Ji-young HONG_HW5

What does the song (Wannabe by Spice Girls) say about British society?

 

Before starting answer the question, let us figure out who they are. The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The members consist of Victoria Beckham (née Adams), Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They are signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30 countries and helped establish the group as a global phenomenon.

 The music video and lyrics of the song 'wannabe' have said that it is time to move and change to break the past in British society. In the lyrics there are a lot of repetition, "I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, so tell me what you want, what you really really want." There is also these lyrics, "If you want my future forget my past, If you wanna get with me better make it fast, Now don't go wasting my precious time.", "Slam your body down and wind it all around."  Before this song released, conservative mood was prevailing in Britain. In fact, in 1997, coming out of a period of 18 years of Conservative government, Tony Blair and New Labour were seen as young, cool and very appealing, a main driving force in making Britain look fashionable again. The arrival of the Spice Girls added to the new image and re-branding of Britain, and underlined the growing world popularity of British. Because Spice Girls were different from previous girl singers who was traditional women like be pure, submissive and feminine. In contrast, Spice Girls looked like tough and tomboyish. One member of Spice Girls kissed a man before man did in the music video, it showed the change. Traditionally, men kiss women first not women kiss men first but the girl did and it showed transition to 'girl power.' Moreover, there were public figures of Britain and Spice Girls disturbed the luxury hotel and organized banquet and they departed from there by a bus finally in the music video. It is believed that it also showed transition from past to future.

Spice Girls represent all women. They have various characters and it is found from origin of their nicknames Ginger, Posy, Baby, Sporty and Scary. The girls spoke out 'forget the past, make it fast, slam your body down.' Its message of empowerment appealed to young girls, adolescents and adult women, and it emphasized the importance of strong and loyal friendship among females. The phrase 'girl power' became a cultural phenomenon, adopted as the mantra for millions of girls and even making it into the Oxford English Dictionary. In summation of the concept, author Ryan Dawson said, "The Spice Girls changed British culture enough for Girl Power to now seem completely unremarkable." British society was transit period when the song released and one of the big changes was 'girl power' as you can see above. This song showed it firmly.

Woori- Spice girls

How does the Spice girl's Wannabe capture the 'Zeigeist'?

The success of Spice girls' "Wannabe" was backed by contemporary young
generations. The society and culture of Britain were very rigid and
conservative. Class division and its discrimination were prevalent.
Public was tired of the conservative party for 18 years. Young
generations aspired to something fresh and different. Furthermore,
Britain was at an important turning point. The country was about to
return HongKong to China. Also, People were going to vote for a new
prime minister. Spice girls' "Wannabe" captured these social,
economical and political change demands well in the lyrics and the
music video.

In the music video, Spice girls wear tank-top without bra, short
skirts and dance like a mischievous boys running over throughout the
video. This style was totally against a passive feminine concept which
was conventional in Britain. It was shocking and accepted as a riot to
the old generation and upper class. In contrast, teenagers were
cheering their rebellion. First the video starts with a luxurious
hotel and a bagger leaning on the wall. This is juxtaposition of class
between the haves and the have-nots, pinching class oriented British
society. Then, the spice girls were breaking into the banquet,
scattering papers which may be a list of guests. Paper means formality
and a guest list welcomes only invited class. Inside of the hall,
their rebellious dancing goes on, interrupting luxurious guests.
Mostly, singers approach boldly the guests and ridicule them. One
singer even kisses guys first. This behavior is also against a social
custom imposing on women. They did backhand spinning on the tables,
making a mess in the banquet. Well ornamented banquet is for high
class. We can find more clues in the lyrics too. Spice girls are
asking people to listen to their mind, singing: "I will tell you what
I want, what I really want so tell me what you want" This lyric
touches and moves people's aspiration to own freedom out of ways being
required by rigid society. Particular it affected on adolescents,
wandering between dream and things to do. Next, spice girls insists
that people embrace new, singing:"If you want my future forget my
past", "If you wannna get with e better make it fast". 1997, Britain
was being faced with reforming and innovation out of glory of the
past. Public's demands to change and fast actions were melted in the
lyrics. Furthermore, singers warn polarization in class and suggest
harmony, singing: "If you wanna be my lover you gotta get with my
friends"," If you wanna be my lover you have got to give" Low class of
people endure a longstanding class division. Spice girls are
pleasantly singing "let's be friends and share to be friends" on this.

The simple and direct lyrics, powerful dancing and stunning fashion
style of spice girls were shocking but revolution to the obsolete
society. They captured "zeitgeist" of the Britain at the moment by
being an icon of new and girl empowerment through "Wannabe".

Saeha Lee_Spice girls

How does the Spice Girls' song Wanna Be capture the zeitgeist?

 

It has been argued for a long time whether Pop Culture is a real form of high culture or just garbage. Some people insist that Pop Culture has its own value, that it cannot be dismissed as fancy vogue because it shows the artists' understanding of the society, conveys it to the people and, sometimes, actually influences the society itself. In this sense, Wanna Be by the Spice Girls, which greatly influenced people in Britain and all over the world, should be understood as real culture. This brings us the necessity for examining the meaning of the music video Wanna Be, how it portrayed the British society. 

 

At the beginning of the music video, the girls try to squeeze between the niches of social structure. As it can clearly be seen, there are two different classes – the poor on the street and the rich in the limousine – and the girls unsuccessfully try to have some connection with both of them while singing "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends, Make it last forever friendship never ends."  In the next scene, they break into an elegant, big hotel representing the contemporary era, our current society of opulence. The girls want to break disturbing social orders in order to show themselves the way they are. They cast out the paper on the information desk and start to sing, "Yo, I'll tell you what I want, so tell me what you want." This scene puts the girls in the position in which they can speak their own thoughts and about their rights and places in the social system. They clearly express their desire not to be controlled by the grown-ups or the androcentric society. In order to achieve that goal, they take some actions towards the adults, mainly men, namely leaving them behind. They do not waste any of their precious time and do not give them any chance to react.

 

In the next scene, located on the stairs, our attention is drawn to the girls and the message they try to convey: what the girls really want is mutual understanding based on equal rights. This is why they sing, "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends, Make it last forever friendship never ends, If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give, Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is." Their claims do not, however, end with the grown-ups who represent the old conservative ideology: indeed, they try to go for more.

 

This is symbolized by the appearance of some old people who are surprised by the girls, and with whom they want to party: a woman resembling Marilyn Monroe, the well-known icon of American popular culture, men who represent a government officials and a judge. From that we can clearly conclude that the girls insist in having their way in the various aspects of society, challenging them with their song or the girl power which they represent. For example, one of the girls performs a somersault, usually considered as a manly thing.

 

In the following scene we see two groups of people, one displaying confusion– as exemplified by the waiter – and the other showing surprise and enjoyment at the girls, like the old women with grey hair. In the final scene, they are running into the bus and beckoning the onlookers and the viewers in the bus. Although we cannot consider it a strong call for action, it is still and obvious sign for people to join the new wave they want to create.

 

 

 

	Come la primavera 안녕하세요.

Christopher Moore, uses for his humour stereotypes of male and female behavior. Please explain. I will be looking in particular for the quality and sufficiency of your evidence and analysis.

A stereotype is a generalization of certain groups or classes of people. A male and female stereotype can for example stand for male being childish and female manipulative.
In the American authors, Christopher Moore, humoristic book You suck he uses stereotypes of male and female behavior in absurd situations. In this book Moore writes about a teenage vampire relationship and in the first chapter, "Get over it, a lot of people are dead" the readers get introduced to the main characters, Tommy and Jody.

Tommy is described as a typical male stereotypne; childish and a guy that only cares about physical interaction. In the beginning of this chapter there is a conversation between the young couple about why Jody drank Tommy´s blood and why he let her he claimed, "that´s not true, it was because you needed me." But the true was, "He was lying; it was because of the sex". In another discussion they were having, and this time about the case when Tommy had sex with Jody while she was unconscious, he argued in a childish way that he was just being friendly, "like when you put a quarter in someone else´s parking meter when they aren´t there- you know they appreciate it later". Later on Tommy says another childish comment, "Well-uh-yeah, but you´re not even human. You´re just some foul dead thing".

Furthermore when the couple had calmed things down and Tommy was trying to understand and adapt to his new life as a Vampire he felt a huge hunger and wanted to eat a Burrito. Jody was an experienced vampire and recommended him to not eat it, but he insisted, " Ha, that´s cute". He took a big bite and grinned at her as he chewed". In Jody´s case, she is being described as a female stereotype, manipulative and emotional, "Jody sniffled, completely for effect", "Great, she thought, in control once again".
The readers get to experience the typical stereotype in the beginning of the chapter by her explanation in why she converted Tommy into a vampire, "I wanted us to be together".

"We´re fucked. Together. Like Romeo and Juliet, only we get to be a sequel." Jody also claimed she turned Tommy into a vampire for them to be together for the rest of their life's. This could be seen as another evidence of how Moore describes the female stereotype character in the manner of being manipulative.
Furthermore she tries to manipulate him with her body, but it didn´t work "She couldn´t believe that he didn´t respond to the naked persuasion. What kind of monster had she created?".
"If it turned out that he was going to be nineteen forever, she might end up having to kill him for real." the chapter ends in the explanation of how Jody gets worried she might have done the wrong decision by turning a childish teenager into an undead creature, a vampire.

//Angelina.F

Turna Elmaci

Homework 2 for two weeks time by Turna Elmaci

Christopher Moore, uses for his humour stereotypes of male and female behavior. Please explain. I will be looking in particular for the quality and sufficiency of your evidence and analysis.

 

There are many ways and stylistic means to express humour. Christopher Moore, the author of "You suck" uses stereotypes of male and female behavior primarily to express his sense of humor in his books. Thinking about stereotypes leads to the following answer: stereotypes are typically oversimplified conceptions or opinions of something in "You suck" it is the male and female behavior of the main characters.

The main characters argue over unimportant things, try to blame each other or they try to manipulate each other with sex following their individual agenda.

Tommy and Jody are in a very turbulent relationship. Jody after a short intermezzo with an old vampire was turned into a young vampire. Jody doesn't like to share her undead fate all by herself, consequently she turns her boyfriend Tommy, a young immature man with an enormous sex drive into a vampire. They start to argue about their situation and they display certain stereotypical behaviours.

One of these stereotypes is letting Tommy act as a young man who does not like himself being turned into a vampire but his girlfriend. Understandable is the situation when he calls her names like "You bitch, you killed me! You suck!" after he has discovered what happened to him.

Jody on the other hand acts as a young woman caught in the situation of being a newly created vampire who does not like to share her fate alone and being different from others. She decides without asking Tommy for permit to turn him into a vampire. She defends herself with the words "I wanted us to be together", which is commented sarcastically by Tommy "Yeah, that's why you spent the night with him." The stereotype of the woman who tries to keep the man at her side even if she has to kill him is being portrayed.

Both blame each other for being tracked in this situation. Tommy blames Jody because she didn't ask for his permit "You shouldn't just kill a guy without asking. It's inconsiderate." On the other hand, Tommy didn't ask Jody either for her consent in having sex with her while she is knocked out: "Yeah, wait until you go out in you jammies and wake up all sticky in a cheerleader outfit and see how grateful you are. You know, Tommy, when I'm out, technically, I'm dead…."

Being confronted with rape, Tommy tries to play the accusation down by saying that no harm was done because she is already dead: "Well-uh-yeah, but you're not even human. You're just some foul dead thing." Jody on her parts accuses him with necrophilia to make her point clear.

In that situation, Tommy tries to manipulate her by saying that she needed him not because of the sex. Jody acts like she is giving into his reasoning but again she uses the situation to manipulate him for her purposes.

Christopher Moore uses stereotypes of male and female behavior through putting his main characters in the absurd situation of being transformed into vampires. This stylistic method is well used because it boost the hum

JungDoe Jang

 

Christopher Moore, uses for his humor stereotypes of male and female behavior. Please explain. I will be looking in particular for the quality and sufficiency of your evidence and analysis.

 

 

People have stereotypes of certain races, groups or countries that are commonly believed. In Christopher Moore's novel, by using Tommy and Jody, he describes stereotypes of male and female.

Among several stereotypes of male introduced in the novel, the first and the most easily found one is 'men always think sex.' Tommy had sex with Jody while she was unconscious. Hence, Tommy dressed Jody a cheerleader outfit.  His excuse was that he just tried to be friendly. Furthermore, after Tommy found out that he was circumcised, he asked Jody whether she wants to give a quick fondle or touch. However, this stereotype was not only represented by Tommy but also Jody. Jody wanted to test whether Tommy can see in dark, by Jody being naked. However, Tommy refused it, and Jody was shocked that Tommy did not response to the naked persuasion. From these examples, it is possible to see that author is using first stereotype to develop the story.

The second stereotype used in this novel is 'male tends to be childish.' In the novel, Jody spent time with a vampire who made her a vampire to find her identity. However, Tommy said "you spend the night with him" as if she had an affair. Also, while Jody was trying to warn Tommy not to eat burrito, he acted like everything was under his control. Besides, Tommy often used 'miasma' to make him look like a writer, and kept saying 'I am starving' in middle of conversation which make him look immature.  

Jody, a pretty, cute and long red hair girl, also shows stereotype of female. Mainly, stereotype Jody showed is "female tends to manipulate the situation.' When Tommy accidently said Jody is just a 'foul dead thing', Jody started to sniffle just to make Tommy feel sorrier to her. However, when her act did not work well, she told herself that she should have pretended to cry and mentioned what Tommy's weakness such as 'you just let me because of the sex.' After all, when the situation was over she said "great, in control once again' which we can assume that Jody, or female tends to put whole situation under their control.

Regina H Jeong (4th)

 

Christopher Moore, uses for his humor stereotypes of male and female behavior, please explain.

 

Moore, American writer and known for the witted satirist, writes novels that are not only brilliant, but fun to read as well. In his novel, You Suck, Moore writes the old clichés (sex and vampire story) with ingenious, satirical, and hilarious sensibility. He characterized Jody and Tommy by their typical thinking and behaviors which can be considered as sexual stereotypes. A stereotype is standardized conceptions of groups or types of individuals. The stereotypes in 'You Suck' are represented as Tommy's childish, sex-driven behaviors and Jody's controlling actions in their relationship.

 

Tommy, nineteen-year old, had awakened one day as a vampire. The problem is when he got changed he had dragged all of his teenage insecurities and incessant horniness with him. He accused Jody, a few months old vampire, "You bitch, you killed me! You shouldn't just kill a guy without asking. It's inconsiderate." However, it is not true. He had morbid interests in necrophilia and cheerleader thing which made him run experiments on unconscious Jody's body, including clothing cheerleader outfits and personal lubricants. For these reasons, he allowed Jody drank his blood. However, Tommy insists, "I was just being friendly… It was because you needed me." By the time when Tommy found out his body will be the same forever, he blamed Jody for loosing his future possibilities: "I was going to be buff and be an awesome hunk of muscular man-meat." It is, yet, turned out to be wrong accusation again by Jody, "No, you weren't. You wanted to be a writer." He even put up stubbornness to Jody's food caution which lead disastrous result for him to puke burrito all over the way.

 

In the meantime, Jody stayed cool and kept steering Tommy toward the bright side which came from her own judgments. "I wanted us to be together. We're fucked. Together. Like Romeo and Juliet." She once sniffled, completely for effect, and conveniently slipped the fact what eternal frozen mean to Tommy. "Will I get any smarter, or is that stuck in time, too?" "Well, yeah, but that's because you're a man, not because you're a vampire." As a matter of fact, being frozen gave Jody both blessing and horror at the same time: she would never get a chance to lose her weight forever. Nevertheless, owing to her persistent reasoning, Tommy got back to face the reality and Jody was pleased for taking the reins in their relationship again. Before they went out to hunt for food, Tommy was freaked out at his vampirized-penis. He kept checking whether Jody found it creepy or not and even wanted her to caress his. Again, she gently coaxed him to pull himself together: "Tommy, calm down. It's just your foreskin….You're fine." The truth is that Jody is not fine at all. All she wanted was a companion who could understand what she was and felt in vampire world, which means, in her world. She did not want to have a crybaby, stuck to be nineteen forever. Thus, she even considered that she might end up having to kill him if things are out of control. I believe both Tommy and Jody's actions can be generalized in the real world as the gender stereotypes: male's immature behavior, lust for sex and female's manipulations in relationship.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

Sincerely,

Regina