Weekly Analysis 4

Women have been avoiding lifting weight in fear of getting bulky. This is because women worry gaining too much muscles as well as looking big. According to Tamayo (2011), women should realize they will not be in a position of lifting heavier weights like men who usually lift 100 pounds. Weight lifting is good for women in different ways (Tamayo, 2011).

Firstly, the website explained that weight lifting burns a lot of fat compared to cardio machines. According to the website, Penn state had a research on three dieters group whereby the first group had no exercise, second aerobic exercise only and the third aerobic exercise and weight training (Tamayo, 2011). They all lost 21 pounds but the third group that engaged themselves in lifting shed six more pounds than those who did not.

Secondly, more calories will be burnt which is a very good way of losing weight, the website reported. Also, the more muscles gained is a result of burning more fat compared to cardio. In addition, there is an increase in metabolism with weight lifters compared to cardio (2011).

Finally, weight training helps you feel less stressed overall. According to Tamayo (2011), studies show that in stressful situations, the blood pressure levels of people with more muscle return to normal the fastest. Furthermore, the fittest people generally have lower levels of stress hormones than less fit people.

The number one thing women should take note of is that, you will not get big and bulky unless you want to. “Women cannot naturally get that big...however you will gain muscle, strength, confidence, and one heck of a body”.

Ritual and Stereotype

  Rituals are seen as a pattern of behavior which is inherited to descendants (2005). There are several rituals that are observed in our society and an example is baptism which is a religious ritual.

Baptism is a ritual which makes you part of a specific community and several religions baptize its followers in different ways. The type of baptism being talked about here is the Christianity baptism. According to Christianity website, “When someone decides to “get right with God,” part of the “outward sign” of accepting Jesus as their savior is being baptized”. Some of the baptism is done at the church premises others also go to a lake and do immersion three times. During my baptism at church, I was immersed in a swimming pool three times which followed with prayers. Also, baptism can be done at church as early as a baby. Churches who baptize babies are mostly the catholic churches. Older people decide to baptize to be part of the church they attend and also to have good relationship with God.

            There are several rituals that are observed in my family. During thanksgiving weekend all family members meet at the same location in Frederick, Maryland to cook and have fun. It is the time in the year that all the family members meet, and enjoy each other as well as sharing ideas. The family cooks a particular meal at this time of the year. This is the only time in the year that the food that is cooked is consistent compared to other family functions.

            A ritual I will like to develop for my family and the society is to encourage everyone to take vitamins every day. Vitamins are known to be a good source of nutritional substitute and it help with building and helping the body to grow.

In conclusion, rituals are life time events and in general done in significant times for people.  

Weekly Analysis 3

The newly-crowned Miss South Carolina 22-year-old Bree Boyce lost over 110 pounds during several years before winning this month's pageant (2011).

ABC news website reports according to Boyce, when she was aged seventeen she realized she was 234 pounds and size eighteen jeans (2011). She knew she was not healthy and after receiving a warning from a doctor she noted that was her turnaround point to change her life style. Boyce quickly lost 64 pounds after the warning (2011). Because, Boyce had dreams and aspirations she knew she being unhealthy would not help her to meet them.

Bree Boyce recent interview on the today show, she was asked what was going on in her head when her name was called as the winner of the pageant. According to ABC news Boyce gushed,

"I have no words. I just thought to myself, I did it. I did it all on my own. I did it all for myself and I'm just so thankful to have this platform to share my success story with everyone across the world. I like to tell people I did not choose it, but it chose me. And a lot of people ask if I would take back the past but I wouldn't because I wouldn't have this amazing story to share with others."

Boyce used the traditional way to lose this weight by cooking herself and exercising daily (2011). And during the interview, she said her experience of her being an obese person and now with her at this level she is thankful; she will use the new platform as Miss South Carolina to educate other people.

ICON ANALYSIS

The three contemporary icons I have chosen to write on are Elvis Aaron Presley, Bob Marley and Muhammed Ali. All these people are universal icons. Elvis Presley falls under the rock and roll category in the music industry. Bob Marley was a reggae musician, while Muhammed Ali was a boxer and was very successful during his time. All the three icons named have either made their marks in history as well as influence on people.

Elvis Aaron Presley was born in 1935 and was known to be first musical megastar of the rock and roll era until his premature death, according to NNB website. At the early stages in life, Presley started singing in a Pentecostal church in Mississippi-Alabama. At early as ten years of age, Elvis Presley received a second prize award at a Fair and Dairy Show. As time went on, Presley became exposed to different forms of opportunities to build on his talent. NNB website reports, Presley increased in popularity and he had positive response with each release that came out. Presley had international recognition due to his talent and fame. He changed the style of music and culture during his time. Presley music had influence on people as well as his style of dance, clothing and attitude was seen as embodiments of rock and roll (2011). This really represents icon in popular culture.

            Bob Marley was Singer, musician, songwriter born on February 6, 1945, in Jamaica (2011). Bob Marley helped introduce reggae music to the world and remains one of its most beloved artists to this day. He sold over 20 million records and in 1994 and Marley is still popular after his death more than 25 years (Marley, 2011). According to newser website, a first Bob Marley statue in Europe was mounted in a small village in Serbia as a symbol of peace to Balkans. This portrays how iconic Bob Marley is in popular culture.

            Muhammed Ali is one of greatest boxers ever. He was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942 but later changed his name. Muhammad Ali was boastful and he symbolized the black pride.  "I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round. ”says Ali. He had his own style and his career really progressed.

 Based on his commitment to boxing, he won the World Heavyweight Boxing championship three times as well as the North American Boxing Federation championship and an Olympic gold medal (2011). Despite the disability, he remains a beloved and active public figure. Muhammed Ali is a universal icon in the pop culture world.

            In conclusion, all these three icons have had impact on the pop culture world and are very symbolic.

References

Elvis Presley. (2011). Retrieved on June 8, 2011 from http://www.nndb.com/people/363/000024291/

Kilbey, J. (2011). Serbs erect bob Marley peace statue. Retrieved from on June 8, 2011

Marley, R. (2011). Bob Marley biography. Retrieved on June 8, 2011 from http://www.biography.com/articles/Bob-Marley-9399524?part=3

Muhammad Ali biography. (2011). Retrieved on June 8, 2011 from http://www.biographyonline.net/sport/muhammad_ali.html

Weekly Written Analysis 2 - Royal Couple Visit California

         Britain’s new royal couple arrived in Southern California on Friday July 08, 2011 for an official visit after a recent visit to Canada.  According to CNN Los Angeles, the Palace officials say the couple will, “support the interests of the United Kingdom through the prism of the royal couple’s interest.”The couple attended some already scheduled events which were within the three days of their visit to Southern California. Some of the events the Duke and Duchess of  Cambridge  attended were to the British trade and filmmakers, raising money for theP rince’s charity at a polo match as well as a visit to the under privileged in down town Los Angeles. In addition, the couple ended their trip with a visit to a war veteran’s job fair.
            As part of the two day event, Prince William participated in a polo competition in Carpinteria, California, on Saturday afternoon (2011). Prince William scored four goals in the final game and his team won the match. His team received sterling silver and gold trophy.

 According to Los Angeles (CNN), before Prince William and his wife Catherine left Los Angeles to return to London on Sunday, they got their hands dirty with paint and putty at a children's art center and shook hands with military veterans looking for work as well as their spouses and recruiters from hundred and fifty companies.

Reference

Duke, A. (2011, July 10). Royal couple visits California. Retrieved on July 10, 2011 from http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/10/royal.visit/index.html?iref=obinsite

Weekly Written Analysis 1

Movies can provide entertainment and it gives the viewers the chance to reflect on what is being shown as well as understanding the depths of the human heart. Nowadays, it is not common to find a movie that provides all the important things that portrays a good quality movie. In 2008, a movie titled Slumdog Millionaire received recognition for its innovation and multi –layered approach which was in line with popular culture.

The storyline was how an Indian teen became a contestant on the Hindi version of "Who wants to be A Millionaire?” It shows various times and lifestyles in India. Upon watching the movie, my perception of the movie is that, the movie gave me the chance to have a feel of a real informative movie which had a good story telling about two young boys and a girl and their transition of growing up over some period of time. The movie showed how the slums in India became modernized in some years later. Slumdog Millionaire explored the romantic love in a postmodern world. The life in the slums in the movie, contrasts the new world of globalization.

In conclusion, this movie has all the transition of how the slums in India became modernized within a period of time. This portrays popular culture.

Popular Culture

As the name sounds popular culture is derived from two words popular and culture. My interpretation of popular culture is the social life that goes on and shared by people with a common knowledge in a society.

According to University of Tampere department of translation studies, the definition is:

"Popular culture" may be defined as the differing forms of expression and identity which are characteristic of a particular society (whether local, regional, national, racial or ethnic, to mention only a few of the different definitions of "society" itself). Such forms of expression are how the "people" in such societies interact with each other; collectively, they form the "culture" via which the people identify themselves and their relations with each other”.

Popular culture in the business environment is important. Businesses have the responsibility to follow the direction of how the present world is advancing in technology. In this present moment, technology is very effective in daily activities and it has a greater impact on the business world. There are different modes of communication and businesses must be familiarized with these different types in order to reach the mainstream.

An example of popular culture is sports. Sports are a popular culture due to the fact that, it is played as well as watched by all social classes. Some sporting activities are NBA, NFL, Olympics, and etcetera. I have chosen sports because it is important in everyday living. Children are encouraged to be active daily in any sporting activity as well as adults. When it comes to the medical world, everyone is expected to be involved in a sporting activity in order to be healthy. According to psychology website, “participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity affects an individual's psychological development, health, and well-being throughout the life span”.