Rachel

I watched Shrek yesterday for the first time in about two years and it was more relatable than I thought. It's funny, nostalgic and has so many fairytale crossovers such as Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, Goldilocks & The Three Bears and Pinocchio. This was one of my favorite movies growing up and the comedy, especially between Shrek and Donkey, and the soundtrack never gets old. I never realized how many pop culture references were in this movie like Shrek referencing Babe by saying “That’ll do, Donkey. That’ll do” when they crossed the bridge and I think that makes the movie more enjoyable and entertaining for audience interaction

It still baffles me that this movie is rated PG because of how many suggestive innuendos that luckily went above my head when I was a kid, but now that I am currently in my 20s, I am old enough to understand the kind of references that are made in the film. I have been wanting to watch this for a good while and it made me feel like I was reliving my childhood

Shrek was released in 2001 and is about an ogre whose swamp is taken over by fairytale creatures, so along with his sidekick and later best friend Donkey, Shrek makes a deal with Lord Farquaad to go on a quest and save Princess Fiona from the castle in order for Shrek to get his swamp back. While on this quest, Shrek and Fiona fall in love. This movie demonstrates themes of friendship, appearance and fighting social norms. The movie also subtly references Beauty and the Beast for Shrek and Fiona’s relationship

There is more identification in this movie than I realized. For example, one of the things I discovered about watching this movie now versus watching it at a young age is seeing how Shrek seems more relatable. He is very antisocial and does not want any social interaction, which explains why he lives in a remote swamp, and I think it makes viewers relate to him even more with introvert and extrovert traits or quizzes that we see online today. The "stupid, ugly ogre" scene hit me hard as I saw how it affected Shrek and how it was the sole reason why he wanted to be closed off from the outside world and valued solitude. This scene never hit me hard as a kid, but looking at it now, it is a reminder that words can hurt. This is also the scene that fits vulnerability as he opened up to Donkey, which forms a trusting bond between them

Fiona is the epitome of a non-traditional princess. She goes against the stereotype that princesses are supposed to be all bubbly, talk to animals and strictly appear as a "damsel in distress". Instead, her appearance focuses more on girl power. While she does embody a regular princess with her dress and her tiara and her search for true love's kiss, her personality is assertive, independent and tomboy. One scene in particular is when she fights Robin Hood and his men. It was so funny to see Shrek and Donkey's reactions afterwards

The Shrek and Fiona parallels get me every time and I think that is one of the ways that makes the film, and the characters, more relatable. Shrek is vehemently against love or fairytale romance and Fiona dreams of the perfect first encounter with her true love. It is so funny because I used to be the same way

Shrek does not have a filter for a 2000s movie and that’s what it funny and iconic. The parodic fairytale characters also make a perfect addition and representation of pop culture. Shrek becomes so well-known in pop culture not only through the franchise, but through memes and references from the movie (e.g., “I’m making waffles!” & “Onions have layers”) as well as the soundtrack. I would recommend Shrek for nostalgia, if you’re looking for a spoof or satire film and of course that it is a classic

It is streaming on Peacock if you’re interested

I'm so excited to go see Shrek 5 next year. Although it looks different production wise than the original films, I think it would still be worth a watch

My blog response for this week is about Anna's (@annarobbiew-blog) perspective on reality TV. As someone who does not watch reality TV and has seen segments on social media, they are amusing and entertaining, but is 100% drama motivated and it is a great fit for this kind of genre. They are supposed to reel us in and get us invested in the drama, no matter the topic. To go beyond the drama stereotype that depicts reality TV, I also think that it is great to have reality TV as a way to get to know people and their personal lives

I'm not a huge fan of reality TV because of all of the drama that is circulated into one episode or one season. I feel like the storylines are either overrated, boring or confusing to get someone's point across, say a love triangle for example, but it is a huge staple in the pop culture world. I do make exceptions for shows like Survivor because those kinds of shows blend reality with competition and drama and it takes away a lot of drama focused energy. I find it kind of ironic that I do not like reality shows because I am always up for good gossip lol

I have heard some reviews on Love Island, especially for the newest season, and you make a good point questioning if shows like these are real or not. Even though I do not watch a lot of reality TV, and that I barely watch TV at all, I can agree that a lot of shows these days are scripted just to gain more audience engagement or for advertisement purposes. It is all about standing in front of a camera, looking pretty and walking away once you say your piece, but reality TV likes to omit what happens behind the cameras for the sake of image and reputation. I think of a similar thing when I watch videos on apps like TikTok that look real, like reenacting skits about home life or celebrating the holidays, but I question videos like these because part of me think that it is funny, part of me think that it is based on a true story and part of me think that it is for money

The only time I take TikTokers seriously is when I would often come across videos like "get ready with me" or "storytime" where people start the videos crying. It might be because I am an overly sensitive and emotional person and I always feel bad when someone is upset, but I often question the reality vs. scripting idea without questioning someone's morality. I feel like TikTok is more of a safe place for people to share their stories, and I never post on there, but I can see a similarity in real vs. scripting between social media apps and television shows

I will always find Reddit posts on TikTok that look "real" depending on what stories I hear, but at the same time although they are usually anonymous, I think they are making up stories as they go along for advertisement. It can be a challenge to believe stories like these

Anna, I enjoyed reading your blog about reality TV. I think you made some great points. Great post!

I thought that I would make a blog about something a little different than my usual content and that would be the store Hot Topic. I mean it does count towards my music taste. or some of it lol

Hot Topic is me and my best friend's go-to store. Every time we go shopping, go out to lunch or both, we always have to plan a trip to Hot Topic and we often spend more money than we should lol, but it is so worth it. One of our favorite things to do is unboxings, where we will buy a blind box of collectibles of pins, bag clips or mini plushies from brands like Five Nights at Freddy's, Hello Kitty or Squishmallows, and open them once we leave the store. This creates a bond between us because of our taste in music, television and other pop culture moments that we know and love.

My favorite part about going to Hot Topic is looking at all of the pins because they are so entertaining and worth collecting. Some are memes, some are cute little animals to match holiday themes like Halloween, they have almost everything. I bought some a while back that I will have to share with you all at the end of the blog

Hot Topic has been around since 1989. It is a store that has almost everything that you can imagine: T-shirts of bands and pop culture graphics, pop culture memorabilia (clothes, hair clips, pajamas, purses, etc.) from franchises such as Hello Kitty and Sanrio, SpongeBob, Disney, Pokémon, Funko Pops, Marvel and so much more. It is not like a regular department store. In a way, it is a glorified upgrade of a comic book store

When some people think of Hot Topic, all they could think of is this dark, goth and emo imagery surrounding the title and atmosphere of the store, that it is supposed to be a dark, scary and sinister place. I think that really fits more with a 90s and 2000s vibe especially for the emo music wave of the 2000s. I promise that Hot Topic is not that scary at all. In reality, it is a friendlier nature like any other store

Pop culture is what makes this store huge because they will bring so many characters or iconic pop culture moments from movies, TV shows or other forms of media, especially for Funko Pops. They’ll have Funko Pops of different characters like Cher from Clueless and Snow White from the live action movie that was recently released and celebrities like Freddie Mercury from Queen

The band t-shirts would include bands like Slipknot, Panic! At the Disco, My Chemical Romance and Ghost and can also include other merchandise like book bags, pajamas, jewelry and Funko Pops. You can have a variety of music genres like heavy metal, rock and pop and the band tees vary from Fleetwood Mac to Melanie Martinez.

They also sell merchandise with different memes that can come in not only pins or buttons, but on t-shirts. One of my favorite memes that I recently discovered during my last Hot Topic trip was a t-shirt of Bella, Jacob and Edward from Twilight stuck in a heart with the words "it's complicated" to reference the New Moon movie. Very good pop cultural moment in my opinion

Speaking of a really good pop cultural moment, I am a fan of the "I'm just a girl" meme because it is relatable as someone who is actually a girl. I found a license plate cover of the same meme. It has the teary-eyed hamster with a pink bow and it is out of this world. It is a shame that I did not buy it

Hot Topic is more about a store where you can find yourself, expand your music taste and just have fun. I would recommend this store because it is great for searching for a band tee or any kind of pop culture collectibles. I currently have my eye on Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors” t-shirt that I either keep forgetting to buy or can’t afford it for right now. Overall, Hot Topic is a great store and I can never not enjoy going there

"I'm just a girl" license plate cover

Today is the first day of my birth month, so I thought that I would make a blog about the movie "Sixteen Candles". My birthday is not for a couple of weeks and I thought that this movie would fit the occasion. I saw "Sixteen Candles" a few years ago when I fell down a 1980s pop culture rabbit hole, but never got around to watching the full movie until today. it's funny, nostalgic and one of the movies that defined 1980s culture

Released in 1984, "Sixteen Candles" tells the story of a socially awkward and emotionally angst high school sophomore named Samantha, who goes by Sam in the movie. Sam's 16th birthday is overshadowed by her sister's, Ginny, wedding and it leads to her entire family strictly focusing on the wedding that they forget Sam's birthday. Sam has dreamed of spending her sweet 16 with her crush, the cool boy Jake who is a senior and barely knows her existence, while rejecting the school geek freshman Ted who has developed an interest in her. Eventually, Jake notices Sam while at a school dance and tries to get her attention. It's a little similar to the "She's All That" plot, but without making a bet to get the girl

"Sixteen Candles" explores not only the importance of birthdays, but it also covers teenage angst, sibling dynamics/rivalry, high school drama, first love/crush, interaction with different cliques, reputation and image

A moment that really upsets me in this movie was the joint celebrations between Sam's birthday and Ginny's wedding. Ginny is the self-absorbed older sister who wants to be the center of attention and upstage her own sister's birthday. And also claims that Sam is being selfish for trying to sabotage her wedding day

Emotions run high before a big commitment like a wedding and Sam's feelings are absolutely valid. She dreamed of the perfect sweet 16 with Jake, her spotlight is taken away without getting so much as a "happy birthday", she is hurt after seeing Jake and his girlfriend Caroline together, she loses her room since some of her family comes to town for Ginny's wedding and that overwhelmingly consumes her. One bad day has been summarized into an hour and a half movie

Birthdays are supposed to be a celebration for reaching a new age, a new chapter in your life that deserves to be remembered. At least her family acknowledged their mistakes before it was too late and without spoilers, Sam was able to have the day she wanted at the end

I thought that it was really jaw dropping to watch Jake realize that Sam was basically the kind of girl he had been looking for the whole time. Jake and Caroline are not the definition of a perfect couple because Caroline has the vain, insensitive and party girl personality while Jake, who presents the duality of a cool boy and a sweetheart, is looking for somebody who will love and appreciate him. Good for him for realizing his worth and breaking up with Caroline

I have had a similar experience where I had to "share" my birthday much to my chagrin, also known as letting my little cousins help me open my presents and blow out my birthday candles to let them participate since they were younger, but it's safe to say that I have never had a bad birthday experience like Sam. I believe that everyone should have their own moment in the spotlight

I would recommend this movie not only because it is an 80s classic or if you are interested in 80s culture like me (e.g., fashion, posters, makeup, etc.) I would recommend it for family dynamics, birthdays, the first love experience and if you just want to have a laugh

It is on HBO Max if you are interested in watching

Left to Right: Ted, Sam and Jake

I am bringing back 1980s pop culture to talk about "Simply Irresistible" by Robert Palmer, which is one of my favorite songs. For those that don't know, Robert Palmer is a singer with combined music types of pop, rock and soul. He is also the guy with a suave imagery of wearing suits and is always surrounded by beautiful women in his music videos who look like they are wearing five pounds of makeup.

"Simply Irresistible" would be my favorite song to the point that it is in my car playlist and I would consider this my walk-out song if I played sports. I would listen to Robert Palmer while doing my statistics homework and his music is so catchy that I do not know when to take a break and listen to other artists. Also, I cannot help but think of "American Psycho" every time I hear this song lol.

"Simply Irresistible" is from Robert's 1988 album "Heavy Nova" as the leading track. It is a guitar heavy love song with lyrics that strikingly resemble a ballad, but the purpose of the album is to combine heavy metal and bossa nova music. My favorite lyric from this song is "she's a craze you'd endorse" without hesitation because the style and arrangement in his songs are so good.

The target audience to "Simply Irresistible" is towards a woman who the author cannot get enough of. The author claims that this said woman looks beautiful enough that she is just irresistible. The author is instantly drawn to her beauty and to her charm that reaches to the point that he cannot resist her or avoid her by putting his heart and soul into the use of adjective like invincible, inscrutable and irreversible. This song speaks as more than a limerence kind of context. This is more of an emotional reflection of the author's attraction towards this woman with lyrics like "she's a natural law, and she leaves me in awe". It does speak the reality of falling in love, but it is very well thought out feelings.

The woman fits more than the normal standards to where the author questions her existence (e.g., "how can it be permissible?" & "that kind of love is mythical") to imply that she is out of the author's league and is willing to spend every dime he has on her because he is so in love (e.g., "she's so fine, there's no telling where the money went")

Given the nature of how the 1980s were shaped, the kind of imagery that Robert had was criticized as grounds for objectification, but it was identified as the norm in this certain time period. If this kind of imagery were to exist in current media, it would be considered a no-no. Although Robert loved beautiful women and they are in a lot of his music videos, I do not think he was sexist in the slightest. He was simply following mainstreams of 1980s pop culture like everyone else in the music field. He was very attractive in his prime, so I can't say that I blame women for being crazy about him.

Sadly, Robert passed away from a heart attack in 2003. I would have loved to attend one of his concerts, but the fact that he is no longer here breaks my heart. I still listen to his music to appreciate the legacy that he has left for his fans. Anytime I recommend 80s artists, he would be one of them. Like I mentioned about Sting in some of my previous blogs, Robert Palmer is also the epitome of a songwriting genius

Here is a link to the song if you're interested! See you next time

My next blog response will be Sarah’s (@sarahgalatas) post about Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is one of the best movies of the 90s. I have seen it maybe once or twice and I still love it. It has a wonderful soundtrack, a great storyline and just a great movie overall. I have seen several of Julia Roberts's movies and this would have to be one of her best roles. I have a strong appreciation for movies such as these, whether from the 90s or today, for touching on social issues like gender and social status because of how it is represented in the media

I agree how judgment is portrayed in this movie and it is still upsetting to watch the boutique scene at times even though it is solely fictional. The way that the sales lady automatically assumed that Vivian is of the lower class based on her appearance is just sickening and she really didn't deserve that. It fits the "never judge a book by its cover" and "what goes around comes around" vibe, especially for the "Big Mistake. Huge" scene that follows right after.

While on the "Big Mistake" scene, it is so empowering because of Vivian’s comeback. It serves as a reminder that even though Vivian might not be as financially stable as the sales lady, she is like any regular person wanting to go shopping. Karma definitely hit the sales lady hard once she saw the bags. This is where the “what goes around comes around” idea stands. I love love the shopping scene and for Vivian standing up for herself. That is probably one of the best scenes in the movie.

I am all for Vivian's personality. She just has that bubbly, energetic and carefree spirit in a kind of way that she is unbothered with the world around her. She may not have the ideal career and might lack class from the get-go, but it does not stop her from being herself. She is also so full of life and gives very main character energy without the “it’s my world and you’re just living in it” concept. I have a similar personality with the exception that I’m not as assertive as she is like in the “big mistake” scene. I am too non-confrontational to pull a move like that

Edward, on the other hand, sets the bar high. Sure, he may be a wealthy businessman and is emotionally distant like you mentioned, but just the way that he sees Vivian as more than an escort really boosted his character development. Every piece of media that I've seen involving a male character in a business occupation, television or a film, they tend to be arrogant and full of themselves, but Edward did a complete 180 by defying that cinematic stereotype.

He and Vivian have the kind of relationship that is more than about the "I can fix her/him" and "I changed because of her" ideology and that the way he feels about her is more than lust. Their relationship also sends the message that there are always flaws and that relationships do not have to be on a fairytale basis.

They have great chemistry without a doubt

Sarah, I really enjoyed your review on Pretty Woman. I look forward to reading more of your blogs!

I have been on a roll by talking about some of the albums that I listen to, so I thought why not make a post about a song? The one in particular is "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. I would not consider myself a Swiftie and a lot of my friends and some family members are, but I appreciate her music and will listen to it from time to time. Every time I hear this song, I always think of watching the proposals from her concerts, which I will address later in this post.

The other day, I was having lunch with my boyfriend and his parents when I heard "Love Story" from the restaurant's speakers. It was faint because of the noise level, but it was still worth the listen. Not to mention that it was such a unique experience because I usually hear more recent Taylor Swift songs dating back to "Reputation" or "Red", so it brought some nostalgia to the table. I enjoy Taylor's music when she was in her country era, say early 2010s, and had to have her "Speak Now" album because my cousin constantly played it. I ended up getting the album for my 10th birthday though.

"Love Story" is a song from her 2008 album "Fearless". "Love Story" speaks out as a narrative by sharing your perspective about the experience of falling in love after meeting somebody that could be your person. The song also contains a modern-day Romeo & Juliet twist with a theme of forbidden love and fairytale imagery, especially with the lyrics like "stay away from Juliet" and "please don't go". In comparison to Romeo & Juliet itself, the tone of the song combines lightheartedness and somber. For a song in the time where 2000s music tends to have more guitar work, it fits an upbeat tune. It is the perfect kind of music to set the scene for storytelling and not the kind of love song that is made out to be a cliché.

This song also goes beyond the "I saw you and thought you were cute" speech or immediate attraction like how certain love stories can go. There is a more emotional and reminiscent side that involves the narration of meeting your loved one for the very first time without thinking that there would be a fairytale, hence the "little did I know" lyric.

I love how it becomes a trend on social media platforms like TikTok when people would film their own proposals at her concerts. "Love Story" is designated as the ultimate song for talking about your own love story in the sense of "the Romeo to my Juliet" or vice versa when communicating your feelings to your significant other. This song shows that love stories in general do not have to have a start and an ending as long as you are with the person that you are meant to be with.

I can easily resonate with a song like this because I have had my share of forbidden crushes or relationships before I met my now boyfriend. There might not have been an official love story, but it was more of a "what if" scenario. I think that the level of songwriting is one of the main reasons why Taylor Swift is so important and recognized in pop culture, especially for songs that easily bring connection to her audience.

I would recommend this song if you are looking for 2000s pop music and/or for love songs to listen to.

Today's blog response will be Alexis's post (@alexispopculture) about her favorite shows. These are all great shows with comedic and dramatic elements as well as bonds between friendship and family.

I love Friends so much that it is not even funny. I always love finding Friends memes and posts on social media and how the logo becomes a staple in modern day fashion when I go shopping. Unfortunately, my parents did not name me Rachel after Rachel Green, but I still love sharing the name with a fictional character. I always thought that my name was unusual because I could never find characters with the same first name on TV (with the exception of characters like Rachel from Glee). Rachel is one of my favorites because of her name and Chandler is also my favorite because of his sense of humor.

The One Where Everyone Finds Out is such an iconic episode because it captures the raw reactions from every friend that discover Monica and Chandler's relationship. I love how Rachel and Phoebe distract Ross from the news by jumping up and down about his new apartment and forming a group hug. Ross' embodiment of the protective big brother is perfect and sets the tone for his reaction.

Pivot is one of my favorite Friends references next to Chandler's phrase "Could I be any more..." with any adjective that best describes his mood. I once came across an Instagram post of the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC recreating this scene a few years ago and I love it so much.

I am overdue for a Friends marathon

I have seen some of New Girl, but I have watched enough episodes to get to know the characters. Jess's quirky personality is one of the best things about the show and I think Cece would be my favorite character. Her no nonsense personality is so iconic, not to mention very composed and sharp. I love the storyline between her and Schmidt because she went from being unamused to his womanizer personality when they first meet to being in a loving and committed relationship with him. Just watching them build their life together is amazing and the way he changed his ways just for her shows really good and mature character development.

Modern Family is an absolute classic. Their versions of family dynamics is how they define the meaning of family. It is very authoritative vs authoritarian vs permissive. I love coming across YouTube clips of different episodes if I need a laugh.

My favorite part of the Disneyland episode is Gloria refusing to change her shoes. She fits the girly girl image with her jewelry and her heels. I love how she becomes so stubborn and not wanting to change her heels to feeling like she is walking on a cloud with the Minnie Mouse shoes. To be honest, my feet hurt just watching her walk all over a giant park in heels from that episode.

Alexis, you picked some great shows. How I Met Your Mother is awesome and I hope you enjoy it!

Today, I thought that I would make a blog about Friends. I am a huge Friends fan and have seen this show more times than I can remember. What I love the most about the show is that it is the kind of show that dives into social issues such as money, interpersonal dynamics and communication, identity, career paths and the balance of love and life. It is like a guide to making your 20s the best years of your life. Although Friends is strictly a show that contains everyday life and everyday issues, "they give the reimagined, reinvented version of the real" (Hooks, 1). Friends becomes a big hit in pop culture as their young contemporary audience relate to similar issues as the characters, whether it would be employment stability or wanting to find your own path.

Friends describes the lives of six friends in their 20s in an apartment building in New York: Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Chandler and Phoebe. Ross and Monica are brother and sister and with their friends, they always spend time in the apartment complex or the coffee shop Central Perk.

The one episode that I want to cover is "The One With Five Steaks and an Eggplant" (S2, E5). The episode's reference is Monica bringing five steaks for her friends and an eggplant for Phoebe, who is a vegetarian. This episode dives into themes of socioeconomic status, the value of money and belonging/inclusion. One of the ways this episode is relatable is that it is never easy to talk about money or about one's financial situations and one of the episode's subplots is how money threatens to tear the friend group apart.

Monica wants to celebrate her newest promotion at work following Chandler's latest expense of tickets for a Hootie & The Blowfish concert for Ross' birthday as well as a birthday cake and a gift. The expenses come together to a total of $62 that each friend would have to pay, except Ross who did not know about the latest purchases.

This stirs a conflict between the group when Rachel, Phoebe and Joey perceive the fact that the other friends lack attention and consideration to their financial situations and are uncomfortable with the latest finances due to limited income. Rachel is a waitress at Central Perk, Phoebe is an aspiring musician and masseuse and Joey is an aspiring actor looking for his big break. Meanwhile, Monica is a chef, Ross is a paleontologist and Chandler works in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration and each of their jobs result in higher pay. Rachel, Phoebe and Joey vent their frustrations and make an effort to keep the peace because they know that they would have to be a part of Ross' birthday celebration despite doing their best just to make ends meet.

They worry more when Monica suggests a celebratory dinner for her newest promotion at work. The restaurant is pricier than Rachel, Joey and Phoebe anticipated and they were prompted to order cost efficient meals that met their budget needs. Rachel orders a side salad, Phoebe orders a cup of cucumber soup and Joey orders a pizza.

By the end of the meal, as Ross calculates the total, he announces that each friend would have to split their portion of the bill. Monica is omitted from paying for her meal as she is the guest of honor for the night, so the other five would still have to contribute. This leads to Phoebe and Joey confessing to their friends that they believe that Ross, Monica and Chandler are oblivious to their financial instability. As a result, they work together to resolve the money problems.

The next expensive event is the Hootie & The Blowfish concert. Because of the high demand in tickets, Rachel, Phoebe and Joey refuse to let the others pay despite their help and decide to sit out the concert, leaving the friend group empty. Rachel, Phoebe and Joey stay home and play a game of guessing how many fingers Joey keeps behind his back. The following day, the money talk returns when Ross, Monica and Chandler talk about their concert experience and leads to an argument.

The conversation about money is immediately dropped once Monica found out that she got fired for inadvertently breaking corporate policy for keeping the steaks and the eggplant, prioritizing friendship over finances.

Image Source: Glamour Magazine. What 'Friends' Means to Us And Why We're Still So Obsessed

Left to right: Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Monica, Joey and Phoebe

For those that know me, I’m a 1980s pop culture enthusiast. I thought that today’s blog would be about the trailer for Bruce Springsteen’s biopic “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere”. I saw the trailer the other day by a random encounter and thought that I should make a blog because I have mixed feelings about it. For starters, I always love seeing biographical films about celebrities because it is so interesting to know their life stories and their path to success. Not only do movies like these feel like a reenactment of some of the most iconic moments pop culture wise depending on the celebrity and their stories and achievements, but these kind of movies also dive more into what an article or a Wikipedia page can provide.

Like any biographical film, “Deliver me from Nowhere” summarizes Bruce Springsteen’s life during the production of his 1982 album “Nebraska” as well as trying to reach stardom while facing struggles from his past. The movie also fits the genre of musical and drama to narrate a well-known person’s life. I will admit that it is pretty odd seeing that Jeremy Allen White was casted as Bruce Springsteen because I am used to seeing him portray characters either of the working class like Shameless or characters that associate with the criminal and dangerous stereotypes or images like the Law & Order franchise. I think this movie would be a good role for him though and he pulls off a good Springsteen doppelgänger.

I also feel like the movie is both necessary and unnecessary at the same time.

I think it is necessary because Bruce Springsteen is a legend for his songs like “Born in the U.S.A” and Dancing in the Dark” and deserves recognition and appreciation for his hard work in the music industry. like any celebrity who has been musically active in the last 20-40+ years, they still deserve the recognition that they worked so hard to earn. I also think that this movie would be good imagery as to what a Bruce Springsteen concert looked like back in the 1980s. My dad attended one of his concerts back in the day and has told me about his experience through storytelling, and because the 80s was a time without social media or technology like we have today, there was not a source of imagery at the time.

I feel like the movie is unnecessary without disrespect or disregard towards Bruce and his musical contributions because honestly, we have new movies coming in hot as a result of advertisement and money grab. I feel like the latest movies are inspired by “let’s make a movie about this”/“let’s make a movie about that” just for financial purposes.

It also feels unnecessary because the media is used to producing biographical films usually for celebrities who have retired or passed and Bruce Springsteen is still alive and kicking. Not to mention that current movies in pop culture scream money grab.

Even though the movie will not be released until October, I do not anticipate that the movie will get 5 stars. I am confident that the movie will still be worth watching and will still receive some good reviews, but I do not think that it will be the “best”. It would still be good for those that appreciate 1980s music and Bruce Springsteen’s work.

I would still consider going to see it and would hope for the best production wise. I am also hoping that when I commit to seeing this film, I also hope that it would help me appreciate Bruce Springsteen more.

Pokémon! Gotta catch them all

I'm not usually a video game girlie, but the only exception so far is Pokémon Go. When Pokémon Go first came out in 2016, I noticed that one of my friends was playing it and kept catching Pokémon everywhere we went, so I got invested and gave it a try. Then I stopped playing because I could never get the game right.

Flash forward to March 2025. I downloaded the game again on a random Thursday and decided to give it a second try. My boyfriend is obsessed with Pokémon, so I thought that this game would help me learn about the world of Pokémon and what makes it stand out as one of the biggest and most well-known franchises in the world. Now we often join Pokémon raids and battles together, where you can catch certain types of Pokémon or legendary ones.

The best thing about Pokémon Go is that you do not have to have a console or an Xbox to play. You get to use your phone or any kind of device. I normally use my phone because it is a more compatible device than my laptop.

There are eighteen types of Pokémon: normal, grass, poison, dark, ghost, electric, bug, fire, fighting, fairy, psychic, dragon, rock, ground, water, flying, ice and steel. Some Pokémon can have a blend of types like ground/rock or psychic/ice depending on their powers and abilities. Eighteen might not seem like very much, but there is over 1,000 Pokémon to catch. Every type of Pokémon usually has a weakness and resistance. For example, a ground type Pokémon would be weak to water, grass and ice types and resistant to poison, flying and ground types. My favorite types would have to be water, grass, poison and dark. With every Pokémon that you catch, it will be logged into a Pokédex, which is like a little journal that documents the Pokémon species and statistics like height and weight. One of my favorite Pokémon is Wooloo given my profile picture.

Through a pop culture standpoint, Pokémon brings entertainment and connection usually targeted towards a Generation Z audience following its debut in 1996. Fans in the Pokémon community can celebrate their common interests through video games, fashion, trading cards and any kinds of media. With the help of Pokémon Go, the connection for common interests is stronger. Whenever I would go on Instagram, I would find certain posts or pages about Pokémon fans and how much memorabilia they would collect that would range from stuffed animals to posters.

Pokémon Go is a blend of action and adventure. With the latest technology, gamers are introduced to the option of bringing Pokémon to life. This gives gamers the opportunity to feed Pokémon, play with them and snap a picture.

Pokémon Go is also more than a video game: it is a space of connection and communication. Pokémon Go is a place for intercultural connection and bonds that video games can usually bring. Some countries, states, or regions usually depend on Pokémon appearances and trading. For example, Kangaskhan is normally available in Australia, and you could trade with somebody who has traveled to Australia who has a Kangaskhan and trade with them.

Globally, Pokémon Go plays a huge role for trades, partaking in raids and/or gym battles and sending gifts, where that also brings a sense of community and communication. Instead of having a violence effect like how video games tend to be perceived, Pokémon Go has opposite effects. It encourages people to walk more, boosts their social identity and inspires people to travel. Pokémon Go sends a message that video games do not have to strictly have the violence stereotype.

I love going to my college campus to catch Pokémon and spin all of the Pokéstops. Because Pokémon Go is a mobile game, you would have Pokéstops that would basically give you hints about your location. Pokéstops will usually provide items like berries, potions and poké balls to help you collect the necessary items to catch Pokémon and to have fun. It is definitely a great game to play if you are a huge Pokémon fan, but it is also an acquired taste at the same time.

I absolutely loved Harriette Ann's blog about mukbangs. I learned a lot about the basics of mukbangs and how they make a huge impact in pop culture, especially in the world of TikTok. Mukbangs are a creative aspect to teach audience members about different foods and cultures. As someone who also loves food, mukbangs can be like ASMR and can create curiosity for wanting to try different foods around the world. I also have TikTok and when I come across certain mukbangs either on there or on other social media platforms like Instagram and often YouTube, they would usually come from restaurants like In-N-Out or feature other foods like ramen and Crumbl cookies. I am a complex person when it comes to eating because I despise people watching me eat or asking me how I like my food after the very first bite, but I also like watching what kind of food people eat because it may look like a certain food that I would be willing to try. To clarify, I am just not a big fan of people watching me eat as if I am under pressure to eat all of my food.

One of my most favorite mukbangs would have to be Crumbl cookie reviews. I love cookies and I always love coming across those kinds of videos on TikTok or YouTube shorts. I also have a sweet tooth and it is a shame that I do not live anywhere near a Crumbl because I would love to try some of the cookies that they advertise. I would always feel envious whenever I would see some Snapchats of my peers taking pictures of the Crumbl box, but I am hoping that I can try Crumbl one day.

I also find some mukbang-ish TikToks and Instagram when vloggers would post a "day in the life" segment and share snippets of them eating food from a certain restaurant, whether it would be something like Mexican food or Raising Cane's. One of the things that I do not understand about mukbangs would be watching people eat ramen at the spiciest level to exist. I guess what I do not understand is how people can eat something that spicy and that it is more of a visual thing if that makes sense.

I definitely agree that mukbangs set an example of a cultural representation when it comes to food from different countries because TikTok is all about intercultural connection. Not to mention that mukbangs can bring an educational and cultural component about food combined. I do not think that mukbangs are controversial in any way, but I can understand why some people have that certain belief. I do not think they are controversial because people like to eat different things. Sure, I will see some mukbangs that might turn my stomach such as the spicy ramen or fried and greasy food vlogs, but that's just not the way I eat. I cannot handle a lot of spicy or overly greasy foods and that is just me. At the end of the day, it does not matter what I like: it matters what other people like. Everyone's palate varies and my distaste should not have to stop them from making content. I would never ever directly judge anyone's eating habits.

Harriette Ann, I really enjoyed reading about mukbangs and I look forward to reading more of your blogs. Great post!

In honor of the 42nd anniversary of The Police's album Synchronicity, I thought that I would make a blog about their best and final album. Whenever I listen to Synchronicity, I would often be washed with a bittersweet feeling that this would be the end of a career they worked so hard to build. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't smile. I would be hit with the sudden realization and solemn that they were going their separate ways after this album. That I could never enjoy the experience of attending their concerts and their music and memorabilia of t-shirts and posters could be the closest connection I could have to them. I mean they all do concerts individually for their own solo projects, but it just wouldn't be the same if that makes sense.

Synchronicity explores various themes of heartbreak, literature and family chaos. Sting's use of literary references in his songwriting makes this album emotionally intense since the purpose of using literature was his own way of coping and communication for heartbreak following his divorce. Although he did use elements of nature in "King of Pain" in order to communicate about a heartbreak by using comparisons like dead salmon in a frozen waterfall and black spot on the sun. I think the only song with a sole focus on literature is "Tea in the Sahara" because there are more connections to a book than to one's personal life. It still gives an eerie vibe given the music, but it's a perfect melody for reading.

I think what makes this album the most mellow out of their work is that there is a lot of tension. Not only were they going to call it quits, other contributions from their personal lives such as marriage or divorce have impacted their songwriting. Knowing good and well that they were basically done with each other, they still managed to pull off one of the greatest albums. Even when I watched some of the music videos from this album, they are always filmed in separate corners, which sets a clear distinction that they don't want anything to do with each other. It still baffles me that they decide to call it quits once they made it to number one.

I like how they each wrote different versions of Synchronicity by having "Synchronicity I" and "Synchronicity II". "Synchronicity I" is like a brief description or a clear idea of how to use the concept while "Synchronicity II" basically fits the family chaos category. "Synchronicity II" used to be my ringtone at one point, but I ended up changing it. I would also think "Mother" would fall under the family chaos category as well because it is one of those songs where you want to vent your frustration or if you're feeling overstimulated based on pressure from your family.

This is also the album where I can see the kind of person that Sting really was. Even though I respect him as a musician and a person and I can understand how the aftermath of a failed marriage has affected him during the album process and I don't wanna bash him, it is obvious that he is not a team player and it still doesn't excuse him basically taking over the entirety of the album as if the band was solely his idea. At least Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland were able to make their contributions. However, I still envy my mom for going to one of Sting's concerts.

"Every Breath You Take" is my absolute favorite song. It has the ballad of a love song, but the lyrics of suspense that crawl into a slasher movie. Every time I come across a post about Sting's disrespect for people turning this song into a love song, it serves as a life lesson to check the song's meaning. Neither of the songs on this album have to do with everlasting love. Well, "Miss Gradenko" is like a forbidden love song in terms of government and politics, but that's about it.

"Wrapped Around Your Finger" also seems personal with literature and mythology like using Scylla and Charybdis. It's also one of those songs where it seems really sweet, but then you realize that the lyrics are not what they seem. Sting really hit the nail on the head with the style with Cicero's canons of rhetoric. It's a shame that Cicero isn't mentioned though.

Some of the most unique things about this album, one more particularly at the end of the song "O My God", Sting includes lyrics from "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", a song from one of the previous Police albums. The second unique thing being the final track, "Murder by Numbers". Once you hear the clap at the end of "Murder by Numbers", you can tell that not only is the album finished and a success, it is also the end of an era. While they still kept a reggae focus for this album as well as their music, this song had more of a jazz beat. Having a song with a title such as this one is a unique way to end an album.

For 1980s pop culture, this is one of few albums that does not follow the pattern of out-of-context song lyrics as many 1980s songs have. I listen to this album frequently and I would definitely recommend it if you're into 80s music like I am. It's not dark, but more emotionally heavy. I think "Walking in Your Footsteps" would be like a "happy" song to mix the themes around because it mostly talks about dinosaurs and Earth in a prehistoric period.

I do respect their decision to break up and focus on their own solo projects and I'm still accepting the reality that they are unlikely to get the band back together. If only I was old enough to attend their reunion tour in the late 2000s or if I was living in 1983 anticipating this album. I think the mellow setting and personal turmoil set in this album is what makes it their best work and most successful album.

Here is a link to the album if you are interested

Hi everyone! I have returned

While on the subject of 1970s culture following my previous post, I thought that I would talk about That '70s Show. I watched it a lot in high school and I've decided to rewatch the series for the millionth time. Now that I got the first few episodes down, let's get into it.

That '70s Show follows a group of six friends who navigate their teenage and adult years in 1970s Point Place, Wisconsin: Eric, Donna, (Steven) Hyde, (Michael) Kelso, Fez and Jackie. The group normally hangs out in Eric's basement, where the majority of the show takes place as well as the hub, which is a restaurant that is considered to be one of their hangout spots. Fez is short for foreign exchange student because they could never find out his actual name or where he is from. Also, I could never understand the machoness of guys preferring to be called by their surname.

I think out of the bunch, my favorite characters would have to be Eric and Donna. Eric is a smart, respectable goody two shoes who wants to stay out of trouble and tends to be socially awkward. I could easily relate to him without the socially awkward part because I was a goody two shoes myself in school and struggled to stand up for myself, so I hated feeling confined to that particular image. I also love his smart aleck personality because I tend to be the same way. Donna is tomboyish with a feminist outlook who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and believes that women are more capable than being housewives or stay at home moms, which is the reason she is one of my favorite characters. For a fictional character in the 1970s, I have mad respect for her.

I love Donna and Eric's relationship, but the girl best friend/girl next door is an absolute cliché. I also feel like that it is very overrated, but thinking about it, it is set in a time period where cell phones were unheard of and apps like Tinder didn't even exist. They have so much chemistry especially at the very start of the show and it becomes obvious that they have feelings for one another before they become official. Today it's amazing to see how the girl best friend or girl next door storyline can be found through fanfiction or other parts of pop culture media. But then, dating your best friend or someone you have known all of your life creates a positive outlook because they would already know you and your personality. At least they didn’t bring in the “meeting through mutual friends” storyline since they’re already part of the same friend group.

While on the subject of couples, I'm not a big fan of the Kelso and Jackie storyline. They are constantly off and on that they're gonna break up one minute and stay together the next. Not to mention that it's very high school, while they're in high school ironically. I'm not saying that they're incompatible, but it's clear that commitment strains their relationship. Kelso is the dumb pretty boy while Jackie is bossy and high maintenance, so their personalities make them an odd pairing. I find it kind of ironic that they got married in real life, so it is definitely a small world after all.

The show follows various mainstreams of 1970s culture mostly through fashion, music, furniture and psychedelia as they are the components that make the show more realistic and culturally accurate. The phone on the kitchen wall and psychedelic features are dead giveaways to the show's description. Just by observing the fashion in the first few episodes, the colors are loud and a lot of the design patterns are very unappealing. This would be the kind of fashion where you have to wear something like polka dots in order to fit in. It is safe to say that 1970s fashion trends are questionable and out of date in some ways. The prop that is considered a staple is the Vista Cruiser, which is the kind of car that Eric drives throughout the show.

Not to mention that the show is historically inaccurate, but if it fell under a nonfiction-like genre, then that would give the show a dull storyline as if it is based on a true story. Documenting every minute of a random Saturday in the mid 1970s would be a waste of time and the show would lose its purpose of entertainment and possibly audience engagement. Not to mention that airing the pilot and bringing this friend group together one by one would also lack interest. There are gender roles and stereotypes set in the show to make the setting accurate and traditional, but it also sends an empowering message that women can do both: work and provide for the family. I can understand how producers believe in using fashion or furniture trends to make the show look more appealing and realistic. This would not be the kind of show to learn about 1970s culture as it can carry an inaccurate representation of an era that a lot of us have never physically experienced. I would solely recommend this show for good laughs.

That '70s Show is an excellent comedy. It is the kind of comedy where it is so stupid it's funny, but it's stupid in a good way and also a classic. I love the tight-knit friendship bonds between them and how the show teaches that no matter how we screw up, we’re still friends at the end of the day. I have seen it more times than I can count and it's still as funny as the first time I watched it. If you're interested in watching the show, it is streaming on Peacock. I guarantee that you will laugh.

There is also a sequel called That '90s Show on Netflix if you're interested in that as well. I have yet to see it, but I heard mixed reviews about it

Thanks for reading! See you next time

Image Source: US Magazine. 'That '70s Show' Cast: Where Are They Now? From Ashton Kutcher to Topher Grace

Top: Jackie

Middle: Hyde (left), Fez (right)

Hi blog! Happy Friday!

For my first post, even though I mentioned previously that I may talk about movies, I thought that I would try something new and talk about music. Today I will talk about The Police's album Outlandos d'Amour. For those that are unfamiliar, The Police is a band from the late 1970s to the early 1980s that were usually associated with punk and new wave, but they throw in some reggae, pop and rock elements into their songs. One thing you should know about me is that I am a huge fan of The Police and I consider them to be one of my favorite bands. This was one of the first few albums of theirs that I bought as I was learning more about their music and their band image. They are actually part of the reason why I want to go to London because they are a band based out of England. As a matter of fact, I have added a few songs from this album onto my car playlist.

Even though this album is the very first and the band is already getting to know each other and their music styles and/or techniques, this is basically the album that gives "first day of school" or being assigned partners for a class project. It's kind of like an experimental album to see how well the band gets along and that they're treating this process like brainstorming a formula for chemistry class. From the looks of it, they seem to be getting along well and are having fun with their upbeat tunes and songwriting contributions while they try to find the right sound that fits their image in the punk/new wave era of the 1970s.

Some of my favorite songs from this album would have to be "Next to You", "So Lonely" and "Roxanne". They are quite catchy and I love the tempos from each. For a punk album, "Next to You" gives hard rock and heavy metal with rapid singing and slight screaming. It does capture the reality of having feelings for somebody that you can't compose yourself around them. It's almost like a paradox because the song titles are the opposite of being alone versus being with someone, especially since they are back-to-back. Sting is definitely a songwriting genius, but the gibberish lyrics in "Masoko Tanga" seems unlike him and out of his style although they make the song comedic and out of context. Based on the ten songs along, Sting seemed like the kind of guy who was too mature to want to write gibberish and wanted grammar-free mistakes in his songs. I get that he wants to take the songwriting process very seriously and that should be an important part in his career. I can relate when I am writing a paper or sending a text and I don't want any mistakes.

I am a big fan of Andy Summers' guitar work in "Hole in my Life". His guitar solos were good throughout the album, but the one in the introduction to "Hole in my Life" and towards the end of the song has to be his best. I am the kind of person to instantly like a song based on the guitar solos, so that might come from my 2000s music taste. Anyway, back to Andy, his poetry in "Be my Girl-Sally" is comedic even though I'm not a big fan of it because he talks for almost the entirety of the song. It's almost like he is combining a song and a podcast. "Be my Girl-Sally" basically repeats itself with "would you be my girl?" like an impromptu serenade.

I like all of the songs, but the only ones that I don't care for very much are "Truth Hits Everybody" and "Born in the '50s". "Truth Hits Everybody" is one of those songs where the song lyrics are creating a distraction because you are only focusing on the tempo. Stewart Copeland may be one of the most energetic drummers that I have seen, but he is bouncing off the walls with this song and I can say the same with "Peanuts". "Born in the '50s" is too simplistic and implies experience of being a child in the 1950s which can make it difficult to relate if their target audience is from a different decade or time period. I am a child of the 2000s, so I would not be able to relate to their experience.

I would absolutely recommend this album if anyone is looking for new artists to listen to. In terms of pop culture, I believe that with this album being out in the late 1970s, it really breaks away from the giddy images of rainbows, lollipops and talking on the telephone motif like a lot of music from that time frame. Sure, "So Lonely", "Hole in my Life" and "Can't Stand Losing You" targets audience members going through a breakup or a similar pattern and "Next to You" having the opposite effect for people in relationships, but this album is the most mature if that makes sense. They aren't talking about relationships every song or cheesy topics like long walks on the beach. This album may be debut and not 100% their best work, but there are songs like "Roxanne" that are their 100% best work and that make them a huge success.

That is all that I have for today! I added a link to the album if you want to give it a listen. Can't wait for the next blog! Bye!

My name is Rachel. You can call me Rach or @rachelclumpkin, whichever one is fine and whichever one you're more comfortable using. I have some experience with Tumblr where I will come on here just for posts and reblogs of my favorite artists or for the newest aesthetic nature post about a waterfall or a field of flowers that I seem to like. Anyway, I am taking a special topics class over the summer that focuses on pop culture, so this blog will be like a pop culture journal involving movies, tv shows or any kind of entertainment that I watch/listen to for the next four weeks. I have so many ideas for my upcoming posts, so I'm really excited for that! I will probably stick to movies as I am still searching for other shows to watch haha.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself: my favorite color is pink, I love 1980s pop culture, I love dogs, my favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy, my favorite album is Synchronicity by The Police, my music taste varies so I could go from heavy metal to country music one day to 2010s pop the next, I enjoy going to the movies, spending time with my friends and my significant other, going to concerts and watching football.

I have had a soft spot in my heart for communication and writing for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, I was always writing in a journal, a diary or some kind of notebook because writing was one of my favorite hobbies. During my teenage years, I went through a phase where I wrote fanfictions quite often when Wattpad was suddenly a popular platform. By the time I got to college, I fell in love with communication the moment that I took my first communication class during my sophomore year. Taking communication courses has shaped my writing skills and helped me acquire communication skills that could help me in the foreseeable future.

I strongly value communication because it is important for friend and family dynamics. I always want to make sure that I'm on the same page as my loved ones. Whenever my friend and I make plans to go out for a meal, we always have to ask the day before in order to confirm our plans and avoid miscommunication. I have to follow a similar pattern when I have to keep my family in the loop about any plans that I have.

I even value communication in relationships. Ironically, I met my significant other in a communication class. From the day we started dating, we promised to communicate with one another, which is ideal for two college students who have experience taking communication classes. We make an effort to listen to each other, compromise and talk things out if we are having issues. We've been together for a little over a year and that is one of the reasons why communication will always be special to me.