The United States often has been labeled a cultural imperialist* power because of the successful export of culture that is popular within the United States. American movies, television, and music can be seen and heard in most urban areas around the globe. Cultural imperialism sometimes is perceived as a form of bullying. Some countries, such as France, actively resist the prevalence of American culture and even enact laws and policies to protect native culture.

Large-scale distribution and consumption of culture raises the question of what role individuals play in supporting global distribution of popular culture. Is the shared experience more valuable than diversity of expression? Can a single person change popular culture? How does an individual protect his or her own values in a pop culture world?

This week, you consider your individual role in creating and consuming popular culture.

By Day 3

Post a 250-word response in which you address the following:

• Describe a time when you were surprised by something that was considered popular but that was new to you. Analyze whether or not you consider yourself to be an active participant in popular culture. Explain your analysis.
• If you could create a popular culture artifact and provide universal access to it, describe what message you might embed in this artifact or whether you would avoid any specific message. Explain your response.

Respond to this:

In early 2022 I took a week off work and had a staycation at home. I had done all the chores and errands I had to due in about 6 hours. So that left me with six and a half days to do nothing. I came across this show on Netflix that I had seen previews for but never really interested me, and I thought, well, let me give it a try. After the first episode, I thought this was ok, but not too interested. Suddenly, I looked at the time, and 5 hours had passed without me even noticing I was hooked. “Stranger Things” was fantastic and addictive. I swore I was probably the only person watching it. So I casually brought it up in conversations with my friends. They could not believe I barely saw it after three seasons of it being on Netflix. It has a huge fan base, and I had no idea. I do not consider myself an active participant in popular culture because I have a four-year-old daughter and “Cocomelon” is as popular culture as I get nowadays. That is until I find something like “Stranger Things” to spark a new flame in me. 

    I would create a television show about families of many cultures and races. This show would not only take place in America but around the world. It would show how families live their daily lives, like going to work and to school and showing love to one another. It would not exclude any part of the world, including the richest to the poorest. This show would be to show everyone around the world that we all are humans, no matter race, ethnicity, religion, or class. In one way or another, we are connected and show some similarities, whether it be the way we love, work, learn, or feel. Jane McGonigal has spent her life researching ways how video games can make us better people this, in a way, would be my way of trying to help make us understand each other better, So we can spend less time judging and more understanding each other. 

Stranger Things (TV Series 2016– ). (2016, July 15). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/

Cocomelon (TV Series 2018–2022). (2020, June 1). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12427840/

TED2010. (2010, March 17). Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make _a_better_world

Part 2: Due 8/18/2022 ** I attached the last assignment as a reference **

Assignment: Reflection

To prepare:

• Reflect on your Assignments from this course that culminated in your Final Project due in Week 5.
• Consider the Instructor feedback you received on Assignments throughout this course.
• Reflect on the Discussions you have had with your colleagues.
• Reflect on the Learning Resources you have used throughout this course.

By Day 7

Submit a 500-word reflection paper in which you:

• explore the ways in which you consume, react to, and engage with popular culture.
• reflect on how studying popular culture has changed or reinforced your beliefs and values and whether or not your choices about popular culture will change.
• discuss the extent to which your consumption of and attitude about popular culture may or may not change.
• analyze how you might affect social change through popular culture creation, consumption, and critical analysis.

Support your assertions by making at least two references to the Learning Resources, using proper APA format.