Do teens really have control over what is cool? Do you, after all of our discussion in class, accept the main argument of Merchants of Cool that corporate interests have hijacked teen culture in order to exploit teens, their labor, and their parents' labor?
I believe that teens do have control over what is cool, because we are the ones that make cool. We all have different ideas and points of view and that is why there is stores and trend for each type of person. I think that Merchants of cool just want to be as cool as teens are, i dont think that they are hijacking the teen culture when they want to know more about it and come up with articles of clothing or articles of interest that are later sold to us. I do believe that is not ok for coorporations to make up their own trends and try to introduce them as cool to teens because that would be a lie that teens dont really believe in and a trend that teens are not really following. I think that for teens to not get caught in these fake trends, they should just be themselves and use what is being provided by the market and by these coorporations to create their own style and be themselves.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
C00L WE ALL LiKE T0 THiNK THAT WE ARE C00L. AND i D0 BELiEVE WE ARE ALL C00L, WE ALL HAVE A DiFFERENT PERCEPTi0N 0N WHAT iS C00L AND i BELiEVE THAT iT C0MES FR0M TAKiNiNG DiFFERENT THiNGS WE SEE EVERYDAY AND TAKiNG iT AS 0UR 0WN 0R ADDiNG 0UR 0WN TWiST T0 S0METHiNG WE SAW. MERCHANTS D0 THE SAME i BELiEVE THEY G0 AR0UND AND C0LLECT iT AND BL0W iT UP REALLY BiG 0N HUGE BiLLB0ARDS AND FULL PAGE ADS 0F WHAT iS HiP AND C00L. YET THE FUNNY THiNG i THiNK iS THAT BY THE TiME iT GETS T0 THE MERCHANT iT iS PLAYED 0UT T0 AT LEAST 0NE TEEN S0 THEN THiS TEEN G0ES 0UT T0 L00K F0R S0METHiNG ELSE THAT iS C00L. 0UR PERCEPTi0N CHANGES EVERYDAY AND iT iS UP T0 US iF WE iNTAKE EVERY SiNGLE THiNG THAT iS THR0WN AT US AND SPEND 0UR M0NEY AND TiME 0N iT.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Merchants of Cool
Do teens really have control over what is cool? Do you, after all of our discussion in class, accept the main argument of Merchants of Cool that corporate interests have hijacked teen culture in order to exploit teens, their labor, and their parents' labor?
I feel teens do have some control of what is cool. Teens make the decison of buying the product and that's what makes the product be advertised. It doesn't matter if an artist is wearing something new, not everyone might like it. Corporates know teens spend money like crazy so they want to do all they can to catch teens attention into buying their product. By gathering teens interest is what makes new products and teens love it and it becomes cool. So teens might not be making the product themselves, but they take part in what is being created.
I feel teens do have some control of what is cool. Teens make the decison of buying the product and that's what makes the product be advertised. It doesn't matter if an artist is wearing something new, not everyone might like it. Corporates know teens spend money like crazy so they want to do all they can to catch teens attention into buying their product. By gathering teens interest is what makes new products and teens love it and it becomes cool. So teens might not be making the product themselves, but they take part in what is being created.
Merchants of Cool...
BLOG: Do teens really have control over what is cool? Do you, after all of our discussion in class, accept the main argument of Merchants of Cool that corporate interests have hijacked teen culture in order to exploit teens, their labor, and their parents' labor?
No, I don't think that teens have control over what is "cool". I do think that the media has more control over what's "in", and it's all because of the simple fact that we're are surrounded by it. When teens see a celebrity rocking the latest phone or accessory, they're gonna go out and buy it as well. These companies view teens as the new target market because of the amount of money they spend every year, and if these teens can't afford something, they're going to run to their parents. Teens spend a big chunk of their time watching TV and surfing the web, and teens can't help but see these advertisements. From poodle skirts and Levi's jeans to leg warmers and parachute pants to baggy jeans and over sized sunglasses, it just goes to show us that a new trend is always right around the corner.
No, I don't think that teens have control over what is "cool". I do think that the media has more control over what's "in", and it's all because of the simple fact that we're are surrounded by it. When teens see a celebrity rocking the latest phone or accessory, they're gonna go out and buy it as well. These companies view teens as the new target market because of the amount of money they spend every year, and if these teens can't afford something, they're going to run to their parents. Teens spend a big chunk of their time watching TV and surfing the web, and teens can't help but see these advertisements. From poodle skirts and Levi's jeans to leg warmers and parachute pants to baggy jeans and over sized sunglasses, it just goes to show us that a new trend is always right around the corner.
H.W.
I found that movie to be very interesting and educational. Even though at times I was confused, over all I got a lot out of it. Sorry I haven't been on in a while.lol. ttyl.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Merchants of cool
I used to think that hollywood, corporations, and entertainers were the ones that would tell teenagers what was cool and what wasn't. After watching this film i realized that corporations find what is cool through teenagers, and then they sell it back to us. Corporate companies search for cool inorder to make millions. It is up to an individual if he/she wants to follow the crowd and buy what corporations want them to buy, because otherwise, teenagers will never win against the marketing. Even if teenagers find a new trend, one that rebels against marketing and corporations, the merchants of cool will find that trend and sell it to the rest of the teenagers to show them what others think is cool; which leads them to making even more money.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Merchants of Cool
Basically these merchants of cool are looking for what is "cool" through everyday teenagers. They are not going to superstars to find out what is cool. The superstars just promote what is cool. When teens see the stars with the latest fashion and the sweetest phones and cars on the market, they have to get them because they see that the stars are the trendsetters. But in reality its average normal teens who are the trendsetters because thats who the merchants go to the find cool.
Homework: Merchants of Cool
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the Blog! Now it’s time to use this space for some real work.
Your homework for this week is to respond to the prompt I have provided below by posting at least one well developed paragraph (P.I.E.) as a comment (just click on “comment” and begin writing or, to be safe, type it in Google docs or using a word processor and then paste it). Before you make your comment, read what other have said and make some reference to them, either to agree or disagree with them or to go into more depth.
Prompt for this week:
After watching the documentary Merchants of Cool, consider some of the arguments the film makes about popular culture and the origins of “cool.” What makes cool cool? What did you learn about where these trends or patterns you follow (and pay for!) come from? What surprised you?
What is your reaction to this new knowledge about “cool”? Is cool still cool to you? Do you feel like your culture is being attacked? Do you feel it continues to have the same value it did? Are you angry? Are you numb? Do you care?
Be sure to check back in to see how others are responding to your comments.
Welcome to the Blog! Now it’s time to use this space for some real work.
Your homework for this week is to respond to the prompt I have provided below by posting at least one well developed paragraph (P.I.E.) as a comment (just click on “comment” and begin writing or, to be safe, type it in Google docs or using a word processor and then paste it). Before you make your comment, read what other have said and make some reference to them, either to agree or disagree with them or to go into more depth.
Prompt for this week:
After watching the documentary Merchants of Cool, consider some of the arguments the film makes about popular culture and the origins of “cool.” What makes cool cool? What did you learn about where these trends or patterns you follow (and pay for!) come from? What surprised you?
What is your reaction to this new knowledge about “cool”? Is cool still cool to you? Do you feel like your culture is being attacked? Do you feel it continues to have the same value it did? Are you angry? Are you numb? Do you care?
Be sure to check back in to see how others are responding to your comments.
Monday, February 18, 2008
SOFTBALL!!!!
Ya wanna know what catches my attention....... SOFTBALL SEASON!!! And that's what I'm in right now. We have a HUGE game tomorrow and I'm stoked for it. Anyway, if any of you wanna swing by and watch that would be great. The game is at 3:00 tomorrow. Ttyl.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Hello everybody.
My name is Lusvin but you can call me chespi or chops either one is fine. Well I guess I have to tell you what's get my attention, but to be honest there are many things that are getting my attention right now. One of them is school because I want to improve my grades. But I hate English especially writing essays or following many stupid rules. Well that's me.
See ya in class
My name is Lusvin but you can call me chespi or chops either one is fine. Well I guess I have to tell you what's get my attention, but to be honest there are many things that are getting my attention right now. One of them is school because I want to improve my grades. But I hate English especially writing essays or following many stupid rules. Well that's me.
See ya in class
hello
Hi my name is Austen, this is my first time using this blog thing and it is confusing me. This is my introducing myself to everyone post. I guess I'll post again for that other assignment we have to do later.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
WHAT'S GOIN ON?
I haven't left a blog in a while so...... what the hell. I just wanted to see what's going on in the English world. That's about all I have to say right now.lol. Ttyl.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
My Entry
My name is Juan and this is my second semester at CSM. Im planning on majoring on business or criminal justice.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Introduction and Discussions
Hello Bloggers!
This blog needs your attention now! It's not an option to wait on the sidelines. Participate or perish!
If you haven't already, please return to the previous prompt and introduce yourself to your fellow participants.
Next, come back this one an post a paragraph (at least) in response to the following question:
Is one a sucker if all that "entertaining" stuff--football, music, videogames, American Idol, etc.--gets in the way of one's participation in this democracy? Write what you really think.
This blog needs your attention now! It's not an option to wait on the sidelines. Participate or perish!
If you haven't already, please return to the previous prompt and introduce yourself to your fellow participants.
Next, come back this one an post a paragraph (at least) in response to the following question:
Is one a sucker if all that "entertaining" stuff--football, music, videogames, American Idol, etc.--gets in the way of one's participation in this democracy? Write what you really think.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Hello
Alright, so Proffesor Maxwell wanted us to write on this and talk about ourselves, so imma talk about myself...im Bryan T. Iwent to San Mateo Last year, i just came this spring semester from San Jose State. I red-shirted at SJSU and now i am going to play at CSM...I go to school full time, play ball and work full time...i work at a gym rite now and in a month imma be a personal trainer...im easy to get along wit and i like to talk haha....thats me...
Friday, February 1, 2008
Hey Everyone.....
Mr. Maxwell asked everyone to tell him a little about themselves....so I guess I'll do that. My name is Chloe' but my nickname is SCUDD and that's what I'll be going by on here. Let's see, I play for the CSM softball team and I just moved down here at the end of August. I moved here from the small county of Tuolumne and I lived in the small town of Mi Wuk.... just to make things a little more understandable, I moved here from the mountains.lol. Anyway, I've been through a lot in these past 5 months. I've been ill many times and had many things go horribly wrong.... even though I have met some pretty cool people and have gained many new friends. Well, that's about all I can think of to say right now so, I guess I'll ttyl.
Oh and one more thing.... the CSM softball team is having a game Thurs. @ CSM, so you should come and support our team. Peace Out.
Oh and one more thing.... the CSM softball team is having a game Thurs. @ CSM, so you should come and support our team. Peace Out.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Presidential Lies
What a coincidence! I found this article in SFGate right after our discussion (in the 9:00am class) about George Washington and cherry trees. Look how much our presidents seem to lie. I think they would prefer to say they are "protecting the American people from the truth."
Can you trust the government? When do you feel your suckered by a government official or a political speech or action?
Post comments as comments.
Tim
Can you trust the government? When do you feel your suckered by a government official or a political speech or action?
Post comments as comments.
Tim
Monday, January 28, 2008
Introduce yourselves
Hello!
I'm Tim Maxwell, your enthusiastic guide to the joys of college writing. I will be participating only occasionally in YOUR blog space, providing prompts or inserting my own thoughts when I can't help but join in.
Think of this as a place for conversation, not just monologues. You are REQUIRED to post at least a healthy paragraph or two each week.
For this week, you will need to introduce yourselves. Do so by posting a comment to this blog entry.
What is your name?
What gets YOUR attention?
What are your feelings about writing?
See you here and in class.
Tim
I'm Tim Maxwell, your enthusiastic guide to the joys of college writing. I will be participating only occasionally in YOUR blog space, providing prompts or inserting my own thoughts when I can't help but join in.
Think of this as a place for conversation, not just monologues. You are REQUIRED to post at least a healthy paragraph or two each week.
For this week, you will need to introduce yourselves. Do so by posting a comment to this blog entry.
What is your name?
What gets YOUR attention?
What are your feelings about writing?
See you here and in class.
Tim
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