1980's Tv Show: Family Ties

 

‘Family Ties’ was an American sitcom that aired on NBC from 1982 until 1989. Created by Gary David Goldberg, the show reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. Set in suburban Columbus, Ohio during the early years of the Reagan administration, Elyse and Steven Keaton (Meredith Baxter-Birney and Michael Gross) are baby boomers, liberals and former Hippies, raising their three children: Alex (Michael J. Fox), Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers). Married in 1964, Elyse is an independent architect and Steven, a native of Buffalo, New York, is the station manager of WKS, a local public television station.
Much of the humor of the series focuses on the cultural divide during the 1980s when younger generations rejected the counterculture of their parents raised in the 1960s and embraced the conservative politics which came to define the 1980s. The oldest son, Alex, is consumed with becoming a financial giant someday. Everything he does is geared toward his future financial success and cannot understand his father's contentment working for a non-profit public television station.Elyse spends a great deal of time trying to instill in her oldest daughter, Mallory, a sense of women's rights and is constantly frustrated by her lack of interest in the advancement of women, but instead advancing the clothes and accessories in her closet.
Both Alex and Mallory embrace Reaganomics and exhibit conservative attitudes: Alex is a Young Republican and Mallory is a more materialistic young woman in contrast to her feminist mother. Jennifer, an athletic tomboy and the youngest child, shares the values of her parents and just wants to be a normal kid.

By 1984, when the series was in full swing, the Yuppies had emerged in force. Products of the Reagan era and born out of the baby boom. Alex became the star of the show, and unsurprisingly Family Ties was Regans favourite show. The show won multiple awards, including three consecutive Emmy Awards for Michael J. Fox as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

One reason the show appealed to so many americans wa  the well-written comedy of the show, which was not aimed so much at slapstick as it was the exchange of ideas and lifestyles. As a parent, it seems very important to instill into your children your values and when their personalities are so much at odds with yours, it becomes fuel for great confrontations in which many could relate to.

Also, there is the unknown influences that Elyse and Steven have on their children without realizing it. Even the children are unaware of their inner struggles until something brings it out. One good example is when Mallory decides to go to college only to please her parents, but suddenly finds she has a flair for fashion and decides to become a designer. Never having been a great student, she realizes that she is more career minded that she once thought. "Family Ties" was so well liked because it showed that all families don't have to think alike to be close. Even during a difference of opinion, there is respect and acceptance of each other and unconditional love, something a lot of families seem to have trouble with today.

 

References

Woodger, Elin. Burg, David. ‘The 1980s’. 2006. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=uV9S7TCG2VYC&pg=PA153&dq=the+significance+of+'family+ties'++in+the+1980s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0Xv7Ut3INc-QhQfrqYHwCw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=the%20significance%20of%20'family%20ties'%20%20in%20the%201980s&f=false

 http://www.avclub.com/article/1980s-sitcoms-50003

1980's TV series - The Cosby Show

The cast in 1989.

The Cosby Show was an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992. The show focused on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York. The show experienced dramatic success, being described by 'TV Guide' as ''TV's biggest hit of the 1980's''.
Originally, the show was rejected by ABC (TV station) as they felt that America was not ready to accept the concept of an intact, black middle-class family. This thought process shows American ideology during the 1980's that black people were not thought of as 'normal' when compared to white Americans. Racism was still a very touchy and explosive issue during the 1980's, even after the civil rights movement during the 1960's and 70's.

During this time of racism/black individuals stereotyped or treated unfairly, The Cosby Show altered the perception of Blacks on television and doors were opened for other television shows that wished to concentrate on black families i.e. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The series shows an effort to diminish stereotypes directed toward black people in the 1980's, although the comedic effect of the show, was perhaps the wrong way in which to go about it. A show that was hard-hitting and made people question the black stereotype rather than make them laugh could have had a more significant effect.

During the Reagan administration (81-89) the concept of 'reverse racism' was one in which Reagan was heavily associated with (as described in a previous blog post). The show did nothing to aid in the racial ineqaulity that was present at the time. Having made a platform for himself, Bill Cosby was in prime position to aid the black community in ending racial stereotypes towards blacks, although racism was not mentioned as the producers felt that it would alienate white viewers, which would have impacted the success of the show. This shows the greed and power associated with the 1980's, as popularity and profits were seen as more important than helping educate viewers about equality and race. 

The show features a successful black family, something that white people at the time didn't believe existed. The show helped enable black viewers to aspire to be 'like the Cosbys' an american dream of sorts; stable family with financial stability, something which black people, at the time could not count on.
There is an argument to the show stating that although The Cosby Show attempts to break the chokehold of such traditional black stereotypes it does not reflect the typical Black family or life, rather showing how the black population could 'fit in' with 'normal Americans' if they would just live their life like they did, reaffirming the black stereotype.

 

Sources:

• http://www.shenet.org/high/hsacaddept/English/ddayton/Documents/Media/Stereotypes/Cosby%20Show%20Article.pdf
• http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC37folder/Cosby.html

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Synopsis: Ferris is a street-wise kid who knows all the tricks. Today he decides to take the day off school. When Ferris takes the day off, so must his best friends, Cameron and Sloane. Cameron is reluctantly persuaded to borrow his father's Ferrari, and together they hatch a plan to get Sloane out of class. Suspicious dean of students Ed Rooney knows all about Ferris, but can never catch him. Ferris' sister Jeanie is also frustrated that Ferris always gets away with his tricks and she doesn't. Furthermore, Ferris is an 'angel' in his parents eyes. It's Ferris' day off, he's out to enjoy himself, and he does!

• Rebellious teens 
• Precursor to yuppies, value money, have impulsive tendencies and are materialistic
• Typical 1980's style: Girls with big hair, preppy dress sense
• Protagonist; Ferris Bueller, is the bad boy of the 80's era and introduces a new rebel attitude to 80's cinema.  
• Represents the laid back attitude during this time period. 

"The 1980s saw a surge of popularity in teen-flicks.  These were comedies or coming-of-age films.  A notable youth film from this decade is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). "

"In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ferris plays hooky and drags his hesitant best friend, Cameron, and girlfriend, Sloane, along with him.  Together they run into mischief and enjoy the day for themselves.  Set in a society that promoted individuality and worshipped the Material Girl, the film is about a quest of self enjoyment before venturing off to the adult world and college.  When Ferris spots Cameron’s stepfather’s Ferrari, he begs Cameron to let them take it for a joyride.  He does not take Cameron’s hesitation and nervousness into consideration.  Ferris is concerned only with the high quota of fun he expects himself to have on his day off.  When the car is accidentally destroyed, Ferris does not receive the discipline he deserves but gets off scot-free when Cameron decides to face his stepfather alone."

"Society changed by the 1980s and people were more concerned with themselves.  As good as the youth films of the 1980s are, the concerns of the individual are placed before the well-being of the other characters."
http://www.thescarlettolive.com/?tag=ferris-buellers-day-off

"Ferris Bueller’s materialism reflects the centering of the individual’s wants over the community’s needs as was common in 1980s affluent society. It is taken for granted (by them and their parents) that each of the characters in “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” will go to university and that this will lead to financial success and therefore, an increase in class status through accumulated material signifiers. In a quote at the beginning, Bueller sums this up “I have to take it [a test], I want to go a good college so I can have fruitful life”. This is what his parents want to hear (which is obviously why he is saying it) but it is what he would want too; anything less would disappoint him in comparison to the life he is accustomed to. “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” offers a representation of America that it is almost purely middle class "
https://www.customessaymeister.com/customessays/Arts%3A%20Film/16506.htm

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Trailer

Representation of female identity in 1980's- music, fashion, employment

In the 80’s (in America) women were enjoying some hard-won equality battles that they achieved in the 70’s. As a result the 1980s in America showed a massive change in the representation of female identity. This post will explore the new representation of female identity in the 80’s across several areas such as female representation in music, employment and fashion.

Music

In regard to representation of women in music it showed major signs of female strength, boldness and of course independence particularly from men). An example of this is clearly shown in the 1985 single by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin singing lyrics

Now there was a time when we used to say that behind every great man there had to be a woman 
But in these times of change you know that it's no longer true 
So we’re comin' out of the kitchen ‘cause there’s something we forgot to say to you 
We say, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves."

Songs that praised female independence were popular among women as many could relate (and celebrate) to songs such as these about how women worked just as hard as men, about how they personal goals that didn't involve men, and about how women maybe didn't even need men at all to be happy.

Fashion

Moving on to fashion, the 80’s introduced lifestyle choices that came to dictate a woman’s personal taste and social identity. Unlike the past, no single style or kind of fashion was universally expected for all women.  Mass media such as television, music, and magazines introduced new styles and attitudes relevant and accessible to the average American woman. Overall women of the 1980’s were marked as empowered, energetic, and endearing.

Following women’s sexual “liberation” during the 70’s, women of the 1980’s were empowered to cultivate strong identities alongside their male co-workers. For the working woman of the 80’s, fashion is largely marked by the adoption of masculine styles through a trend known as power dressing which introduced the power suit for women which gave women a more business and dominant appearance within the office, (but still able to remain clearly feminine). 

Other television shows such as “Who’s The Boss” also used power suit iconography to appeal to the new role of the working mom.

While women were socially empowered within the workplace, fashion and lifestyle magazines empowered women to take control of their appetites and activity levels. All of a sudden, the slender figure desired by much of the female population was confronted with new emphasis on a particularly toned and athletic physique.

Overall the media's representation of females during the 1980s portrayed female empowerment, independence and most of all equality in relation to men.

Employment

While there had been major success in female representation in music and fashion, there was also significant improvement in the representation and attitude towards working women in the 80’s. In this the Sun article in the 1990’s it looks back upon female employment throughout the 80’s. It shows there has been a huge rise in female employment in volume and in higher professions ‘millions across the United States -- moved into professional and managerial jobs during the 1980s, the data show’. It also states that ‘Nationally, the number of working women increased by 27 percent during the 1980s’.

It also highlights that in Maryland for the first time, the 1990 census shows, ‘women outnumbered men in Maryland in "professional specialty" occupations -- a U.S. Census Bureau category that includes everything from doctors, lawyers and scientists to teachers, nurses and librarians.’

Nationally, the number of working women increased by 27 percent during the 1980s, according to 1990 census data being released today

References:

http://www.liketotally80s.com/womens-independence-in-80s.html

http://eveylun.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/empowered-and-energetic-women-of-the-1980s/

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-01-29/news/1993029154_1_maryland-women-bigley-working-women

Not everyone has posted... You must, even if you can't come to the rescheduled class today

The Crack Epidemic Of Harlem in the 1980s

Crack is Wack Playground earned its distinctive name after artist Keith Haring (1958-1990) painted the now-famous Crack Is Wack mural in 1986 on the handball court walls. http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/M208E 

Harlem before the crack epidemic was recognised internationally as the Center of music, art and literature for African Americans . In which took a turn when Crack entered the lives of African American within the ghettos. "Crack was first recognised  through the media within the Los Angles of 1984 reported that in south central cocaine sales exploded with $25 rocks, crack moved from North Miami, west from New York and Washington, D.C. And east from Los Angles." Promidomitley  targeting black communities. The crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s paid apart to the health decline within the residents in communities such as Harlem. "Crack was both a direct an indirect cause of excess morbidity and morality." The usage of cracks specifically within Harlem resulted in lost of lives and violence among young African Americans. The demand of crack led to violence being escalated into peaceful neibourhood s into some would say war zones. The pros and cons that crack provided amongst the African Americans identity within these areas is the feeling and cost it possessed. For instance crack was, cheap, and gave a good sense of feeling, a type of Confident and happiness in which was a turn around to the reality that these people where actually facing. However the cons of crack consisted of highly addition  and deadly form of cocaine. It's said that one time use can also cause addition. The Crack epidemic increased the rates of sexual transmitted diseases, in which sharing needles resulted within the spreading of HIV and AIDS. 

This image displays different types of way to use cocaine. The first showing that cocaine, can either be Injected or snorted. Whilst the other image displays crack Cocaine being smoked often through a glass pipe, although it can also be injected as well. It is commonly known that white people or rich people smokes cocaine within the substance of powder as powder deemed to be more expensive than rock, in which  rock  was more affordable for African Americans within those communities at the time, and today as well. The short term effects that cocaine provides is that it makes people feel really, great like they are basically on top of the world. For about 15-30 minutes of snorting or 5-10 minutes of smoking it. In which gave a sense of Euphoria and that feeling of confidence, power and also sexuality. 

 The term "Crack" comes from the sound that is heard when the substance is being heated up. 

Conspiracy theory of The Crack Epidemic 

Throughout the black communities and other areas within america. Came to a conclusion co that Reagan was responsible along with the CIA to flood the ghettos with crack. Within the concept that the white people keep African Americans under the influence of crack so they don't have any influence. Songs like Kanye West crack music  "how did we stop the black panthers? Ronald Reagan cooked up an answer" inferring that Ronald Reagan intentionally put drugs into the ghettos. 

Reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBmK5UAc584 

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/drugs-inc/articles/drugs-inc-facts-crack/

 http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ccbh/souls/vol1no1/vol1num1art4.pdf

The Mother and Father of The 1980s

Role Swapping

Throughout the early 1900's and before that, the roles of men and women in the household was pretty set in stone - the men would go to work and the women stay at home to clean, cook and raise the children. Though in today's society, we see a very different picture. And it was in the 1980's that we saw this shift in authority and status quo take place. Here, some women began to be defined as 'Supermoms', these were generally the women who were now single mothers and were forced to take up a job as well as being a mother. However, there were many occasions where even married women with children would take up careers too. And for the men, some where starting to become stay at home dads and often would take up the role of the wife as a whole whilst the woman went to work. On the less family side of things, some women would even become CEO's of companies that they had either joined or built on their own. This kind of shift in authority in both the household and the workplace is a major step in equality, though the women would be paid considerably less in comparison to

the men. And although the numbers wouldn't be too different in today's world, a female CEO of a company would still be paid less than if she were a man. I suppose it runs along with the idea of women still being just for procreation. Many women today choose a career over a family, but they are still stuck with this stereotype that they will eventually get pregnant and that will put a large crack in their career prospects. 

Gender issues in the 1980s (Week 4)

The 1980s in America showed a change in gender issues, especially those directly affecting females who were balancing home life and their careers as well as trying to reach the potential for gender equality.

An ongoing survey done by the National Opinion Research Centre asks, "Do you approve or disapprove of a married women earning money in business or industry if she has a husband capable of supporting her?"

The graph clearly shows an increase from 1992 to 1993 but also shows a random spike in approval in 1985 where 86.7% of people surveyed agreed that it was acceptable.

Through research it was possible to find some ways in which this drastic change in attitudes towards gender occurred. The media's representation of women during the 1980s appears to have influenced attitudes toward working women. In particular, the popular magazine among women at the time 'Working Mothers' brought about ways in which women can balance home life and their professional lives in ways that had not been represented before.

This is a link to one of the magazines published in 1986:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MWEEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA46=onepage&q&f=false#v=onepage&q&f=false

The magazine showed articles of ways in which women could take advantage of education and through articles such as, "Surefire ways to wreck your own career" shows a way that women can understand the dos and don'ts of being part of a professional, male dominated work place.

The magazine still exists today and has it's own website dedicated to handling being a working mother.
http://www.workingmother.com/

references:

http://www.workingmother.com/
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MWEEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA46=onepage&q&f=false#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://lessonbucket.com/vce-media/units-3-4/media-texts-and-societys-values/gender-in-1980s-america/

Dallas

Dallas piloted in 1978, quickly becoming one of the most popular TV shows to air throughout the 1980's and it also retained it's cult status into the 21st century having recently spawned a reboot that aired in 2012.

Dallas become a symbol of the luxury and wealth that was booming in the 1980's. The shows cast,  well off scandalous Ewing family created enduring story-lines that captured the decadence, wealth and prosperity for the middle classes in America during the 1980's. 

It became a show that represented the fashions and the changing times as TV and the media began to represent a more "realistic" view of American society. Rather than I Love Lucy and other shows that lauded the domestic bliss of American life, soap operas became faster, dirtier and more scandalous, drawing in audiences and becoming a staple of American culture. 

The 'Who Shot JR?' is still to this day one of the most watched TV episodes and signifies the power of shows like Dallas in the 1980's that become major fixtures within American culture. A sign of both the wealth, progression and availability of goods that boomed during the era.

The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show remains to this day one of the most positive and sophisticated portrayals of an African-American family on TV, it managed to avoid the negative stereotypes associated with African-Americans in the media, choosing instead to focus on the educated upper middle-class Huxtable family, dramatically altering the image of Blacks as poor, downtrodden but happy go lucky clowns, moving its audience towards a more realistic perception of African-American life. Paving the way for shows such as Fresh Prince of Bell Air, and more varied African-American roles on TV. 

Staring Bill Cosby as Heathcliff Huxtable, a respected doctor, and Phylicia Rashad as his wife Clair Huxtable, a successful lawyer, The Cosby Show broke stereotypes by featuring a strong father figure and a strong nuclear family, who dealt with day to day issues, like how to raise their children properly; getting your kids to eat veg for example; a son dealing with dyslexia, and teen pregnancy amongst others. By dealing with everyday challenges of raising children, that every family across America could relate to, it helped to redefine America's racial views, to the point where it was possible for Barack Obama to be successfully elected as President twice. 

While it did touch on issues of race, and featured an almost all Black cast, The Cosby Show didn't let the race of its main characters dominate the show, they are just like any white affluent family, in fact it is often said that you could have replaced the cast with white actors and the comedy would have still worked, except they were proudly African-American. However criticism of the show is that because it focused on a upper class family it didn't truly represent the African-American experience as it focused on a small minority. 

It's huge popularity during the 1980s, the show ran from 1984-1992 and was the number 1 show in America for its first 5 seasons, helped to bring positive visions of African-Americans into the media, almost totally eliminating the negative stereotypes of the past on TV and helped to challenge America's racial views, leading to the more progressive society of 2014. 

  

Being Gay in the US Military | 1980s

The Representation of the LGBT community in the American Military during the 1980's 

Link to article -  http://cowboyfrank.net/archive/ComingOut/04.htm

 For the LGBT community in America it is always a turbulent one, the thought of being gay or one coming out as gay was and still is frowned upon in less liberal areas and close-minded communities. Being gay was seen as disgraceful, so in simpler ways it was best thought that being ‘gay’ was something that could never be, to ignore anything of the sort, even though those who were homosexual were all around. In relation to the government and military we know now that there is a don’t ask, don’t tell policy as of 1993, but for the military in the 1980s if someone was categorised or found out as gay, they could be dismissed on the grounds of their sexuality.

But it was in the 1980s, just as the article has stated, there was a pivotal event that was cemented into the LGBT community. It was the recognition of the first report of what we now know as AIDS in forty-one men, and as described in the New York Times at the time, it was a “rare cancer seen in homosexuals”. 

But what I want to focus on is the impact and issues that homosexuality had for those during the 1980s, that is why I can relate to this article; titled ‘Coming Out In America, An Historical Perspective’, because it provides evidence for individual years during the 80s decade. 

So with that I have chosen the section that looks at the very beginning of the 80s in 1980, it highlights the experience that one Leonard Matlovich had during his time in the Air Force because he decided to come out as gay. The issue of homosexuality in the military was brought to the forefront because of Matlovich's confession, as he publicly admitted his homosexuality to Air Force officials and because of this, Matlovich was offered a general discharge from the Air Force. But as the military’s policies were revised in 1980 Leonard Matlovich was reinstated to the Air Force, and received an upgraded in his discharge, to that of honourable, and a $160,000 settlement.

This is the grave of Leonard Matlovich, it is very poignant, especially if you read his message. 

It just shows the injustice and how ironic the military were over the issue of homosexuality.

Subsequently, in 1981, the US Department of Defense revised its policy on lesbians and gays in the military. The new policy that was issued bared homosexuals from serving in the military and it was required that questions about sexual orientation were to be asked of all recruits.

The question here is, is it wrong to offer someone money based on their sexuality? Is it a bribe to stay quiet, in order to save the military’s face? Or is it purely an apology payment?
Equally, what did the military think they would achieve by barring homosexuals from the military?

Rap Music in the 1980's

South Bronx 1982

Every so often a new style of music emerges that takes America by storm and comes to represent the generation that grows up with it. In the 50's it was rock'n'roll, followed by the Motown sound of the 60's. The 1970's brought folk music and disco, and in the 80's it was rap. Perhaps no other form of music has crossed as many boundaries and become a bridge between America's many cultures as rap has. The first recording of rap was made in 1979 and the genre began to take notice in the U.S. in the mid-1980s.
"Rap music is a black cultural expression that prioritizes black voices from the margins of urban America. Rap music is a form of rhymed storytelling accompanied by highly rhythmic, electronically based music. It originated in the South Bronx in New York City as a part of hip hop, and African-American and Afro-Caribbean youth culture composed of graffiti, breakdancing, and rap music. It was first recorded by small, independent record labels and marketed towards, mostly to a black audience. From the outset, rap music has articulated the pleasures and problems of black urban life in contemporary America. Speaking of personal experience, rappers often spoke from the perspective of a young man who wants social status in a locally meaningful way. They rapped about how to avoid gang pressures, drugs etc.”

However Rap music became the first cross-cultural product, to emerge in 1980’s America. In 1979 the first two rap records appeared: “King Tim III” by the Fatback Band, and “Rapper’s Delight,” by Sugarhill Gang. “Rapper’s Delight” became a national hit, reaching number 36 on the Billboard magazine popular music charts. The spoken content, mostly bragging spiced with fantasy, came largely from material used by the earlier rappers. The background for “Rapper’s Delight” was supplied by studio musicians, who copied the basic groove of the hit song “Good Times” (1979) by a disco group Chic.  This new style of music soon attracted white musicians that began performing it. For rap it was a young white group from New York, the Beastie Boys. Their release “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” (1986) was one of the first two rap records to reach the Billboard top-ten. Another early rap song to reach the top ten, “Walk This Way” (1986), was a collaboration of Run-DMC and Aerosmith. Soon after 1986, the use of samples was influenced in the music of both black and white performers, changing past thoughts of different cultural sounds.

Sampling brought into question the ownership of the new sound. Some artists claimed that by sampling recordings of black artist they were challenging white corporate America and the recording industry’s right to own black cultural expression. Rap artists were also challenging other musicians’ right to own, control, and be given credit for the use of their creations. By the early most artists requested permission for the use of samples. Some commonly sampled released CDs containing dozens of sound bites specifically for sampling. One effect of sampling was the sense of musical history among black youth. Earlier artists were celebrated as cultural heroes and their older recordings were reissued and re-popularised. Causing both African Americans and white Americans to recognise and celebrate the achievements of black music.

In the late 1980s rap became highly politicized, resulting in the most mediated social agenda in popular music. The groups Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions condensed this political style of rap. Public Enemy became noticed with their second album, “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” (1988), and the theme song “Fight the Power” from the motion picture “Do the Right Thing” (1989). Stating the importance of rap in black culture, Chuck D., of Public Enemy, referred to it as the ‘African American CNN.’

Next to hit the scene was “gangsta rap, which attempts to state an outlaw lifestyle of sex, drugs, and violence in the city. In 1988 the first major album of gangsta rap was released, “Straight Outta Compton” by the rap group NWA (Niggaz With Attitude). Songs from the album created an extraordinary amount of bickering for their violent attitudes and hatred towards a number of organizations, including the FBI. However, attempts to censor gangsta rap only served to publicize the music and make it more attractive to both black and white youths.”

Since the mid-1980s rap music has influenced both black and white culture in America. Much of the slang of hip-hop, like dis, fly, def, chill, and wack, have become standard parts of vocabulary for a number of young people of various backgrounds. Many rap enthusiasts claim that rap is used as a voice for a people without access to the mainstream media. According to supporters, rap serves to provoke self-pride and self-improvement, passing on a positive and fulfilling sense of black history that is missing from other American institutions. Gangsta rap however has been severely criticized for its lyrics that many people interpret as praising the most violent and misogynistic (woman-hating) views in the history of popular music, with references to drugs, sex, gun, gang crimes, disrespect for the law, and other racial groups/cultures. Defenders of gangsta rap argue that no matter who is listening to the music, the raps are good because they precisely show life in inner-city America, and therefore have the truest representation of America at that time.

References;

- http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=61725&jid=PMU&volumeId=19&issueId=01&aid=61724

- http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/adam-yauch-twitter-tributes-musicians-819103#.UvD4svl_s24 

http://www.academia.edu/428185/THE_CULTURE_INDUSTRY_HIP_HOP_MUSIC_AND_THE_WHITE_PERSPECTIVE_HOW_ONE-DIMENSIONAL_REPRESENTATION_OF_HIP_HOP_MUSIC_HAS_INFLUENCED_WHITE_RACIAL_ATTITUDES

Aids - political and stereotypical identity in 1980's America

AIDS stigma and discrimination exist worldwide but especically in the US. They exist to this day but were even more apparant during the 1980's when HIV and AIDS awareness was poor, treatment non-existent and the numbers of infected individuals suddenly increased exponentially. Discrimination towards people with HIV and AIDS occurs alongside other forms of stigma and discrimination, such as racism, stigma based on physical appearance, homophobia or misogyny and can be directed towards those involved in what are considered socially unacceptable activities such as prostitution or drug use.

As the 1980s progressed, the gay and lesbian community increasingly realized the devastating impact of AIDS on gay men. AIDS was first discovered among gay men in 1981. As the gay male community became aware of AIDS, which had been first labelled GRID (gay-related immune deficiency), it responded politically.A band of gay men met and formed the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), the legacy of which is apparant today as it continues to pioneer HIV prevention, care and advocacy. A link to thier website detailing their mission aims, background and what they believe, can be found here.

An example of the poor interaction from the government regarding AIDS recognition, treatment and prevention programs during the late 1970's and 1980's became apparant after the assasination of Harvey Milk. Milk's murderer was convicted of manslaughter and received a light sentence and San Francisco's gay community erupted in a riot outside City Hall. The light sentence indicated that Milk almost 'deserved' his punishment of contracting AIDS.

The fact that HIV could be transmitted by tainted needles or botched blood transfusions did not enter people's thought proccesses during the 1980's. People believed gay men were wholly responsible for their disease through promiscuity and unsafe sex. After the realisation of the rapid spread of AIDS in the US, needle exchange programs and AIDS Charity Avers were started in 1986. Slowly more and more antiretroviral vaccines and therapies came up that could nip the bud of the virus at its initial stages, which are still being developed today. Thanks to these medical and technological advances, individuals diagnosed with HIV and AIDS can live a relativly normal life.

The legacy of HIV and AIDS is still very much apparant in today's society. People who have contracted HIV are still stereotyped and carry a stigma from the general public who have not forgotten the beliefs and the behaviours of the population during the 1980's. The awareness of AIDS and HIV has increased tremendously since the first diagnosis and example of which is the anual 'World Aids Day' which falls on the 1st December every year, which gives an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died (around 35 million people), the first one was held in 1988.

Resources:

• http://www.gmhc.org/about-us
• http://hivsymptomsonline.com/hiv-in-the-1980s.html
• http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft0q2n99kf&chunk.id=d0e4578&toc.id=d0e4461&brand=ucpress
• http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-stigma-and-discrimination.htm
• http://www.worldaidsday.org/about-world-aids-day.php

Representation Female Identity in the 1980's

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/leisure/retail_therapy/fashion/8333660.1980s_Women_s_Fashion__The_Feminine_Identity/


"One of the main trends to hit the 80s was power dressing. For women, it meant dramatic shoulder pads and tailored suit jackets and blouses. Women were seeking their own identities outside of the typical female stereotype, and this more masculine style allowed them to assert themselves and helped along the campaign for equal rights in the work place. It was down to popular TV show ‘Dynasty’, first aired in 1981, that really introduced the style into the mainstream, with the actresses all wearing enormous shoulder pads that could rival those of any American footballer. These women were dramatic and powerful, and their suits and broad shoulders portrayed that, whilst their hair, make up and clever use of jewelry allowed them to still appear feminine. This style remained popular throughout the 80s and into the first three years of the nineties."

• Women concerned with appearance as it could affect their status in the work force
• Women now had to compete with men and therefore had to dress more like them in order to be taken seriously and have a chance at success
• A new era for women began during the 1980's and the rise of modern feminism and female power in the work place
• Business women in the 1980's were trying to break away from the bright neon, tight leotards and leg warmers 'look', made famous by the 1983 film 'Flashdance'.

Madonna

Madonna

Madonna has long since been classed as a feminist icon and during the 80's, the singer used her star power and image to comment on the role of women and the way there were treated in society. This is clearly evident in her changing dramatic style, as she becomes a legit A-List star, Madonna used her status to create controversy and shock factor through her highly sexualised appearance. In this way she was commented on female sexuality and places the gaze in the power of women as opposed to men. Madonna's music videos also explored this female power as she played with the role of men and women in society and the gender equality that exists. 

The 1989 video for her song 'Express Yourself" visually explores some of the themes of gender issues that were prevalent and debated in the 1980's. Madonna can be seen were a suit that immediately associates her with a male position of power and her sexualised image, dress and actions can be seen a a defiant subversion of the male gaze and she takes control and welds her body as her own source of power and control. However this is also juxtaposed with the image of Madonna chained up for the sexual gratification and submission to the man, illustrating the contradictory social practises that form the 80's patriarchy.