Fashion and Pop Culture

This week in class, we've talked about how pop culture is all inter-connected. Movies represent what is happening in the world in the time period that they are set in; music reflects the trends of the day. Even fiction books portray society.

Music has often been used as a tool for change. During the Civil Rights movement in the United States, music helped to relay messages to the public-at-large. Songs were used to bring people together and lift spirits when things got tough. Similarly, during the Vietnam War protests, mainstream music brought the message of anti-war sentiments and calls to peace throughout the world.

On a less intense level, artists often use their platform to tell the listener what is popular or trend-setting. Sometimes it's scandalous - like in the song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" that was written when it still wasn't very common to wear a bikini. Madonna has listeners "strike a pose" in "Vogue" - a song about a new, underground dance move that mimics super-model and celebrity posing. It also references the famous fashion magazine of the same name. Kanye West drops every name in the fashion industry in his song "Christian Dior Denim Flow."






(Sorry, you'll have to find the Kanye West song on your own).

Assignment:

1. Watch the music videos. Answer the following questions:

                      ++ How do you think Itsy Bitsy might have impacted the swim-wear culture of its time period?
                      ++ Madonna was very controversial in her time. What do you think, according to this     video, made her so controversial?

2. Find two more examples in popular culture - songs, tv, movies - where fashion takes center stage.
 
Publish your two examples in the comment section below. (Please don't just copy your classmates answers! The idea is to find a variety of examples that we can discuss as a class)

Writing Prompt: PASSIONATE

We have been talking about what it means to be passionate.
Look at the picture above of a small man pushing a large boulder up an incline.

How do you think this relates to passion?

Assignment:
Prepare a paragraph of 3-5 sentences that describes how this photo relates to being PASSIONATE.

Publish your paragraph in the comment section below.

What are you passionate about?

"Any rational person would give up, so you gotta love what you do. Cause It's a lot of hard work." 

---Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is considered one of the greatest minds of our times. He was a successful entrepreneur as well as inventing some of the most popular "gadgets." 

Assignment:
Watch the one and a half minute video above and answer the following questions:

1. Why does Jobs think that you must be passionate about what you do?
2. If you don't love what you're doing, what will happen?

3. What has allowed people to persevere in hard times in order to become successful?

Once you are finished asking these three questions (in your notebook is fine), answer the following question in the comment sections:

What are you passionate about?