15 Minutes of Fame

Andy Warhol once said we would all be famous for 15 minutes. It was a statement that would come to define our current age of pop culture and instant communication. With the advent of reality shows, gossip based talk shows and the internet it seems his prophecy is coming true. Average men and women are becoming instant celebrities by living their lives in front of a camera on network tv or an internet video site, the rich become famous simply by having more money than sense, stupid people get their moments of fame solely for the depth of their stupidity. You don't have to have any special talent, ability or content, you just have to be willing to trade your dignity for attention and be able to "socially network" yourself effectively and with profusion.

It is an interesting phenomenon and one that defines the mind set of the 21st Century. Flash in the pan now speaks not just to passing fame or notoriety but the speed with which it passes by and it is in that speed of information download that a lurking danger awaits. On television the ads and program images flicker by so fast you're not sure what you're seeing. On the internet you are inundated with information coming at you with the speed of light. Images, words, and sounds are coming in so fast that no one has the time to listen, read, think or care about what those images, words, or sounds are about. They just want more - and if it's more crap they don't seem to care, just so long as it's more crap!

True content and information has given way to bling that flashes at you so fast you never really notice there's really nothing there to see. Real news has given way to infotainment, programming with value has been traded for the vicarious viewing of other peoples lives. Conversation and interaction with your fellow humans has given way to IMs, text messages and forwarded jokes masquerading as e-mail. We are in danger of becoming characatures of humanity, drones that move through life with no real thought, looking for the next addictive moment of thunderous and colorful drivel that carries a momentary thrill but no true worth. Drawn to the flame of the current celebrity of the second, lulled by the emptiness that accompanies fame without merit.

Mass Media has used the speed of modern communication to feed as much trash as possible to the greatest number of bodies available in the shortest possible time allowed. This has created an epidemic of an attention deficit disorder whose side effects are minds that cannot focus on anything long enough to form an opinion. What a boon this is to those who would control those terrible independent thoughts that are the beginnings of creativity and freedom. What a wonderful way to keep the status quo. Provide the peons with enough glitter and flash and they may never notice that you have stolen away their rights and freedoms. If you dazzle them into blindness they will not see you are creeping away in the night with their lives, hopes and dreams. Feed them the fodder of frivolous fame and they will never notice they are no longer free to think, speak or act like humans any longer. It's a good plan and all it will cost is 15 minutes of fame.

OH NO! Bell Bottoms are back????

I'm NOT WEARING THEM! Nope, you will not catch me in a pair of bell bottoms - ever again! I did my time, I paid my dues to society, I spent the better part of 15 years wearing some form of bell bottom pants. From the paisley covered, torn hem wide waders of the late sixties to the sleeked down, slightly flared styles of the late 70s, I covered the gamut of bell bottoms.

I had hip huggers that barely covered my butt and exposed my belly button, I had casual bell bottoms and formal bell bottoms for the night on the town. I even had bell bottoms on my blouse - big wide, flared sleeves that flapped in the breeze and made the sound of bat wings!

Bell bottom pants were originally the province of the navy - they were part of the uniform. Remember the little sailor on the cracker jack box? Yup, bell bottoms! How they snaked their way into my world of fashion I neither know nor care - I just refuse to give in them again. No way, no how, nuh uh!

Oh, and you can keep your platform shoes too - after 40 years my ankles are just now recovering from the damage caused by wearing those in the 70s!

I am no longer a slave to the dictates of the fashion world. I am, at 56, my own woman! Unfashionable, robed in baggy tees and jeans, wearing flip flops, comfortable and happy at last.

(The pants in the photo were worn by Janis Joplin)

AN ODE TO PENNY CANDIES

An Ode to Penny Candies

When I was young,
once upon a time
I took my pennies
to the five and dime.

And there before me,
in such spendid array,
were candies galore
if I could pay.

Lined up by the dozens
wrapped in colorful papers
Were Red Hots and Black Jack,
Wax Lips, Necco Wafers!

There was Taffy, and Whoppers,
Double Bubble and Black Jack,
a Gazillion Gobstoppers,
and Chicklets by the pack

Tootsie Rolls and Teabury,
Mallo Bars, Chick-O-Sticks,
I grabbed all I could carry
and ran home to get sick.

All artwork and text copyright 2007 popartdiva.com

The Baby Boom Generation Grows Up - Part One

I promised it and, finally, here it is - my first youtube pop culture video - just for you! Now, I'm tired, I've worked 5 days straight, 14-16 hour days on this and my bio video and I'm too pooped to pop culture anymore tonight, lol:

ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND - 38 Years Ago Man Walked On The Moon!

38 years ago today the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz"Aldrin walked on the moon. Neil Armstrong gave a short speech that has since become one of the all time greats in history and pop culture:


"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."


Enjoy the transcript of the entire log from that historic day directly from N.A.S.A.
Scroll down to 109:24:13 for the famous quote.

I will always remember where I was when I watched man walk on the moon on national television in the summer of 1969. It was the year I graduated from high school - one small step for me - one giant leap for my folks, lol. But seriously, how can anyone forget?

I have always believed in our space program and I still believe in our need to explore our universe. Now, more than ever, we should expand our horizons and enlarge our expectations. Our dreams are our ticket to a better future. Dear N.A.S.A. - Thank you for all your efforts and your sacrifices on our behalf.

COKE - PEPSI - WHICH POP IS TOP? And Who Cares?

So, are you a Coke or a Pepsi person? Or are you too edgy and you gotta have an RC Cola? Do you argue over which one is better or which one has the best diet formula? Do you have to try every new flavor that comes up the pipe? Tempura Pepsi - for those of you who like a little fat with your sugar! Did you know that at the Coke store in Vegas (yes, they have stores!) you can taste different sodas from around the world? And trust me, some of them are wild rides for the taste buds.

And when you ask for a cola, don't you always say Coke? Woohoo for the best branding ever. We have become a "pop" culture. I don't drink water, tea or coffee all day but I always have my "bah" full of Pepsi. (Yes, I am a Pepsi drinker - not a Coke fan - Okay Pepsi , send me lots of money for the plug so I can buy more Pepsi!) I'm a Pepsi fan but I still find myself asking for a Coke when I go out to eat. I'm happier when it's actually a Pepsi, but I will drink a Coke if given no alternative. Of course, Coke was the first and it was originally developed as a medicine!!! Yup, check it out. My mother used to give us Coca Cola syrup for upset stomachs - to this day I want a coke when my stomach hurts.

And when did it stop being Coca Cola and just become Coke? I seem to remember the big debate over that and the bruhaha over changing the formula. I do remember that at one time I liked Coca Cola better than I do now and it wasn't Coke then. But maybe I just liked anything with lots of sugar - I think I was around 12.

Is it "pop" or is it "soda" or is it "soda pop"? Depends on which part of the country you're from.

I wonder how the pioneers survived without artificially flavored caffeine and sugar?? Those poor people - living without electricity or running water is nothing to not having a nice cold Coca Cola in hand after a hard day of plowing.

Yes, we are a Pepsi Generation, we know The Real Thing when we see it, and we can Teach The World To Sing because we're all so hyped up on sugar!

William Hung She Bangs

Here he is - a future Pop Culture Icon - not exactly Elvis is he?

THE ONCE AND FUTURE POP ICONS

I realized lately that all this pop culture hunting has blinded me a bit to the pop culture that I'm drowning in - the blogging, YouTube-ing, MySpace-ing that's taking over the consciousness of anyone with a hi-speed internet connection.

We're watching a cultural phenonmenon happen right before our eyes - everyone has the ability to broadcast videos, write editorials, enjoy their (hopefully) 15 minutes of fame. We now have internet celebrities!!!! These people will probably be the icons of the future, along with the William Hungs (American Idol contestant - remember him?) of the world.

We are creating our own pop culture icons of the future by making regular people 15 minute stars. An interesting developement and I wonder just where it will take us. . . . .

And for your listening and viewing pleasure - Ladies & Gentlemen, Our Next Pop Culture Icon..... William Hung and "She Bangs". Hung has left the building.

OFFICIAL - PAUL MCCARTNEY- DANCE TONIGHT

Sir Paul - You still got it!!!!!!!

Werner Herzog on images, TV, and shoes

Found this while hunting for pop culture videos on YouTube. It raises the issue of social responsibility in creative endeavors. I kinda had to make a comment......

Yes, the media and entertainment industry has contributed to the "dumbing down" of the world, but ultimately aren't we responsible for the "crap" we let in? I take it all with a grain of salt and a sense of humor - a true necessity when being bombarded with billions of bytes of information! Not everything has to be "important" - our brains are overloaded with ugly and painful images on a daily basis. Sometimes "stoopid" and vapid is a very necessary release in troubled times. Here's to not always being socially responsible, politically correct and deadly serious. Burp, Scratch, Fart - yessir, that's my baby!

And it seems to me that eating a shoe for a film release is a publicity stunt - one of the tools of the "enemy".