Reference no: EM133849207

Assignment: Geographic Information

Popular culture is often discussed in a way that trivializes all of the things we consume, the activities we enjoy, and the way we live our daily lives. While there is a certain truth to the notion that mass culture activities (like eating at McDonald's or watching Netflix) are homogenizing and certainly link people together in less significant ways, it does not in any way mean that coming home after work and watching TV with friends or family is unimportant. In fact, many things that get lumped into ‘pop culture' become parts of ‘cult favorites' or some other ‘subculture'. Not only that, what we like, what we do, and where we go can tell us a lot not only about ourselves but about our various cultural backgrounds at large; for example, watching football games on Sunday is not only a uniquely American activity that connects us with millions of people in North America, but it also connects us with others around the world. It puts us in connection with networks of fans of favorite teams and it can connect us to our local community by the sports bars, community centers or churches we go to and the people we meet.

For this paper, I'd like you to analyze some of your favorite interests, some of the activities you prefer and some of the places you've lived/been during your life and explain how this has shaped your personal identity separately from your family customs. For example, while watching TV with your family may seem like a ‘family custom' it is only in the past 50 years or so that this activity became commonplace. Instead this would constitute part of the emergence of a ‘pop culture' identity. So, when analyzing your personal identities, please remember to be careful to explain in detail why you do the things you do/are the way you are as it relates to your personal identities (remember Chapter 6 lecture). Additionally, think about and discuss the way globalization has had an impact on your identity development.

The structure of the paper should be a five-paragraph essay.

I. Introduction: Discuss your general sense of how you fit into the pop culture world.

II. High School Activity: Discuss a high school activity that you continue to participate in or desire to do, why you did it, how it relates to a larger culture of the activity (whether its sport, band, dance, or other cultural phenomenon), and how this has shaped and shapes you as a person.

III. Brand or Product: Discuss one mainstream brand or product that you identify with, own or desire. Explain why this particular brand or product matters to you and how and why you came to associate with it, as well as why the brand or product matters in a larger cultural context.

IV. Pop Culture "Phenomenon": Discuss one part of pop culture that you identify with ranging from a the car you drive, the food you eat, the places you go, or an influencer, social media account or YouTuber you follow and even just some kind of media like a TV Show/Movie/Music/Art that you engage in actively (read: something you spend more time with than just a couple hours a day in the background while you do homework). Explain where and how you participate in this, what value this adds to your life, how this person or thing is a part of pop culture, and why you feel it/they matter. Get the instant assignment help.

i. Personal Identity: If you feel that there is a part of your identity (including but not limited to sex/gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality, job/career, class/SES, or difference in ability) that is more important to you than the above listed options,you can discuss those as well by answering the statements above. They may even overlap! You may follow a person or movement that exemplifies your identity.

V. Conclusion: Discuss in-detail with several supporting sentences based on class material how globalization has impacted one of these three things (or a fourth choice) in your life. Specifically address what cultures around the world these connect you with and how it enriches your life (this is not optional, give specific examples).

VI. Attach a photo of your essential self by including items you carry with you every day or feel represent you laid out on a table/flat surface.*

Map: Local Place Map

This second part also requires a personal mapping exercise that depicts your experiences and perception of Stillwater or your hometown. To do this properly you must read: selected writings of Kevin Lynch from his book Image of the City which will be provided to you on Canvas.

Using a hand-drawn perceptual map, draw either your hometown or Stillwater and point out multiple significant features of why that place is important to your personal cultural identity. The requirements for this paper include:

I. Identify at least 3 each of the following and explain their importance in the paper or on the map (see Lynch 1960 for further information).

a. Paths
b. Edges
c. Districts
d. Nodes
e. Landmarks

II. Identify any additional information that may be relevant to the understanding of this place (such as people, size, distance - none of which does needs to be scaled accurately). Focus on the cultural elements you feel strongly relate to your identity (such as a football stadium, a fitness center, OSU, your high school, your house, etc.)

III. Include a legend that explains the important features (including whether a point is supposed to be a node or a landmark, a line is supposed to be a path or an edge, etc.).

IV. This map should be neat and as detailed as possible (in-color, if you prefer). It should add to the overall explanation of your paper and serve as a useful tool in assisting your geographical imagination and narrative of your personal cultural identity. Have fun with this!