ENG 2150 KMWC
Essay Two
DJ Dolack
4.23.12
Now that we have discussed and written about your ideas on consumerism in modern society, we must also take a look at how our entertainment has evolved as well. By dissecting how it actually works, we can learn a great deal more about what ‘makes us tick’ as a culture.
Please address one of the following questions in essay form:
- Using Jenkins’ theory of “Convergence Culture,” please analyze how you see Google (as a company) infiltrating the lives of the average American. Be careful not to limit your argument to technological devices and services. How pervasive is Google’s presence in American society, and what effects have we seen (or will we see) as this develops?
- Using Karl Popper’s ideas about the Open Society vs. the Closed Society, as well as his seemingly paradoxical idea that we must have an “intolerance for intolerance,” write an essay that discusses the sexism you see in modern pop culture. You may also want to discuss the irony involved in some of these artists’ defenses against such claims.
- Using Carl Matheson’s essay as a springboard, please choose one example of modern pop culture and discuss how devices such as irony, hyper-irony, and quotationalism have influenced its popularity. You will probably want to focus on one or two related aspects of culture, but be sure not to simply describe or summarize your choice. Why do you think this method of entertainment works so well for the specific example you chose?
Rough drafts should be typed, double-spaced, and a minimum of three full pages. Final drafts will be a minimum of five full pages. Each essay provides an opportunity to use a strong argumentative thesis statement that makes a claim and doesn’t merely summarize. Please be sure you are thinking of this when you draft and come up with an outline. You must adhere to MLA format in all applicable areas, including the heading and citations.