Mini-Review of Pop Culture Analysis: English 100-Honors

Mini-Review
4 October 2010

Website: http://genpopculture.blogspot.com/
“Gender in Commercials Today” by Michelle

A good example of pop culture analysis that can be found online is Michelle’s Pop Culture Analysis on Blogspot.com. Because her blog is written primarily for a class at the College of New Jersey, she is able to maintain an objective view throughout many of her works simply because she is writing for someone other than herself. Although her purpose is unclear, much of her work isn’t written with the intent to impose a certain viewpoint but mainly to analytically discuss some observations she has had in the past.

In Michelle’s article “Gender in Commercials Today,” she describes many instances in which gender ideas are portrayed and influenced by society and how they are reflected in T.V. commercials. Although the author doesn’t focus on a certain phrase or specific subject, her overall theme is society’s influence on gender portrayed in T.V. commercials. One specific example is her claim that commercials are portraying the idea of a ‘perfect body.’ In addition to citing a statement from Jean Kilbourne’s article titled “The More You Subtract the More You Add,” the author concludes her claim by saying that those who are fit and muscular “have power in that they are happy to have obtained the “perfect body.” Her use of the word “power” is important to the overall tone of this article because this “power” is symbolic for the power these commercials are having on society. She inadvertently states that this “perfect body” concept is a direct result of pop culture today.

“Gender in Commercials Today” does a good job portraying gender-related themes within T.V. commercials. The author blends her own observations with cited sources to create a reliable and analytical discussion of gender ideas and perceptions in American society today. With 34 comments to this individual article and over 97,000 views to her entire blog, Michelle’s Pop Culture Analysis appears to be a reliable and well-read location for pop culture analysis.