Ano Ang Kulturang Popular?

Kung noon ay radyo, dyaryo, telebisyon at magasin lang ang ating media para malaman kung anong uso, anong sikat at ano ang popular, sa panahon ngayon, napakamoderno na ng teknolohiya at napakadali na para sa mga tao na makiuso at magpauso sa pamamagitan ng lahat ng uri ng media --lahat ng nabanggit kanina at idinagdag pa ang internet. Bakit ba napakaimportante sa mga tao makasabay sa uso? Ano nga ba talaga ang kulturang popular? Ating alamin kung ano ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ng uso o mas pormal na kilala bilang kulturang popular.

Ang kulturang popular ay masasabi nating isang paraan ng mga tao para maramdaman ang pagtanggap sakanila ng nakararami. Ang pag-ayon sa kulturang popular, ang nagpapadama sa mga tao na tanggap sila sa modernismo dahil ang kulturang popular ay kadalasang nagmumula sa mga modernong produkto ng mga kumpanya at modernong mga bansa. Ang kulturang popular ang kadalasang nagbibigay ng depinisyon kung ano ang maganda at kung ano ang katanggap-tanggap. Ang kulturang popular ay maaaring teknolohiya, pagkain, kasuotan, musika at iba pa. Ito ay ang mga pinagsasama-samang kultura na itinatakda ng makakapangyarihang tao, kumpanya at bansa. Ginagamit ito ng mga ordinaryong tao para maipahayag ang kanilang pagsang-ayon sa isang kultura, pati na rin maipakilala ang kanilang sarili. 

Ngunit bakit nga ba may kulturang popular? San ba ito galing?

May sinasabing anim na dahilan at pinagmumulan ng kulturang popular at ito ang mga:

1. Pangangailangan na itinatakda ng mga negosyante

Ang mga negosyante ay nagbibigay o nagpapakita sa mga tao ng isang pangangailangan. Maaaring ito ay pangangailangan maging maputi, maging diretso ang buhok, magkaroon ng kolorete sa mukha at iba pa para matawag na maganda. Maaari rin namang gamitin ito ng mga negosyante sa mga teknolohiya; natatanim sa utak ng tao na hindi na sila mabubuhay ng wala silang magagandang cellphone, camera, at iba pa. Dahil dito, napipilitan bumili ang mga tao ng mga produktong ginagawa ng mga negosyante para lang matugunan ang pangangailangan na ito. Ang produktong ito ay siya namang nagiging sikat at napapasama sa kulturang popular kinalaunan.

2. Latak

Sinasabi rin naman na ang kulturang popular ay isang latak. Panghalili sa mahal at sa orihinal. Sinasabing nangyayari ito dahil ang masa ay hindi makabili ng mga kustal at kasuotan na mamahalin kaya sila ay nagkakasya na lamang sa pagbili ng mga damit at bag na mura hanggang sa ito na ang maging uso at gamit na ng lahat.

3. Pangmasa o komersyal na kultura

Kaugnay ng sinasabi natin kanina tungkol sa mamahaling mga gamit, ang mga mumurahing gamit ay kadalasang sumasailalim sa maramihang produksyon o mass production. Ang kulturang popular ngayon ay ang mga pagkakaparepareho ng mga kagamitan na nabili ng mga tao sa murang halaga.

4. Ginagawa ng tao

Ito naman ang nagsasabing ang kulturang popular ay ginagawa ng tao --maaaring ng isang sikat na personalidad na nais tularan ng marami. Sa pag-gaya dito ng mga tao, unti-unti itong napupunta sa mainstream. Ito ang tinatawag na pagpapauso. Ito ay maaaring ginagawang pang hanapbuhay, pampasikat o tikis na pang-libangan lamang.

5. Larangan ng gahum

Sinasabi rin naman na ang kulturang popular ay isang ebidensya ng mataas na tingin natin sa isang gahum na bansa. Kung ano ang mga gamit, damit, bag o kung ano man na ginagamit sa kanilang bansa ay ating tinatangkilik dahil ito ang maganda, nakahihigit at nakatataas para sa ating paningin. Sinasabing nakakasama ito para sa ating sariling bansa dahil unti-unti nitong nakikitil ang ating  sariling industriya dahil walang tumatangkilik sa ating sariling mga produkto. Dahil dito, sinasabing mas napapahalagahan natin ang kalinangan at kabihasnan ng iba kaysa sa sarili nating kultura.

6. Pagkalusaw ng mga hangganan

Sa tumitingding globalisasyon at pagkakaugnay-ugnay ng mga kultura at sibilisasyon sa buong mundo, hindi na nagiging hadlang ang distansya ng mga bansa para magkaroon ng iisang kulturang popular. Nawawalan na ng distinksyon ang mataas at mababang kultura, ang sariling kultura, comersyal at popular na kultura. Lahat ng kultura ay nagkakasabay-sabay na ginagamit at nagiging isa.

Ang kulturang popular ay isang kulturang maaaring sabayan at sakyan ng tao. Sa kabilang banda, maaari rin namang tayo rin ang magpa-uso at gumawa ng kulturang ito. Ngunit dapat natin isaisip na  ang kulturang popular ay hindi maiiwasang magbago kaya marapat lang na panatilihin pa rin natin at wag kalimutan ang kulturang "unique" at sariling atin. Hindi dapat natin ito hayaang matabunan ng kulturang popular --kulturang nagbibigay depenisyon sa kasalukuyang panahon.

Globalization's Effect on Culture

     Culture is one of the ways a nation makes itself unique or different from other nations. It gives a society an identity and dictates one's membership in an imagined community. It unites people of the same interest, beliefs, traditions, language, food, and etc. Meanwhile, in the growing bond and interdependence among countries, these cultures are being adapted and localized from a country to another. The establishment of international trade and investments plus the growing communication through internet influences a country's culture. Moreover, given the modern technologies and more patronizers of movies, cultures of different countries are now being explicitly displayed all over the world. It is no longer enshrouded in a country's boundaries.  Given this situation, can we say that globalization steals the cultural identity away from a nation, like what happened when the Americans stayed in Japan as shown in the movie Memoirs of Geisha, or are we just giving them the chance to let the whole world see and admire their beautiful culture?

     Globalization influences one's culture. It introduces new habits, technologies, fashion, language and etc. to one's culture.  On the other hand, it gives an idea of what a country's culture is. It also lets the other nation get a glimpse of one another's identity. It is only up to the members of the society on how they are going to let globalization affect them. Given the movies like memoirs of geisha, we are given a chance to understand one's culture --Japanese culture in particular. However,  it is also shown in the movie that culture can really be devalued and taken away from a nation. Some people renounce their culture and virtue for survival, some may also forsake it just to be with the hip. It is not always about us being influenced by their culture; it can just be an admiration and an attempt to appreciate the way they live before or even until today. On the whole, globalization can destroy one's identity or can just give more chance for a nation's uniqueness to grow and correct misconceptions. It just all depends on how they are going to let it in their system. 

Citizens’ Participation and Governance

       When we hear Phillipine politics and governance, I’m pretty sure that most people have the words corruption, bias, injustice and the like on top of their heads. Only little realizes that they are also what they describe. Most Filipinos are complaining for every mistake they hear or see in the government. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong in complaining as long as they do not contribute to the cause of the problem. But if you look at the citizens of this county, you will see that people contribute to the problem little by little. They disobey simple laws like “no jaywalking”, “no smoking”, “do not use mobile phones while driving” and etc. They practice corruption in their houses --for example, taking money from their siblings’ or parents’ wallets without permission. They are injustice and bias when they explain their mistake but editing the story for their favor. I believe what they do inside their house is what they carry when they go out.

         My concern is the Filipinos’ character, including both the citizens and the officials. How can they expect a progressive country if they do not participate in that progress? How can they expect that the president can solve all the problems in the country in just one snap if they do not follow the laws? Laws are made to maintain order in a country. It must be followed. A country will not progress if laws are just treated as suggestions. Citizens’ participation is important in governance because relationship is needed in it. Processes done in the government should also involve the decisions of the citizens because they are the ones that will be affected in whatever project the government will come up to. There are many ways a citizen can participate in the government. First, it could be through joining public interest groups or non-governmental organizations. In this manner, the citizens could participate in democratic debates and public discourse to address issues of public concern. Second is through joining private associations in which people can associate with other like-minded people to pursue a particular conception of common good. Third is through building or being a working professional in corporations and markets. This will make the people productive both for them and for the country. This will make them more financially stable and will enable them to pay right amount of taxes.

            Mahatma Ghandi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” If we want this country to rise again as it did decades ago, we should not put all the responsibilities to the president himself because this country is also our responsibility. We are a democratic country meaning our government is of the people, for the people and by the people. But nowadays, we see democracy as a government “for” the people only. We forget that we should also take part in the government. If we will be more responsible with ourselves, then we might deserve a better government.  As citizens we should study hard, work hard, be disciplined and follow laws in order for this country to have 90 million productive people. A single effort would not make much change but the effort of more than 90 million people will do much than what is expected. 

Killing us Softly Documentary Analization

As a college student, being the next generation to mold the world, we are responsible for the outcome of the environment our future children will be in. We certainly don't want them in a world surrounded by unpleasant influences, pictures of wrong representations displayed in front of their faces, and videos of unwanted values and wrong concepts invading their innocent minds. A few more years to go, we will be able to make bigger changes --more effective than what we can do as students. Because by then, we will build our own companies, develop our own products and make advertisements for them. As a college student and a growing lady deeply moved by this documentary, I will recognize the credibility and authority of the author, identify its main argument, and determine the rhetorical strategies used to support it and the reason why the author made such choices.

 The speaker in the documentary is Jean Kilbourne. She is a feminist author and has already made a lot of lectures and documentaries about advertising and women, addiction, tobacco, alcohols and violence. She was named by the New York Times magazine as one of the three most popular speakers on college campuses. She was said to be intellectually honest by Thomas Gardener, a communication professor in Westfield State College. (c) http://www.jeankilbourne.com Given the fact that she is a known speaker on college campuses, I think her target audience are usually college students. People, like what I said earlier, who will mold the future. 

Being a feminist author, it is not hard to believe that her main argument in her documentary is: advertisements create and define the image of women. According to her, advertisements say that what’s most important to women are their looks. She says that advertisements make the women desire to have the same features or bodies that they see on commercials, billboards, posters and magazines. That they will do whatever it takes to have the beauty defined by the advertisements and if they don't they fail. Moreover, women's bodies are shown in the advertisements as objects or things and no longer human. This, according to her, causes more violence to women.  She also stated that advertisements emphasize the inequality between men and women. That women are silenced and treated as animals; that boys should be the active ones and the girls should be the passive ones.

 For a more clear and effective argument, the author used a number of rhetorical patterns. One of which is definition. She delineated advertising as the foundation and primary purpose of mass media. She defined advertisement as something that sells not only products but also sells values, images and concepts of love, sexuality, success and normalcy. This giving of definition makes the audience realize the deeper significance of the subject. "The first thing the advertisers do is surround us with images of the ideal beauty." This is one example that the author used the cause as a rhetorical pattern. She used this to make the audience see that the reason why people desire the ideal beauty is because it is what they see; what is presented to them --the meaning of beauty assigned by the advertisements --that a woman is beautiful if she is thin, flawless, has long legs, has white complexion and has big breasts. Another rhetorical pattern used is the effects. The author mentioned the effects the advertisements do in the people no matter how much they deny them, such as eating disorders and teenage pregnancy. She pointed out that the number of people involved in these issues is increasing because of the values and the concepts they see in the advertisements. Breaking in to parts is also used by the author. She analyzed the parts of the woman being always used or being removed in the advertisements. She noticed that breasts and buttocks are the parts of the women often focused on commercials; that women’s bodies are being dismembered to sell a product; that women are shown to be just that part of her and nothing else which is the most dehumanizing thing somebody can do to a person. Conversely, parts are also omitted in a female's body, such as her mouth which is made to show that women are to be silenced. Comparison and contrast is also used by the author to compare the situation of the women to men. It is shown when contrary to what was said that, "Women's bodies are often dismembered in advertising...", men's bodies, on the other hand, are rarely dismembered; stereotypes to men are less intimate and less related to their body. This rhetorical pattern is used to emphasize that what they are doing to women are not done to men. Lastly, and probably the most obvious rhetorical pattern used is the examples. I noticed the examples used through the pictures and videos. The author used pictures and videos as example to let the audience see that what she is talking about really exist. That advertisements dismembering and objectifying women are really abundant and not only a product of her over-consciousness about advertisements.  

 Summing up, the documentary is telling us that we should not overlook and underestimate the power of advertisement over us. Advertisement through any media influences us and may define who we are if we are not being careful. We should establish control and literacy over all the images that are been embedded in our minds. We should not let these advertisements make us feel that we are ugly, define our norms in our society, and manipulate our concepts of femininity, love, and beauty. The author is asking us to change the attitudes and the mores being displayed by the advertisements and to stop them from defining the ethics and the principles in our society.

5 tasks in 1 day (Wednesday 10:24PM)

     Today, we are asked to encourage people to be active in this activity, appreciate a man-made creation, expand our knowledge in it through different media, express thanks to those who contributed to my success, and lastly, we are asked to identify the possible causes of failure in our activities in the past.


     I accomplished the first task by informing my classmate who knows about this study that there are still tasks asked through our email. She said she is not getting any mail nor any text that's why she was not able to participate in the past two days. The second task was not that difficult for me to accomplish. I scanned Camille Co's blog, which I do almost every time I go online, and admired her fashion. Third, I expanded my knowledge about the topic by looking for more fashion blogs not only by Camille Co, but also of Kryz Uy. For the fourth task, I was not so which success are the facilitators talking about, I assumed it is about any of the successes I had in my life. Nevertheless, I messaged my high school friend and thanked him for everything he contributed for my success in high school. He was very confused because he didn't expect me to be so cheesy then. XD Lastly, I think the things or attitudes that caused my failures were my lack of determination and self- esteem. I'm trying to improve it by telling myself that I can do anything through Christ strengthening me.

     Accomplishing tonight's task seemed to be easier now than the nights before. I don't know, maybe because some of the tasks are repeated already and also because I'm getting used to it. One difficulty though is my time. I have a pretty heavy tasks tonight and this is the first one I did when I got home.

I am Sam (thought paper)

            It was the first time that I have watched this movie. Even at the beginning, the movie already captured a pinch in my heart. It showed that the character is very passionate and enthusiastic in his work. He makes everyone’s morning happier. His smile and his greeting add a little more sunshine in every customer’s mood.  The next scene shocked me. I didn't expect the woman will leave her at such a short period of time. However, I think I know what the woman felt. She thinks that her life will just be more ruined if she stays with Sam and their daughter. Despite the understanding I have for the woman, the pity I felt for Sam is just greater. He is just so clueless in raising a child. With the help of his neighbor, Annie, he was able to raise the child in her first seven years smoothly. Being a daddy’s girl, I was easily touched by the plot even I was only presented with the first part yet. It made me cry during the swing scene; when the child is beginning to know the world; starting to be curious. It reminded me so much of myself and my time with my father. I was a lot like that before, and even until now. I have lots of questions, and those question and answer portions seemed to be my bonding time with my dad. I developed an admiration and amazement towards my father that time. I was amazed because he seemed to know so much about the world. I was astounded because he can answer all of my questions! I cried in that particular part of the film because it made me remember the days that I am still so innocent. I was happy that my father was one of my first teachers. Like Sam, my dad is very loving and ever understanding. He listens to me with so much attention most of the time and constantly shares about his experiences too. That part of the film made me miss my father so much. It is just sad to know that Lucy couldn't barely experience the same because soon enough --sooner than I had, she will need to learn more than what her father could teach her. 

            Lucy was a very understanding and a very bright child. I thought her father’s condition was very clear to her and that she accepts it very well. I expected that her intelligence and early maturity will not cause her to be ashamed of her father, but I was wrong. It made me realize that no matter how we love our father, there will always be a time that we will be ashamed of them, esp. in front of our friends. Regardless if it is because of his mental incapability, or in our case, his over protection,  his taste of clothing, his ignorance in modern technology, and etc. Another reality that this movie showed was, no matter how we dump our father, at the end of the day, we will regret it and think that we shouldn't have forsaken them in anyway.

          I relate my character with Lucy so much. Maybe because we are both close to our fathers and we both are very inquisitive and curious about the world. There was also a time when I was ashamed of my dad because he was being humiliated by my mother. But as I grew up, I realized that the character of my dad is just so good that he will out-stand every unpleasant word thrown to him. Not that I don't love my mother --I love my mother of course, it is just that there are times that my mother can't guard her mouth and was able to say things that are not very pleasant for a daughter to hear. Same as Lucy, there was also a time that I was mad at my father for leaving the house for months. I was mad at him because I thought he didn't even think of us when he left. He tried to fill the times we are apart by secretly fetching us from school and treat us to movies and have our hair cut from expensive salons. I have worried with my father's money because he is not earning that much. My father and I text at night and talk about our lives. After a few months, my dad won my trust and rapport again. I asked him to promise me he'll go back at home and make amendments with my mom at Christmas. I was happy that he did as he promised; he is very trustworthy.

           Most importantly, I think the movie displayed, through the comparison of Rita's relationship with her son and Sam's relationship to her daughter,  values that only an excellent parent can teach his child; that a mentally retarded person can unwittingly teach but a normal person can hardly recognize and manifest in himself/herself --the value of honesty, the capacity to love and empathy to all kinds of people. Not that only mentally disabled people are the only ones capable of doing those things, but sometimes normal people are just so preoccupied with many matters in this world that they forget to go back to the fundamentals of life.

Judgement (Tuesday 8:57 PM)

     Today I was asked to write about my judgement. First, I was addressed to examine my own judgement, if it's biased to my personal preferences. Second, I was asked to listen to a music and or watch a film and evaluate how it touched me aesthetically. Third, we were asked to look for a friend who shares the same interest and inquire how he increases his expertise in that area. Fourth, we were required to notice the times we say thanks and judge if we mean it every time. Lastly, we are asked to let a friend see our judgement on the last three tasks and assess it.

     I accomplished the task by looking at my past judgement about anything I can remember then evaluate on how I make judgement. I realized that I try as hard as I could to judge fairly and base it on principles, but no matter how I try, it is understandable that humans have inevitable prejudice tendencies about everything. Second, I watched the movie I am Sam. The simplicity of the production made us focus more on the beauty of the plot of the movie. The beauty of the plot really touched me because I am a daddy's girl and it made me relate to the movie so much. I asked a friend who has watched the same movie as recently as I do and she said appreciated the plot as well. She said that she increases her expertise in by watching more movies of the same kind and reading articles about it. I often say thanks to the people that do good things to me --even to those who do annoying things to me. I say thanks sarcastically to the people who suggests nonsense things intentionally. The last statement makes my thanksgiving less sincere. Lastly, I asked a blockmate to see my judgement and he said that my judgement is somehow opinionated but acceptable. 

    I had a difficult time doing the task because I feel very sick tonight. I can't focus in everything I do because my head is really aching and I feel like vomiting. I think that's the biggest challenge for me in accomplishing tonight's task. 

natural beauty (Monday 7:44 PM)

    I had so many tasks done and yet to be done for today. But for this day, I have accomplished all the task given in my e-mail except for the first one. I was not able to encourage people to participate because I am shy to interrupt them from whatever they are doing.  I accomplished the rest of the tasks by looking back from the time I've waken up this morning, up to this time of the day. I was happy because I had the chance to reflect on my day; count my blessings and my troubles for this day. I am happy to realize that my blessings outnumber my troubles.

     It is my habit to appreciate beauty of every kind; whether it is the beauty of one's face, the kindness of one's heart, the beauty of the clouds, the symphony the vehicle horns make especially in the morning, and etc. And this is what I did next. I looked for a natural beauty that I have exceptionally appreciated this day and it was the horizon. I remembered this morning when I woke up and looked at the window as I prayed, I was stunned by the beauty of the horizon during the dawn. Upon searching the internet for more descriptions of horizon, I was amazed by how pilots use the horizon to control an aircraft.

     After thinking about those things, I have started doing my log and this is its product. I had very indescribable feelings while reflecting about my day. There are things that I have regretted doing, but on the bright side, at least I've learned not to do it again anymore.

     I've had a hard time finishing the task because I've had a very loaded day and it was hard to remember all the things that happened to me today. Furthermore, I felt very absentminded on most parts of the day because I didn't have enough sleep last night. However, this day is not very boring and dull so I was able to extract some memories from my mind.

Stand Fast

     Nowadays, we are in a generation when knowledge and information are available in just a single click. We are currently experiencing a frenetic flow of data and information now more than ever. Information are now being delivered through different media; data which are unfiltered and unregulated. Most likely containing violence, worldly intentions, earthly values, and etc. We are pressured to devote ourselves in materialistic and fleshly desires just to be in with our environment. People can influence our decisions and embed beliefs in our mind; beliefs that are sometimes false or hoax. Our task now is to learn filtering the information we get from people and things around us, and remain in truth. No matter how much pressure is being pressed against us through teasing, tempting, bribing and etc,. we should remain loyal to the truth, and not let ourselves be fooled with the lies of the world. 

   "The entire water in the ocean can never sink a ship unless it gets inside. 

      All the pressures in the world can never affect you unless you let it in."

                                                                                      -Anonymous

     God never said that walking with Him would be easy. In our walk with Him, we will surely experience many distractions, confusions and discouragement around us. There are things that would make us wanna quit walking with God. Things that brings delight in our physical body but beats the Holiness inside our hearts. We will be tempted to try new recreational activities and will slowly become our vices; we will be allured to accept and practice unholy principles. In that case, we need to be strong and get a grip in God's hand. In times that we are distracted, we should hold on tighter to the truth. We are weak against the blandishments the devil can throw to us. But as long as we hold on to God, we will be strong. He will give us strength. 

     "Though my life is hard and I face tough issues, my God will never abandon me."

                                                                                                               -Anonymous

     Life in this world runs so fast. As people will notice, most of us are now getting what we want in an instant --instant noodles, canned rice, 3in1 coffee, one-click communication, faster cars, trains, and etc. Living works so fast that we are are already forgetting to pause, meditate and talk to the real life giver. We are likely obliterating the real purpose of our life. We focus on work, stress ourselves in our studies, immerse ourselves in the thought of our future in this world... yada yada yada... Sometimes we need to be still, free ourselves from the burdens of life and listen to our true master --not to our professor and to our boss, but to God. We need to stay put and pause until everything is calm and safe again. 

     Lastly, we need to look forward to his promises. We need to be excited in our true destination; our home; our heaven. This will make us more loyal to God because we can constantly remind ourself that God has many more happiness and pleasures to offer than this temporary world can. Happiness that will last for eternity; pleasures that knows no end. 

      In facing the world and resisting its temptations, God will always be with us. Yes it is hard, but we can assure ourselves that we will not be alone in our journey. Sometimes we walk too fast and were unable to notice that we are already in the wrong track. In that instance, what we need to do is slow down and  look again for the only way to reach the desired destination; look again for Jesus. After finding it again, we should start walking  once more and look forward to heaven with excitement.