Reality TV

Reality television provides people with an escape, while at the same time offering a hint of realism. It offers an escape in that the situations the people find themselves in are often unrealistic, but the people are real, and not celebrities. This lets the viewer imagine what they would do in similar situations, and perhaps relate to the people on the show. I feel that reality TV can affect people, by giving a skewed view of how one should act to become famous and successful.

Reality television is so successful because it features real people, people we can relate to, and puts them in situations that are entertaining. This allows people to become more invested in the series than they would be in a fictionalized format.

The largest archetype that I see on reality television, is that of the arrogant, self-important, individual. It seems every reality show has these sort of people. This is probably because this personality type is the least desirable for most people, yet entertaining to watch.

Religification

Perhaps the best example of religification comes in the form of sports teams. I think NFL teams are a prime example. Avid enthusiasts for a particular team, for me it's the Kansas City Chiefs, can be described as having an almost religious fervor. The games take place on Sunday, which makes it even more apt for a comparison to religion. Certain star athletes can be seen almost in idolized terms. The coaches can be seen as the religious leaders. When a team is doing bad, people are often told to "keep the faith". Another aspect that makes it similar to religion are the emotions felt during a win, which makes the fans happy, even elated. And a lose, which often equals despair. The people that oppose this "religion" are those that don't like football or sports in general, which is certainly a minority.

Music and Themes of Popular Culture

Music is a very powerful medium through which popular culture is conveyed. As such, I feel that a lot of the concepts we hold today from popular culture can be traced, to some extent, to music. I feel an excellent example of this is the concept linking violence to male masculinity. This is on display in full force in rap music. Rappers talk about violence as a way to solve conflict and get respect. By threatening violence the rappers hope to get across a 'tough guy' image, which too often is associated with being a 'man'.

Country vs. Hip Hop

Country and Hip Hop are often thought of as polar opposites. One seems at place in traditional society, and the other seeks to change and loosen society. At their heart though, both music genres have a common goal. Both seek to relate and speak to the lives of everyday people. Country songs often sing about falling in love, or the love of simplistic life and pleasures. Hip Hop relates to people as well, but often in a different way. It speaks to the struggles of growing up in an urban environment, and seeks to give a voice for those that feel left out of society. The biggest difference in the two is the tones of the two genres, in which country is more light hearted, whereas hip hop can be quite dark.