Masculinity Survey

Masculinity Survey

After looking over the masculinity survey again, I would say that there are things I agree with and disagree with within the results. The top two results, strength and sports, are definitely arguable. In my opinion these were the top results because of how the media portrays masculinity, similar to how the media portrays sexiness. In America men are supposed to be big and strong, a more dominant figure than females in society; or at least that is what we are told. However in my opinion I think that there are much more important characteristics that makes a man masculine. Being able to be a provider for instance is a very important part of masculinity.  Someone who can care for their family and loved ones both financially and emotionally is something that is often overlooked. Yes strength is a very important aspect of masculinity, but there are deeper and more important things that make up a man. The survey results about masculinity are just another example of how the media is the driving force behind people's thinking in the United States, it tells us just what to do and exactly how to go about doing it.

How Times Have Changed

Ten Seconds to Love

I have learned quite a bit in just the few short readings that we have been assigned so far this semester. The article that sticks out the most to me however is the very first thing we were assigned; reading about Pam Anderson and Marilyn Monroe. The article, Ten Seconds to Love, made me realize quite a lot of things. Sure it taught me a little bit about both Monroe and Anderson, and the way they are both portrayed but it taught me about our society here in America. What I learned in this article more than anything else is how much our society has changed over the years. It is pretty clear after reading this article that the way we looked at things and went about things in the 40's and 50's was much different than it is now. I think that it is important we learn about these things because it lets us figure out how our society has developed and changed over the years to give us what we have today.

Reggie Bush forfeits Heisman Trophy

ESPN-Reggie Bush to forfeit Heisman

What has this world come to? I am going to make this short and sweet, but this news really turned me the wrong way.  I'm sure you all know by this time the allegations made against Reggie Bush and the University of Southern California's football team.  Bush received many benefits from the university in exchange for him to attend and play football for USC. Southern California has recently been stripped of all of their victories and National Championships during Bush's playing days.  Even beyond this punishment USC was suspended from post-season play for the next 2 years by the NCAA.  Bush expressed sorrow and embarrassment when being asked about what happened at USC.  In the past few weeks a new topic has come up; whether or not to strip Reggie Bush of his Heisman Trophy.  The Heisman is voted on by a selected committee to determine the best player in college football that year. 

Now i will be the first one to tell you that i agree 100% with everything that was done to the University of Southern California.  The University cheated and deserves to be penalized for what happened, as does Reggie Bush. But do the allegations that have been made take away from what Bush did on the field as a student athlete?  In my opinion this is out of the question.  Bush was by far the best player on the field in his playing days, regardless of what went on off the field.  The committee didnt see it this way in the past week however. It was pretty clear that come wednsday Bush were to be stripped of his Heisman. In doing this, the Hesiman Committee would be completely wiping out the name of one of the greatest college football players of all time.  In order to save face and further embarassment, Bush forfeited his Heisman Trophy on Tuesday afternoon.  Too strong of a punishment for somebody who did so much for the NCAA in his time.

Pornography in the USA

It has become pretty clear to all of us I think, that pornography plays quite a large role in our society.  Porn is everywhere you look.  From the internet, to books, magazines, and movies it has just become another part of an average American's life.  I am not saying in anyway that i agree with how much porn has become apart of our every day lives but i really don't see it changing anytime soon.  Even though it may be morally wrong in some peoples views, pornography does actually benefit a very large group of people. Apart from the people that porn brings a sense of satisfaction to, it also creates jobs.  The porn business creates hundreds of thousands of jobs and that i believe is the main reason it is not going anywhere. Though i do see protester's point of view, this is the USA and if a person wants to watch pornography they have that right.  People who watch porn really aren't harming anyone, unless of course it is being abused.  Though abuse may be a reason some people would like to do away with pornography, that is not a legitimate argument that can be made.  There are legal things that are abused everyday in the United States and nothing is done about it, therefor porn is no different.

Modern Beauty

After all the readings and discussions we have had in class the past two weeks, it has become pretty apparent that our perception of beauty here in America is quite skewed.  In my eyes, and I think in the eyes of many others, beauty presides in originality.  We get so caught up in whatever the media tells us that our nation's view of beauty has become far to generic. Beauty should be viewed different by every individual on their own.  Instead of people doing what appeals to them or what makes them happy, they follow the norm.  What the media says is sexy or beautiful will become the new fad. People change and do things that they wouldn't normally do just to fit in with what everyone else is doing.  It really is sad that we have lost the ability to think for ourselves and do what makes us the most happy, worrying about the thoughts and lifestyles of others over that of our own.