comment for Generation Flash

(blogspot wouldn't, for some reason, let me post a comment on anyone's blog so I'm posting this here in response to http://kroe3.blogspot.com/ )

"Think sample verses the whole work. If we are indeed living in a remix culture does it still make sense to create whole works--if these works will be taken apart and turned into samples by others anyway?"

Yes, I think it is still important to create whole works, knowing that they maybe/will be taken apart and turned into samples by others anyway. This idea reminds me almost of a cross between our reading aobut subcultures and the Hacker Manifesto. Essentially,a whole work can be compared to natural or mainstream culture while a remix or bunch of samples can represent the subculture. Alhthough remixes and samples can be seen as a counter part or rebellion towards whole artworks, they can't exist without them. If there were no whole works,there would be nothing to remix. This also reminded me of the reading on hackers as it emphasized the art of taking parts of a whole, and separating them to make new piece.

Akira and Ranma 1/2: The Monstrous Adolescent

In Susan Napier’s Akira and Ranma ½ focuses on the forms of the representation of the adolescent body, specifically through Japanese Anime. Napier uses two particular characters, Tetuso from the Anime film Akira and Ranma from the anime series Ranma 1/2, to convey her ideas regarding the development and changes in the body and ones perception/feelings during adolescence. Various “in between states” are discussed in the reading.

Napier describes that while Tetuso is seen as powerful and even monstrous anime character, he lacks of self confidence and compared to his companion Kaneda often feels like a weak unaccomplished outcast, feelings often felt by the average adolescent. Going further, these ideas of self doubt and ambivalence are mirrored with Japan’s national identity in the late 1980s when Akira was released. Although Japan was gaining world power and as a result feared by many other nations, the country basked in this new found power, while also fearing it. Tetuso’s lack of self-confidence is also highlighted when he is unable to start and control his companion, Kaneda’s motorcycle. Napier describes this also as a coded way of showing his lack of male power or dominance, which he later gains through a frenzied ride as he develops monstrous qualities towards the end of the film through the birth of intimidating mutations which displays one of the main themes: metamorphosis. Ultimately, Napier describes Tetuso’s anti-heroism as “a form of all-out adolescent resistance to an increasingly meaningless world in which oppressive authority figures administer the rules simply to continue in power.” Tetuso is also described as going through in-between states regarding gender when he “implodes into a grotesque scene of birth” crossing gender boundaries and exemplifying the genre of “Body Horror” displaying an adolescent’s feeling of being vengeful, as well as frightened in ones own opinion as well as the opinion of others.

Ranma ½, unlike Akira, focuses mainly on gender roles and the metamorphoses from male female. Due to a random curse Ranma is forced to interchangeably morph between male and female. Napier describes the series essentially deals with creating gender identity at both a public and individual level, although compared to Akira it is set in a much more comedic tone. The series essentially shows Ranma trying to find his personal gender identity as a consequence of adolescence while also touching on public ideas regarding gender norms. For example, while the norm of a character in a fantasy story changing from female to male is seen as empowering Ranma’s transformation is clearly negative and humiliating, while changing from male to female results in the ultimately humiliation and loss of power.

Essentially I did not find this reading particularly difficult although it did include many different perspectives on Japanese anime and human adolescence. I found this information interesting mainly because I most likely would have never noticed the mentioned ideas, although I never watch anime, I found it interesting how many layers and codes were comprised in these works. The emphasis on coding and layering of information as well as ideas of phallic imagery and male the apparent male dominance (especially in relation the Tetuso) reminded me of the Adorno, Hall, and Mulvey readings which emphasized how closely related our class readings are even though at times they seem far fetched, or unrelated to each other.

The Function of Subculture

In “The Function or Subculture” Dick Hebdige gives a very detailed account on how subcultures are formed, as well as what constitutes a given subculture. Hebdige defines a subculture as a group of individuals that share similar taste, consumption pattern, style etc. that differ from the social norm, or natural culture in which most individuals are adapt to. He explains the formation of subculture as a group of individuals willing to “transgress laws of mans second nature by repositioning and recontextualizing commodities by subverting their conventional uses and inventing new ones.” This example reminded directly of the ideology we have discussing in class regarding decontextualization of art as well as aura. While Hebdige seems to remain generally unbiased in this work, his idea of what constitutes a subculture reminded me of Hall’s work and the concepts of encoding and decoding, in relation to an individuals interpretation of media. Although Hebdige is focusing on commodities opposed to media such as television, it seems he an Hall share the same ideas of individuals interpreting or decontextualizing due to their culture, or in this case, subculture.

Hebdige also emphasizes style and fashion as a defining feature of a subculture, while also leading to it’s slow demise. For example the safety pin wearing punk culture, or the mods more simple form of dress. He also describes how these types of looks, subculture created styles, become more mainstream or “trendy” as clothing companies and corporations begin to manufacture these unique types of clothing. Eventually, however, fashion that was only associated with a particular subculture becomes mainstream, for example a designer collection that includes bedazzled safety pins as an accessory. Ultimately a style that belonged to only an obscure subculture becomes a mainstream fad which leads to the subculture’s demise since it is no longer apart from the social norm but has, itself, become the social norm.

Hebdige also mentions the importance of the media in making subcultures public. He uses many examples from periodicals to convey this point, emphasizing the growth of subcultures due to exposure in the media. Hebdige explains the positive and negative effects of media on subculture by, again, using punk culture as an example. He explains a newspaper article in which punk culture is encouraged and embraced in family life, while also describing an article ridiculing punks and blaming punk culture for the beating of a young boy.

Essentially, Hebdige conveys his points on subculture through clear examples, communicating the idea of a subculture as a means or branching off and recontextualizing social norms or natural culture and creating new unique culture.

The Homology Between Spaces

In “The Homology Between Spaces,” Bourdieu meticulously analyzes the means by which culture impacts the individual through three main structures including consumption and presentation.

More specifically Bourdieu focuses on social class and gender with regards to the consumption of food. I found it intriguing that ones occupation and social class can have such great affect on the food one chooses to consume. As Bourdieu explains the relationships between occupation, social class, and food consumption, he mentions the want for the rich to choose more expensive food simply because they can afford it, but also adds that this more expensive food is often a healthier choice. He then goes on to explain that individuals who are defined as working class, who are often more concerned with their body strength opposed to body shape simply for its cheaper price. I never really thought of one’s social class as a way to define they kinds of food they consume but after reading this excerpt I have to agree with Bourdieu, although he does seem to be making a very broad generalization, he includes surveys in the excerpt to back up his findings.

However, what I found most interesting was the way Bourdieu approached gender roles with regards to food consumption. Bourdieu explains the general expectancy and justification for men to eat large hearty portions of food, often taking second helpings and eating large meals while women are described as more delicate dainty eaters. He even uses a fish dinner as an example, describing that a piece of fish would not be sufficient to feed a strong brawny male, although it would be perfectly adequate meal for a woman. As I whole heartedly disagree with Bourdieu’s statements I began to see a link between these ideas and the widespread affect of eating disorders in women over men. Perhaps the reason why so many girls are starving themselves is not due to only the media and the goal of looking like a celebrity, but because it is seen by many cultures as a social norm for women to consume less food than men. Being a teenage girl I know that many of my friends including myself often think about my weight or how much food I am consuming, and whether or not it’s “too much.” But where did this idea sprout from anyway? If cultures and individuals eliminated these preconceived notions of food consumption with regards to gender roles I feel many women could be saved from developing mental body image disorders.

Essentially, Bourdieu conveys many valid points, with regards to an individual’s culture, including social class and gender roles, and the affect it has on our consumption as well as presentation. Although at times Bourdieu seemed overly analytical and meticulous, I feel, he conveyed a lot of interesting and useful information regarding the affect of ones culture on their consumption.