Cultural Analysis

From Deviance to "Dream Market": Social Acceptance and the Reification of Homosexuality in the Late Twentieth Century

Author: 
Adrienne Kennedy

Adrienne Kennedy, a scrawny and perpetually tired-looking young woman, has spent the majority of her life in Irvine, California. She is passionate about pursuing a degree in microbiology and plans to attend medical school upon completion. In her free time, Adrienne enjoys cooking, rock climbing, paying in exact change, and keeping her mouth shut in public to avoid physical harm.


Works Cited: 

Batie, Alan. "The History of the Stonewall Rebellion." Gender and Sexuality. Web. 18 Sept. 2009. .

Chasin, Alexandra. Selling Out The Gay and Lesbian Movement Goes to Market. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2001. Print.

"consumerism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 20 September 2009.

Goffman, Erving. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New York, N.Y: Simon & Schuster, 1986. Print.

Sarasohn, Sara. "Once Political, Now Just Practical." New York Times. 30 Aug. 2009, Late Edition (East Coast): New York Times, ProQuest. Web. 21 Sep. 2009.

Sparta, Christine. "Emergence from the Closet." USA Today 11 Mar. 2002. Web. 7 Sept. 2009. .

Sullivan, Andrew. “The End of Gay Culture.” The Presence of Others. Ed. Andrea A. Lunsford & John J. Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. 381-92. Trevi-o, A. Javier.

Goffman's Legacy. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, Inc., 2003. Print. Wardlow, Daniel L. Gays, Lesbians, and Consumer Behavior Theory, Practice, and Research Issues in Marketing (Monograph Published Simultaneously As the Journal of Homosexuality ... Journal of Homosexuality , Vol 13, Nos 1/2). New York: Harrington Park, 1996. Print.

The Clash of Civilizations

Author: 
Olga Doktorov

Olga Doktorov is a junior at Boston College. Her majors are Secondary Education and History. She truly enjoys working with children. She also likes birds. Her hobbies are dancing, listening to music. and going to the theater. She moved from Saint Petersburg, Russia only 18 months ago, and now resides in Wellesley, MA with her husband and cute little parakeet Sunny.


Works Cited: 

Quinn, C. D., Walker, T. (Directors). (2006). God Grew Tired of Us [Motion picture]. United States: Lost Boys of Sudan.

Walker, L. (Director). (2002). Devil’s Playground [Motion picture]. United States: Cinemax Reel life.

De-evolution of Hip Hop: The Commodification of Hip Hop Music into Mainstream

Author: 
Jessica Murillo

Jessica Murillo enjoys spending her time mellowing out with some friends, her boyfriend, or by herself, whether it be trying new things to obtain an adrenaline rush or simply doing nothing. Other than family, school, and friends music and basketball also have a great impact in her life. She loves basketball and everything about it; from watching a Lakers game to competing on her own. As for music, she would probably go insane if it never existed because it eases her mind and her soul.


Works Cited: 

Cook, Dave. "The History of Hip Hop." 1985. 27 Jan 2009 http://www.daveyd.com/raptitle.html

Dalton, Patricia. "We've Gotta Have It; But We Don't Need It, and It's Consuming Us." Washington Post. 2004. 27 Jan 2009 http://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebindex=18&did=747279161&SrchMode=1&sid=9&F

Dawkins, Walter. “Is Hip Hop Dead?” Daveyd.com 27 Jan 2009 http://www.daveyd.com/commentaryishiphopdead.html

Fitts, Mako. "Drop It Like It's Hot: Culture Industry Laborers and Their Perspectives on Rap Music Video Production." Meridians. Middletown: 2008. 27 Jan 2009 http://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebindex=27&did=1482648511&SrchMode=1&sid=1&F...

Lyricsfreak. "I Used to Love Her." Lyricsfreak.com 27 Jan 2009 http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/common/i+used+to+love+h+e+r_20032949.html

Serwer, Adam. "From Pop Charts to Politics." Utne. Topeka: Jan/Feb 2009. 27 Jan 2009 http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=8&did=1626675951&SrchMode=1&sid=8&F...

Urbandictionary. "Mainstream." Urbandictionary.com 1999-2008. 27 Jan 2009 http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mainstream

Deconstructing a Billboard of Fear

Author: 
Ryan Jung

Works Cited: 

Harris, Charles. Vote Republican. 1949. Pittsburgh Courier Archives, Pittsburgh. 6 Feb. 2009 http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/Pictures/vote_gop2.JPG.

“Harry Truman And Civil Rights.” Rev. of Harry Truman And Civil Rights, Moral Courage And Political Risk. Southern Illinois University Press. Dept. home page. Southern Illinois University. 22 Nov. 2008 http://www.siu.edu/~siupress/titles/s02_titles/gardner_truman.htm.

“The Hill District: History.” clpgh.org. 2008. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. 22 Nov. 2008 http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/hill/hill_n4.html.

Korol, Paul S. “A Brief History Of The Hill (Pittsburgh History).” Ancestry.com. 4 Feb. 2002. 22 Nov. 2008 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njm1/hillhist.htm.

TrumanLibrary.org. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. 22 Nov. 2008 http://www.trumanlibrary.org/teacher/campaign.htm.

TrumanLibray.org. 22 Nov. 2008 .
Tuck, Stephen G.N. Beyond Atlanta. University of Georgia Press, April 2003. 22 Nov. 2008 http://books.google.com/books?id=2y674_8pGXkC&pg=PA74&dq=talmadge+1948+e....

You Don’t Understand. I AM America’s Next Top Model: The Reification of Talent in 21st Century America

Author: 
Allie Yap

One is hard pressed not to admit the ubiquity of reality talent shows these days, especially after having seen an advertisement for ESPN that parodies ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Just how far-reaching are reality talent shows? Turn on the television, surf YouTube, and browse through popular publications like Us Weekly and People and it becomes obvious that they have become a large focus in American media.

Works Cited: 

Bareiss, Warren. "ORIGINAL AMATEUR HOUR, THE." Museum of Broadcast Communications. 14 Sept. 2008 http://www.museum.tv

Carter, Bill. "America's Got a Yen For Summer Talent Show." 5 Aug. 2008. New York Times. 13 Sept. 2008 http://www.nytimes.com

Frere-Jones, Sasha. "IDOLATRY; Pop Music." 19 Mar. 2008. New Yorker. 13 Sept. 2008 http://www.newyorker.com

Herman, Michelle. "Idolatry." Project Muse. 2004. 13 Sept. 2008 http://www.projectmuse.com

Howard, Theresa. "Real winner of 'American Idol': Coke." 08 Sept. 2002. USA Today. 12 Sept. 2008 http://www.usatoday.com

Can Small Schools Let Go of Their Safety Blankets

Author: 
Denise Stone

The size of a school can play a major role in determining the type of education a child receives. School systems are forever looking for the proper balance between too many and too few students. Both cases can adversely affect the learning process, yet most people are unaware of what exactly the problem is that students and faculty face in a small town.

Works Cited: 

Abramson, Paul. "How Small Is Too Small?" School Planning and Management Magazine. 22 Jan. 2006: 109-112.

"Are Small Schools Better?" Western Education Policy Brief. 22 Oct. 2001.
64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:OsJHk1xZ66gJ:www.wested.org/online_pubs/po-01
03.pdf+are+small+schools+better%3F&hl=en

Hinz, Lisa. "Size, Cost and Quality in Public Schools and School Districts." University of
Minnesota Extension Program. 12 June 1993.
extension.umn.edu/distribution/resourcesandtourism/components/DB6178- 3.html

Magnuson, Peter. "Small or Large? The Debate Over School Size." The National Association of Elementary School Principals. 20 Nov. 2001. naesp.org/ContentLoad.do?contentId=189

Ravitch, Diane. "Down size High Schools? Not Too Far." The Washington Post.
6 Nov. 2005: B07.

Shmuck, Patricia A. and Richard A. Small Districts, Big Problems. Newbury Park, California:
Corwin Press, Inc., 1992.

Books for Bucks

Author: 
Brian Ramsey

The Boston College bookstore in the McElroy building is the central retail center for the university's entire campus. The crowded little store carries basically everything that a student living on campus would ever need. Whether it is a shirt from the large selection of BC clothing, some notebooks from the array of school supplies, a fold-up lounge chair decorated in the school's colors, a magazine, a pack of gum, or simply a few books that all students are required to purchase, the bookstore has it in stock -- it is the Wal-Mart of Boston College.

Works Cited: 

n/a