Reality TV

          Reality Television has seemingly swept the nation. From shows like Jersey Shore or The Real World that exemplify how trashy young adults can get when watched, to shows like The Bachelor or Rock of Love that attempt at capturing people falling in love in somewhat of a polygamous way, all the way to talent search shows like American Idol, The Voice, America's Got Talent that capture the journey to stardom in a televised competition. Most shows on television are considered "reality tv." In all reality, these shows are far from the real world yet the capture the audience of so many.
          The Reality Television show that has captured audiences for years is Survivor. The show Survivor takes two teams of people and puts them on an island with no modern day necessities. They are left with basic supplies to make shelter and enough rice to last them 39 days a palm-full of rice per day. The show tests what will happen when all life's luxuries are stripped from you? They have no mirrors and no showers and no tooth brushes. Any food they eat other than rice they catch. This show tests the human instinct and how strong it really is. Physically it is very difficult to withstand such obstacles but mentally it becomes draining as well. No one knows each other going onto the island and its a game to reach the top. In essence it could drive a person crazy not knowing who you can and cannot trust and who will have your back at the end of the day. There is no connection to the outside world so it can get very lonely as well. This game tests the strength of a person all around.
             My friend Natalie was on this season of Survivor: Redemption Island and watching her on the show it is clear how the show takes such a tole on someone. In my opinion she is the best on the show but I suppose I'm slightly biased. Seeing how hard it is to just live day to day with each other. There is no comfortable place to sleep and there is no surplus of food so they lost extreme amounts of weight and were basically wasting away out on this island. Natalie is still alive in the game so she can't talk about much but you can tell the experience was life changing.
             Survivor appeals to the viewers because watching the drama of all these people that don't know one another is entertaining but also observing the pure strength of the human instinct is fascinating. It's not just another game show, it is a sort of social experiment.
          In conclusion, reality tv shows all appeal to audiences for different reasons. Some shows are mindless and trashy but others are life changing and nearly scientific. Who knew real people were more interesting than characters played by actors?

The Bridge Betweet Black&White Music

         Traditionally, when one thinks of "White Music" they generally associate it with rock, alternative-rock, country, or pop music genres. When one thinks of "Black Music" they generally go the rap, jazz, R&B, or Soul genre route of thinking. Some artists have been able to blend the lines and show that a white woman can sing soulful music or R&B type music and a black man can sing country music as well.
         The two artists I am going to use as examples are Christina Aguilera and Darius Rucker. Christina Aguilera is an extremely successful voice of the modern generation. Though her ethnicity is Latin, She looks white and she is half Caucasian. Christina has made it big in the Latin world when she created a Spanish album that did very well but she is most known for her success in the R&B and pop genres. Christina is white and has blonde hair and looks like a pop sensation and that is where she started out. She has a big voice full of rich, soulful character and that made her huge in the R&B world as well. Christina's voice doesn't match her body, some might say. She's a tiny white girl with a big black voice. Her range is unbelievably broad and she feels the words she sings to her core. She has collaborated with other pop artists but she has also worked with rappers and R&B artists on different tracks. Christina Aguilera's pipes have earned her immense respect in all genres of music. There is no deny the endless talent that she possesses. Though her level of soulful and R&B music is usually claimed by the black community, Christina Aguilera fits right in.
           Darius Rucker, a black male, has taken the country world by storm. Before hitting the country music charts he also was big in the rock music world with his band Hooty & The Blow Fish. Rock music has normally been claimed by White males and sometimes hard core women but Hooty & The Blow Fish took the rock world by storm with large billboard hits. Darius Rucker has an authentic country feel in his music. He sings about real life situations and has immense stage presents. Darius Rucker has been making hit after hit lately in Country music and he is welcomed and respected in Country music because he is so talented and comfortable in that genre.
             Both of the examples previously discussed goes to show how stereotypes in music based on race are not always true. The norms in musical genres are meant to be broken. White girls can have soul in their voice and Black men can have twang. Both artists have been successful in breaking the mold and shocking the world with their unexpected talent in their areas of music.

Keeping it "Real"

            In the music & culture book, this chapter discusses Eminem and the way he is viewed by people that live in closely the same economic region as him, meaning the Bronx. Eminem is a white rapper which to many makes no sense. R&B and Rap music have usually been viewed as "black" music. Eminem came into the scene and though the skeptics were many he gained credential from even the black community after proving himself in his words. Eminem had a rough childhood growing up with a retched mother and being poor.
          Many people in the black community commended Eminem for "keeping it real." By this, they mean he was true to his life. He raps about real life. Much of the rap scene has been overtaken by black musicians that rap about big money, big chains, big hoes, and living large essentially. Eminem raps about real struggles of growing up in the Bronx. Eminem to this day does not over dress with big expensive showy jewelery and clothes. Eminem doesn't rap about being rich and famous and how great it is. Eminem, in his creative and unique way, raps about his life and how he feels with making no apologies for it. He has been criticized and he doesn't get angry, he makes fun of it. Congress people and the press try to put him down and he raps about it in a joking way. He pokes fun at his haters back. The reason people say that Eminem keeps it real and has earned respect from all walks of life is because he is real and he doesn't pretend or try to be something he isn't. He is who he is and that is all there is to it. He makes no apologies for who he is or what he does or how he feels.
           For me, reality based lyrics are only important to a certain extent. I am all about imagery and different creative writing techniques to get a point across but the reality in the point being portrayed is what is important. In other words, If a rich kid from New Port decides to try to make it in the music industry by rapping about how sad his life is and how financially hard it has been for him he is going to look like a goon. He is going to lose respect from people who really have grown up with financial issues. I don't respect that. If a singer sings a song about being in love but has never been in love for real, that is more tolerable. I guess I think the authenticity of the writers intention is what is important to me.
          In conclusion, Eminem gained the respect of all areas of life and music by his truth and reality in his lyrics. I think artists that try to pose as something they are not lose respect of fans because the people that are truthfully the way the artist is trying to "pose" as get offended when they get the situations wrong in their lyrics. All in all, it is always best to stay to true to who you are and what you know.

On the Floor!

        The dance floor, a place to let loose, a place to let go, a place to be free, a place to feel the music move you and breathe life into you, a place to forget bad and be alive in the moment. The dance floor is a powerful place. It gives people the chance to express themselves in whatever way they want to. The dance floor is a place for expression. Each and every culture has dances that express their traditions and their customs. Dancing is something that everyone can be a part of. Dance has a way of showing off the best aspect of your feeling or your heart. Culturally speaking, it shows off the best of each culture and different dances have spread world wide. The dance floor is a place for people of all different cultures, traditions, cultures, families to go and all be one. The mixture of different moves and different rhythms make up eloquent dances. Dance is something that everyone can relate to; It always makes sense. On the dance floor there is a serge of passion to be one with the music and essentially one with one another. Most people can appreciate talent of all kinds and that is where cultural barriers are broken. There is something so passionate and sensual about the Salsa. All cultures can relate. It is about feeling each step and each motion of the other person and being on the same wave length at the exact same time. It's so intimate and catching that two different people from two different backgrounds and opposite cultures and be one. That is where the cultural barrier is broken. The whole point of the dance floor is that it doesn't matter where you've been or how you felt, all that matters is the moment at hand that second of losing yourself in a sea of beats and rhythms and what surfaces is the connections between all the people on the floor all at the same place and time.
          It has been said that the internet is the bridge between cultures but in my opinion that just isn't the case. Yes, on the internet we have access to all different types of people from all over the world but what is it that sparks a connection? What is the bridge on the internet that puts us all on the same beat of life? Nothing. The internet breathes life to accessibility amongst different cultures. We have the option of interacting with whomever we want whenever we want. We also have the option to learn and become educated on the customs and ways of life of other cultures from all around the world. The internet breeds possibility of awareness and contact but it does not breed a spark of passion and connection. There is nothing passionate about surfing the web. There is no intimacy in chatting online or reading a cultural article. Awareness does not always breed understanding and connection, therefore the internet doesn't bring together cultures.
              In conclusion, the dance floor is the powerful place where differences of culture don't matter in the moment of the dance. The dance floor virtually makes time stand still and people in the same wave length of music unite. Nothing matters but that dance in that moment and that is power.