now that I have said that..... Arizona is being run by radicals. Jan Brewer is a pretty scary person. I know she looks harmless, but really if you listen to just about anything she says on any subject you can hear how flustered and out of her league she really is.... John McCain is increasingly horrible. He has changed his position so many times on so many issues, it is a wonder he can remember exactly how he feels about anything these days. And for him to have ever thought associating with Palin was a good idea, well.....any respect I had ever had for him is long gone.
It is not that I disagree with the premise that illegal immigration is a problem. I can understand all of the logistics of such an increasingly tenuous situation. I know that this issue raises its head every so often. Most Presidents in the last forty years have had to deal with this issue in one way or another. I do not think this is a new issue. And I really do not believe that it is an increasingly worse issue these days either. It is ongoing.
There needs to be something done to address the issue. Most illegals are not here to commit criminal acts against the population. They are here to make money and support their families. They do jobs that many do not want to do. They are an important part of our economy really.
The law that was passed in Arizona is not necessarily a bad thing. But, as it is written, it is sloppy legislation with the opportunity for abuse very high. Legal American citizens should not be threatened with this kind of law. It should not be an issue. But, unfortunately it is. And there is valid concern to be weary of this law and how it will be implemented. Many in law enforcement have made the comment that it is not enforceable. These issues must be addressed.
Let's fix the problem.....but let's make sure we do not make more problems in the process.
Can I share with you?
Welcome! I am jumping into the blogging world about five years too late. Oh well, hopefully my views and opinions will be welcomed or at least worthy of discussion. I am glad you are here!
I am rather opinionated. I realize that my views are not always shared with others - and that is just fine by me. I appreciate a good debate and different views are always welcome here. When people disagree with me it is not automatically taken as a personal offense to me. Can't we all just get along? Well, no. No we can't......and that is ok with me.
I tend to run to the hot button issues of the day. Politics. Religion. Race. All favorites of mine.
I can also be incredibly mundane. Downright boring at times. And maybe I will share that loveliness on this blog too. No matter what I write, I am sure some of you out there will think I am just some nut. I am a harmless one though. Rest assured and read on.....read on.
I am rather opinionated. I realize that my views are not always shared with others - and that is just fine by me. I appreciate a good debate and different views are always welcome here. When people disagree with me it is not automatically taken as a personal offense to me. Can't we all just get along? Well, no. No we can't......and that is ok with me.
I tend to run to the hot button issues of the day. Politics. Religion. Race. All favorites of mine.
I can also be incredibly mundane. Downright boring at times. And maybe I will share that loveliness on this blog too. No matter what I write, I am sure some of you out there will think I am just some nut. I am a harmless one though. Rest assured and read on.....read on.
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