Turtle Power: Journal Article Analysis 1-3

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made their movie debut in 1990 and their sequel later on in 1991. In the early 90’s however the turtles started off in comic books. Also around 1984 Teenage mutant ninja turtle action figures came out and came right off the shelf as quick as a wink. The story behind these Turtles is simple. 4 normal turtles living in the sewers of New York City get exposed to some “Radioactive Waste” which makes them stronger and more intelligent then ever seen. From the help of their master “Splinter” they learn ninjitsu where the must stop the evil “Shredder” from taking over the world. Splinter was one a simple pet to a great ninjitsu master until one day the evil shredder sent his evil henchmen the foot to destroy his little Japanese town. Splinter got away and made it to New York where he also fell in the Radioactive waste and became wise. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actually started out as a spoof to the Marvel Comic Daredevil. There was one part of the comic book in Daredevil where he was trained by a master called “Stick” and he must stop “The Hand” from destroying the world. Daredevil was also affected by Radioactive Waste and it heightened his senses but has for the turtles not only did it heighten their intelligence it made them strong as well. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a big hit around this time. Teenagers could relate to the turtles for the simple fact that the turtles where teenagers as well. Eating pizza, skateboarding, and playing pranks on each other is what a typical teenager does. When the first comic book arose in stores in 1984 and the turtles where now taking off it was all based on the fact of the Regan/ Bush Era. While the Berlin Wall was coming down and research into the Strategic Defense Initiative, Americans were concerned about nuclear war and the turtles showed a new light to nuclear waste. Also around this time many toys were based of the Regan years where the evil empire Soviet Union was shaping. Many Toys like He-Man: Master of the Universe and GI Joe and even the turtles where a sign that there are hero’s among the United States and we will stop the world from evil. While most toys that dealt with hero’s typical white or Caucasian members with a strong build and weapons to help them along the way, The turtles broke the mold by being green and not from a typical American background. Many differences that also came along that He-Man and GI Joe fought against evil all the time, no matter what the cost. The turtles are a laid back, fight for justice and only actually took up a battle when one of their friends of family was in trouble. The turtles hit the action figure market so rapidly cashing in over 500 million dollars in one year. The turtles was a popular culture break through and are still going strong with the animated TV series today. A lot of kids even I remember trying to be a ninja turtle doing kicks in the air and fighting shredder. It gave light to the fact that we cant take nuclear war too serious but also be a little concerned. the Ninja Turtles formed part of a collective sigh of relief among Americans at the conclusion of the Cold War. Their resurgent longevity bears testament not only to their inherent originality but also to their identity as one of America’s most effective psychological self-defense mechanisms against the apocalyptic threat that nuclear weapons still pose: a sense of humor.

Bisges, J. (2007) Turtle power!: How Four Mutant Teenagers Nuked the Entertainment Industry, Vol. 41, Issue 6, p. 918-933

Weekly Written Analysis 5-1

Role Models is a very hillarious movie. Two energy drink salesmen go to high schools trying to sell their product Minotaur and in a very bizzare twist of events smash their sales truck into a statue after their truck was almost towed away. Wheeler loves his job but Danny on the other hand hates it and complains that his life sucks. Instead of going to jail they are put into a big brother program called sturdy wings. Wheeler is paired up with Ronnie shields a foulmouth kid and Danny is paired up with Augie Farks, a nerdy kid obessesd with live action roleplaying games. Even though Danny and Wheeler end up bonding with the kids when Danny gets Augie banned from his medieval game LAIRE and Wheeler takes Ronnie to a party to leave with a girl and leave Ronnie unattended. Both parents of the kids tell Sturdy wings that they dont want them hanging around their kids anymore and thats when it gets worse. The guys are given a court appointment where they will likely have to face jail time. Instead them and two other boys go to LAIRE for a battle with the tryrannical king. Shortly after the battle, showing that they have a great realtionship with the kids, there court appointment is canceled. The movie ends with Danny getting back together with his girlfriend Beth.

Weekly Written Analysis 4-1

David Batista also known as his ring name "Batista" was born Janurary 18, 1969. Batista is a 4 time World Heavyweight Champion, 3 time World Tag Team Champion, 1 time WWE Tag Team Champion and winner of the 2005 Roayal Rumble match. Batista came from a poor family. Before he was even nine he seen three murders happen right in his front lawn. By age 13 he was stealing automobiles and by age 17 Batista was out on his own. Batista dreamed at this time of becoming a bodybuilder and even till this day gives credit to bodybuilding for saving his life. Batista tried out at the WCW Power Plant but was told he would never make it as a wrestler. He then went to WWF were he started his training and oer to OVW as Leviathan were he did alot of amazing things earning him the right to enter World Wrestling Entertainment. On Janurary 9, 2006 after gaining alot of respect in the ring, Batista tore his right tricep and surpassed 280 days of the longest reigning the world heavyweigt title. Batista claimed that Mark Henry was careless and never gave him any warning that the move (chocolate mousse) was coming almost immediatly ending his wrestling career. After a succesful surgery and recovery, Batista returned to the ring July 7, 2006 and promised to have the title back by WrestleMania 22 and he did by defeating King Booker. From 2007 to 2008 he went through many lengths to keep his title and did until losing it in 2008 to Chris Jericho in a Steel Cage Match. Batista is now on Monday Night Raw and till this day trying to regain the World Heavyweight Chapionship for a fifth time in his career. Many wrestlers at the age of 30 are thinking about hanging up their boots but as for Batista he has just started and ever since, this 30 year old powerhouse has shown the nation that his "Batista bomb" will not be taken lightly.

Weekly Written Analysis 3-1

Kurt Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington. Cobain dropped out of high school after realizing that he did not have enough credits to graduate. His mother gave him a choice: either get a job or leave. After a week or so, Cobain found his clothes and other belongings packed away in boxes. In late 1986, Cobain moved into the first house he lived in alone and paid his rent by working at a coastal resort twenty miles from Aberdeen. For his 14th birthday, Cobain's uncle gave him the option of a guitar or a bicycle as a gift; Cobain chose the guitar. He started learning a few covers and soon began working on his own songs. Cobain struggled to reconcile the massive success of Nirvana . Courtney Love seen Kurt on Saturday Night Live and instantly fell in love and soon was having Cobain's kid. Later The two of them were married and Frances Bean Cobain was born. Kurt couldnt of been happier at that moment. Cobain battled chronic bronchitis and intense physical pain due to an undiagnosed chronic stomach condition. His first drug experience was with marijuana in 1980 at age 13. Cobain's first experience with heroin occurred sometime in 1986, administered to him by a local drug dealer in Tacoma, Washington, who had previously been supplying him with Percodan. Cobain used heroin sporadically for several years, but, by the end of 1990, his use had developed into a full-fledged addiction. Cobain claimed that he was "determined to get a habit" as a way to self-medicate his stomach condition. Related Cobain, "It started with three days in a row of doing heroin and I don't have a stomach pain. That was such a relief. Kurt Cobain had many problems in his life, just like most of us do, he let them get to him to quick and at a young age. Kurt Cobain will be missed by many die hard Nirvana Fans. I am one of them.

Weekly Analysis Assignment 2-1

Korn formed after the group L.A.P.D. folded, due to singer Richard Morrill's drug addiction. Musicians Reginald Arvizu, James Shaffer, and David Silveria wanted to continue, and recruited guitarist Brian Welch and vocalist Corey Cinque and started a new band called Creep. Corey was soon dropped due to the band being dissatisfied with him.
In early 1993, the band took notice of vocalist Jonathan Davis after seeing his band Sexart and attempted to get him to join Creep. Davis initially did not want to join the band, but after consulting a psychic he decided to audition and then joined the band. The band soon changed their name to Korn.

In April that year, the band began a working led to their first demo tape entitled Neidermeyer's Mind. The band had problems getting signed during its first year. After many attempts at a record deal, Paul Pontius from Immortal/Epic Records heard the band in a nightclub and was so impressed, he signed them on the spot.

Musically, the album was a mix of heavy metal, alternative rock, hip hop, and funk the latter elements encompassed in the rhythmic approach to the band's compositions. "Blind" was the first single from the album, which got a decent amount of airplay and attention. Once Korn saw a release on October 11, 1994, the band toured incessantly with no support from radio or video stations. It was through the effort of this fanbase that helped push Korn onto the Billboard 200, eventually peaking at #72 in 1996 with "Shoots and Ladders" being their first Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

On their first large tour, Korn opened for Danzig alongside Marilyn Manson. Other bands for which Korn opened in 1995 included Megadeth, 311, Fear Factory, Flotsam and Jetsam, and KMFDM. However, the first tour that widely exposed the band was opening for Ozzy Osbourne alongside the Deftones.

Many albums they have: 1994: Korn, 1996: Life is Peachy,1998: Follow the Leader, 1999: Issues, 2002: Untouchables, 2003: Take a look in the Mirror, 2005: See you on the other side and 2007: Untitled.

Icon Analysis

The three icons that I choose are Gi Joes, The rap group G-unit and The New York Giants. I choose these 3 Icons because I know a lot about these things and they all have influenced my life someway. What do these icons mean to me?


GI Joe’s

These toys were the most popular thing growing up back in the 80’s. While the girls had Barbie, the boys had the combat action figure with attitude. The Gi Joe always had to go up against the evil cobra no matter what the objective is. This icon meant to me that one day I could be a true leader and always do the right thing no matter what and no matter who is looking. I think Gi Joe also was the reason I joined the army.

G- Unit

This Rap Group came out around 2005 and from that time on they landed a ton of records. Looking at G-Unit’s past he grew up in a bad part of New York and had a dream to be a rapper. Even though he had that dream a lot of people thought that he would end of on the streets selling drugs just like most of his friends. This icon means to me the ambition to set your dreams high and never let go of them. If you feel something deep down inside go for it and if you don’t succeed try and try again.

New York Giants

I have been a fan of the New York Giants since 2001 when they had Kurt Warner as the QB and I believe Kerry Collins. They been so close to the wild card in different years and just didn’t seem to reach there goal. Last year They went into the same dilemma starting at the wild card, playoffs, until finally reaching the super bowl. Everyone thought it was a sure win for the Patriots but New York showed them that their hard work wasn’t going unnoticed and they in fact are super bowl champs. This Icon means to me that even when people say its over or it can never happen prove them wrong and take the extra drive to show them not only it can be done but with ease at any given time.

Weekly Written Analysis " A Scanner Darkly"

Bob Arctor (Reeves) is an undercover agent assigned to infiltrate the drug supply chain. Arctor and his housemates live in a poor Anaheim, California neighborhood. They are heavy drug users. When Arctor is at the police station, he is codenamed Fred, and hides his identity from his fellow police officers by wearing a high-tech scramble suit, that changes every aspect of the wearer's appearance. While posing as a drug user, Arctor becomes addicted to Substance D. Arctor befriends an attractive young woman named Donna Hawthorne (Ryder), a user of cocaine, Arctor's supplier of Substance D, and part of the drug scene. Arctor hopes to buy so much Substance D from Hawthorne that she is forced to introduce him to her supplier. Hank orders Fred to step up surveillance on the members of the Arctor household. Hank assumes Fred is one of the drug users in the Arctor household, but does not know which one, and actually orders Fred to focus the surveillance on Arctor. Meanwhile, Arctor's housemate Barris (Downey Jr.) secretly contacts the police and tells them he suspects Hawthorne and Arctor are part of a terrorist organization. Barris unknowingly tells this to Arctor himself at the police station while Arctor is wearing his scramble suit. Arctor is no longer able to distinguish between his roles as a drug user and undercover policeman, which makes him incapable of performing his job. Hank reveals to Fred that he has figured out, through the process of elimination, his true identity, and that his identity is indeed Arctor. Hank phones Donna, and asks her to take Arctor to New Path, Arctor is renamed Bruce and put through psychological reconditioning treatments. Arctor has serious brain damage from his withdrawal from Substance D. New Path is responsible for the manufacture and distribution of Substance D. Donna was part of a greater police operation to infiltrate New Path, and Arctor had been selected, without his knowledge or consent, to carry out the sting. It is revealed that the police had intended for Arctor to become addicted to Substance D; his well-being was sacrificed so that he might enter a rehabilitation center unnoticed as a real addict in order to find conclusive proof of New Path's crimes. New Path sends Arctor to work at an isolated New Path corn farming prison. Arctor spots rows of blue flowers hidden between rows of corn. These flowers, are the source of Substance D. Arctor hides one of the blue flowers in his boot, so that when he returns to the New Path clinic during Thanksgiving he can give it to his "friends" undercover police agents.

Popular Culture

Popular Culuture- The shared knowledge and practices of a specific group at a specific time. Because of it's commonality, pop culture both reflects and influences peoples way of life, because it is linked to a specific time and place, pop culture is transitory, subject to change and often an initiator of change.

Popular culture means to me stuff from your childhood either media, television, art, or music plays a vital role and can change how people growup or act in the future.

Popular culture is relevant in my business environment because with the military, many things change for example presidents, uniforms, different paperwork and even squad leaders. The main focus is that we must use the past pop culture to expand and help ourself and the soldiers under us accomplish the mission.

I would choose the simpsons because they are a popular television show from the late 80's that always had a show on the leading topics and make humor of some sort to that topic so kids can understand and parents especially adults can get a laugh and help to better tell the kids the basic of what they just seen and why.