Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day?

After a very tiring Thanksgiving, I was not about to wake up at 4 in the morning just to get bargain prices at Macy's. I find Black Friday to be a huge waste of time, energy, and money (yes, money, because people are more likely to buy stuff they don't need if they think they are getting a good deal). This tradition highlights the biggest problems with American consumer culture; the obsession with getting the most stuff at the cheapest price, the every man for himself mentality about getting flat screen TVs, and our dependency on material objections. People are going to great lengths to get cheap electronics and clothes, meanwhile complaining about the stock market. It shows how spoiled of a country we are, that even while worrying about money, somewhere in the back of our mind we feel safe enough to shop this much.

On the other hand, Buy Nothing Day is just another extreme shopping based event. While it makes a stand for one day, someone cannot live a functioning life in America without at least buying food. Americans need to learn how to consume responsibly to reduce waste, help others, and save the planet.

Election Reflection (hey, that rhymes!)

The 2008 election was a stressful one. After 8 years of President Bush, America was in desperate need of a change. The first sign of hope for me was when the democrats took over the senate, but with a possibility of 4 years of McCain/ Palin, the fight wasn't over. As election day neared I became more and more nervous, yet hopeful, since the polls were in Obama's favor. 

Election night, I lay in bed watching Obama win by a landslide and had never had more faith in my country. While Obama's messages of hope and change are beautiful and inspiring, it is time for America to face the reality of our political situation. Many people, including myself became disillusioned by our beliefs that the war would end the second he entered office. I realize that ending the war will take a lot of time and money because of the enormous debt that the Bush regime drove us into. Hopefully, in his 4 (or 8) years in office Obama will at least make some significant head way in ending the war, shutting down Guantonomo Bay, legalizing gay marrige, and inspire Americans to change their selfish mentality and come together as a country to work towards a more successful way of life.

Pop Culture Analysis: Good Life by Kanye West

Kanye West's good life is the celebrity  lifestyle. Women, cars, and money are all aspects of the life he is currently living as a star, and by having all this he has been "[welcomed] to the good life." The celebrity lifestyle also comes with the ability to do what you want when you want without consequences. The line "go 'head switch the style up/ and if they hate then let 'em hate/ and watch the money pile up," shows that he can do what he wants, because even though some may not like it, the money will keep coming. The lifestyle he is rapping about put him above the common working man.

The imagery in the video expresses the importance of instant gratification.  Every line he says has an image that pops up with it, showing him getting what he wants, when he wants it. Most people have to work and wait for what they want, but not Kanye. "The good life, feel like Atlanta," and all of a sudden he's there, "feel like NY," and now he's in New York. Whenever these locations pop up in the video is doesn't show him doing anything significant, like being with family, or helping people. It shows him at resorts, clubs or mansions, places that are usually reserved for those with a lot of money. Celebrities have the media connections and the money to raise awareness of many issues and donate money to different causes, but this video might as well say "Fuck that, I'm going to use my money and power to benefit only me."