Written Analysis 3- Hero and Celebrity Meme’s

Hero and Celebrity Meme’s

Jodi Osborne

HUMN240-H2WW

Morris Schottenstein

December 14, 2016 

Hero and Celebrity Meme’s

Meme’s have achieved a large social standing when it comes to popular culture and the social standing of society. Meme’s can portray a negative or positive depiction of a person or person’s character depending on the meme maker’s personal interpretation of that specific individual. When we focus on the concepts of Heroes and The Cult of the Celebrity and focus in on meme’s and how they are affected by these concepts we are able to gain a better understanding of meme’s influence in today’s society.

Heroes

Meme’s can be used in various ways to depict a hero, Of course a hero comes in many different shapes, forms, fashions, styles, ethnicities, etc., depending on that particular person and their views of what makes up a hero. Meme makers can create a hero to be uplifted or torn down. They can make the hero be in a positive light or in a dark vision for others to grasp. Depending on the individual creating the meme and their own personal views, they can make or break a character or hero in this instance. For example, we shall use the hero, Batman for this case. The maker of a meme may have a photo with Batman that says defender of the city. This can create positive, uplifting feels about the hero. This states that the known subject will defend the city. Depending on how each individual interprets the meme it could relate to them in a way that makes them feel as though this particular hero will save them from hurt, harm, and danger.

            On the flip side of things a meme can destroy a hero’s character, integrity, and fame with the use of negativity. For example, using a picture of Batman with the caption, Batman is fraud. This is insinuating that the hero depicted is fraudulent and fake. Thus giving the sense that the hero or character is not credible and righteous in the sense. This can give off mixed emotions and feelings about the character of the hero and also allow people to have negative attitude towards the person within the text. If the hero is depicted in a negative light the viewers or anticipated audience may tend to side with the thoughts and feelings of the meme maker and continue in agreeance with the depicted material.  

The Cult of the Celebrity

            When we consider the cult of the celebrity and meme’s, we are able to see how people are depicted and how their personal interpretations can affect those that witness or are exposed to the said materials. When people overly care about a celebrity, in terms of status (social, financial, economical, etc.) their views and opinions can flood into the determination of how others may view the celebrity. The making of meme’s and the impact that meme’s have on a social community force people to interpret another person’s views and opinions about that person.

            People are extremely influential and in the terms of meme’s, the cult of the celebrity can make or break a celebrity’s fame. For example, after the Bill Cosby scandal there were hundreds if not thousands of celebrity meme’s made around this particular celebrity. Majority of the meme’s being made were in a negative manner and focusing on the downfall of Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby’s fame and popularity quickly made a downfall due to all of the negative publicity and meme’s produced in society.

            The fact that people are almost obsessive over a celebrity’s lifestyle, status, and demeanor can facilitate opinions and bias toward the celebrity. The way that meme’s portray a celebrity can either help or hinder that particular person. Most meme’s created are to poke fun at or laugh at a celebrity’s lifestyle, or compare how celebrity’s live compared to the average person. In today’s society, it is almost as if people cannot go a day without hearing about celebrity status and daily meme’s are being created as a result. 

Journal Article Paper- Making Starbuck Monstrous: The Poetics of Othering in Battlestar Galactica

Stereotypical Characters

The article, Making Starbuck Monstrous: The Poetics of Othering in Battlestar Galactica is the article that will be translated in the given text. Within the given text, Leavenworth does a phenomenal job of describing the transition of Starbuck from a sort of tough girl, but yet still very feminine, into a monstrous being. With great detail and precision this journal of popular culture article depicts how a woman had a strong masculine role within the time it was set. Although in this time period it was not popular for woman to have a tough exterior and tough role within movies or society in general, the movie allows this transition to break the mold and stereotypical findings surrounding women. People in this time period seen women as weak and as though they really had no place other than to be at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. Within the movie it was stated that her ideas were almost blown off when she would give suggestions or ideas to the other characters. Although her ideas may have been fantastic and altogether the solutions to the problems being faced throughout the seasons, she was viewed as not being very intelligent and taken seriously in times of crises. Starbuck was seen as a weak woman against the nature of her make counterparts. This movie allowed women to see that they could have a strong voice and a tough exterior. This allowed an almost breakthrough for women within the time period. Women were given a character that did not go along with the whimsical and flimsy characters from before, but a tough hard core character that shed light on another type of personality.

            Another key point that Leavenworth tuned into was the use of femininity. When I say the use of femininity, I generally mean the way the movie depicted Starbuck to start of very feminine and womanly to gain the popularity and emotional attachment to the audience then turning her into something that was the complete opposite. This change was said to go throughout the seasons of the show which gave time for the audience to get comfortable with the changes and so that the change was not sudden. Starbucks change was gradual and in small spurts throughout the season. Although Starbuck does indeed being to morph and change, we are not given her final depiction of character. She is almost killed off before we are able to see what she truly becomes. This could be seen as a way that they choose to stick with stereotyping that Starbuck was not ultimately changed into a huge horrific monster, but yet still died with femininity. It’s almost as if they did not wish to change her character completely because of the time in which the movie was set and the values, morals, and beliefs that society held within that particular time period. Although the story is set in a monstrous manner, they do not allow the feminine beauty to become a horrible monster, but instead just allow her to exhibit things that the monsters indeed did themselves. We are given the example of her seeing ghosts and seeing her own dead body within the text. We are told that woman in the nineteenth century we not viewed as dominant and were not portrayed that way.

            The way that Starbuck is depicted throughout the story line almost goes to show exactly how stereotyping went along in that particular time period. The way she was talked down to, the way they portrayed her being less than her husband, and the way that she was shown as a monster or madwoman when she went against the grain is perfect perception of stereotyping.

            Overall, I do agree with Leavenworth’s main points throughout the written works. Not only were the points made, but examples, of each were given along with substantial evidence throughout the storyline. The article represented thoughts, views, and beliefs that were true in nature during the stated time period and were specific throughout.

            This article, to me, is important because it takes a look at not only the storyline given, but takes a look at society as a whole within the given time. Leavenworth uses excellent examples to show the use of stereotyping and shows exactly how we are able to relate that information into the translation of the story itself. We are shown why the story may have been written in the manner it was and why the characters depict the traits they are given within the movie.

References

Leavenworth, Van. (2014, August). Making Starbuck Monstrous: The Poetics of Othering in Battlestar Galactica. Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 47(4), pp. 688. 21p.

Analyses 5 (HUMN240-H2WW)

The Influence of Meme’s In Today’s Society

Jodi Osborne

HUMN240-H2WW

Morris Schottenstein

December 14, 2016

The Influence of Meme’s In Today’s Society

When we dive into the popular culture artifact of meme’s and how our society can become shaped by them we can consider differing factors to do so. For example, we may look into the business side of popular culture and how meme’s are interlinked with the popularity of a product, business or organization. In this instance we will use the company Target for our explanation. Target can be as seen as a nice, wholesome, family store for the most part, but through the use of meme’s people are able to create a sort of sense based on others emotional values to generate opinions, views and popularity that particular topic. Depending on the meme creator either being for or against a subject, such as Target, can have very differing stances, opinions, and biased that they choose to send into the consuming society. The way that meme makers are able to construct these feelings are generally and most often through the use of messages, both hidden and subliminal to take advantage of their targeted audience. For example, if a meme was to go viral, of let’s say, a mother and a child smiling and shopping within a Target store location with a caption, such as, we love our Target store, this could generate a large popular following of Target stores and create feelings of credibility and popularity with the store brand. This particular meme may create and actually cause people in today’s society to want to visit the store with the thought in mind that Target makes people happy and that it’s a good place to shop. People may think this due to the caption of the people within the photo uplifting the store by saying they love it.

Although meme’s can be used in a business sense to strengthen the popularity of brands, memes can also be used to destroy or tear down a business’s credibility and popularity. For example, a meme could be made of a woman and child inside the target store with the caption, Target is harmful to our children. This photo not only grabs your attention, but the caption makes you want to dive deeper into the story of why this headline is telling us that Target is harmful to our children. This type of meme can create feelings of fear or extreme dislike due to the given content.

Meme’s generally play on society’s emotional values to create a sort of common ground and connection with their targeted audience. Meme makers may ask themselves questions when generating memes, such as, how can I connect with my audience? How can I grab the attention of others? How can I make people laugh? How can I make people dislike this company? How can the meme relate to others to gravitate and cause them to share, like, and ultimately make the meme go viral?  Questions such as these take on a large part of the overall meme making process because it ultimately determines how they are putting this information into our society and how our society will depict the given information.

These findings help me to better understand that society is an all to close network of weaved materials all based on popularity and what people are easily relatable toward and how the use of memes can shape a society’s viewpoint or standing about a particular topic, person, organization, etc. When we take a look around at our society today, meme’s have been able to easily influence those who choose to part take in the meme culture. Things that your friends, family, classmates, etc., are sharing makes you more susceptible to these images and in return you may tend to agree or disagree with the topic, but will have been a part of that meme’s journey. I believe that I will think of my popular culture topic differently because I am able to see how meme’s can actually help to shape society and how they initiate thoughts, translations, and actions based on their existence. People can take the images portrayed as light hearted or take a different stand towards the photo and get highly upset with what is being portrayed. The fact that people are so easily able to share and see things via the internet opens up an entirely new type of lifestyle in the world and everything can be grasped with the click of a button. I believe that we also need to limit our intake of internet, advertisements, and commercials so that we are not just a country built on the fascination of consuming and on the opinions of others. We as a human race are easily influenced and it is easy for me to see why people can be so susceptible when our friends, family, etc., are showing us and liking these types of images daily.

Concepts of Meme Rituals and Stereotypes

 Concepts of Meme Rituals and Stereotypes

Jodi Osborne

HUMN240-H2WW

Morris Schottenstein

November 25, 2016

  

Concepts of Meme Rituals and Stereotypes

Memes have been used for years now as a way of expression. This expression and voice of words through pictures, images, and videos can be viewed in a negative or positive light. It is more of an eye of the beholder type of deal. When considering which rituals and stereotypes can be involved within the meme or meme making process, we must dive deeper into what a meme can have within the bounds of itself and what other factors are being incorporated into the photo to make it something more than just a photo. When we solely focus on the influence that meme’s have on today’s society, we can factor in numerous concepts to truly grasp how these animated cartoons, images, and pictures have fully integrated into mainstream society and how the rituals and stereotypes that accompany meme’s affect the popular culture of today’s citizens.

Rituals

Meme’s do not solely hold any type of particular ritual or connection in today’s society that would pertain to religion or specific ceremonies that may hold a higher rite within the world. Meme’s instead may use religious beliefs, photos of religious figures, or places that others may hold in a higher right than others to obtain or gain fame, likes, or shares, via the internet to become a sort of pop culture celebrity.

People want fame and to be well known and recognized around the globe. Creating meme’s and pictures that are able to relate widely with common beliefs, norms, and values, gives that particular meme creator a hand up in the fame department. Most meme’s created around religion seem to be either poking fun at, or symbolizing a sort of feeling about how one may view that particular religious character.

For example, let’s use the following meme, Figure-1, to demonstrate the influence of meme’s in today’s society involving the use of a religious figure. This image involves a photo of the religious figure Jesus Christ. In the following image, Jesus is shown at The Garden Tomb, or better known as the death and resurrection place of Jesus Christ. The caption includes the following message, “People followed me before Twitter,” (Figure-1). This meme is insinuating that the people of the world followed Jesus literally before the coming of technology in which now you are able to follow people’s actions, status, and daily journeys via the internet application of Twitter. Although some may find humor in the following image, others may take extreme offense to the image. Depending on the particular person creating the meme, the setting in which the meme is being spread or shared, and the people receiving the image, this particular meme could have been created to inspire other or have simply been created to make fun of, or poke fun at this particular religious figure.

The individuals creating the meme and the individuals receiving the image will ultimately determine the status of the image. If the meme is considered funny or uplifting, most people on social media will tend to share, like, or spread the image future creating more buzz and popularity. If the image is deemed offensive, hurtful, or negative the image will most likely not receive very much attention, unless the popularity of the image is solely based on the negative portrayal of the religious figure, then can also reach mass amounts of popularity from people searching for the image personally or to find the image to attempt to take the image down. Various groups have differing opinions, values, and beliefs and while one group may find a meme acceptable, enjoyable, funny, or likeable, another group may find total distaste in the image. Weather a meme will receive any type of social status will depend on the community, or social group it is being shared with

Stereotypes

Meme territory comes with a variety of stereotypes not only with what a meme is, but the person conjuring the meme, as well as, stereotyping being held in high regards within the use of memes and the pictures, images, or videos they withhold.

The meme itself has an already classified field of uncertainty. People do not feel too sure about the images memes hold because of the negative or positive impact they hold when being shared. Some people choose not to dive into the world of memes at all because they can be viewed as crude, lude, harmful, or distasteful in nature depending on the content of the meme. Memes also hold the stereotypical view as humorous. Most memes created are in good nature and simply created because of the way one may feel about a particular topic, subject or theme. Memes can be considered relatable in nature and enjoyable. They were originally created to bring joy and happiness to the people it was being shared with. As with good there is generally a negative condonation as well. Once memes had started to become so extremely popular and mainstream and viral, others chose to use the meme glory in a negative light and to turn something that was simple and funny into something that can now be viewed as negative or nasty in nature.

Today the images and photos being liked and shared are anything but simple and sweet. Memes today have seemed to take a turn for the worse because in today’s society we are seeing more memes that are making fun of others and putting hurtful, or harmful messages against one another to ultimately hurt or create a tension between people, communities, and now society. Although memes are being created by one person, that one meme can travel as far as the eye can see and now around the globe. Once a meme is created there is almost no stopping it. Once something is put into virtual reality, social media, and mainstream society, and popular culture, it is very hard for those things to simply go away.

When thinking about stereotypical measures, we can look at the meme maker in their own environment and see all of the fixed ideals that people tend to have about them in general. Most people tend to think that meme makers are people who have been hurt by others in society and using meme’s as a way to get back at those who have caused them pain in the past. People generally also seem to picture a meme maker as a teen or grown man that is still living in his parents’ basement, possibly a computer geek, or bullied kid that is now looking for ways to revenge himself. Although this may be the general population’s thoughts and preconceived notions about meme makers, this is not always the case. Some meme makers are simply paid to make memes and work for internet corporations, social media venues, and popular culture bloggers.

Many kids are now using memes as a way to bully others or seek revenge on those they have felt some sort of negative light against and instead of society lifting itself up, it is almost taking a turn for the worst and crumbling under the weight of its own production. Teens have been found taking yearbook photos of classmates and turning them into meme’s that are hurtful and harmful. Meme’s started off as being something that way relatable in nature and has now become almost a breeding ground for negative insight.

In conclusion, meme’s have started off positive and funny, but have become something that people are tending to stay away from. No one wants to share a photo that potentially hurt someone’s feelings or become harmful to others. Although, there still are meme makers that do not choose to use their capabilities for evil, it seems as though memes have taken a turn for the worse. I hope that in the near future those who are making memes choose to make the photos with others in mind and choose to make memes that everyone can once again enjoy.

  

References

ChristianFunnyPictures. (2013, June 5). PEOPLE FOLLOWED ME BEFORE TWITTER. Obtained from  http://christianfunnypictures.com/2013/06/people-followed-me-before-twitter.html on November 27, 2016. 

ICON

When you think of the word icon, what comes to your brain? Literally, what is the very foremost thought that you can imagine and what does that vision entail? Do you think of a specific person, maybe a musical artist such as, Madonna to be exact. Do you think of a painting like that of Vincent Van Gogh's which was thought to have been so magnificent that it has endured throughout centuries? Maybe you think of a particular place, for example, the tomb that Jesus has risen from. What I envision an icon to be is a person, place, or thing that will remain valid, forever enduring, and always consistent in every new era to come. An icon is a person or thing that can be seen in any regard as holding some type of symbolism in society. Madonna, for example, is first and foremost, a singer, but is also a songwriter, actress, and is her own boss when it comes to business. Madonna has paved the way for so many other artists and is nothing short of iconic. She has held numerous number one titles in music and her edgy and trendy style sense is still current in today's society. Many of today's artists give Madonna credibility when asked whom they were influenced by. Not only has she become the mother of pop music, but is still valid and accepted in today's society. Another iconic legend is Vincent Van Gogh. Even though Gogh has long since past, his art works are studied, copied, portrayed, and held up to very high standards in the art community. Many people aspire to paint and draw the way he has done and his works are still being seeked out today. The art Van Gogh has produced in his time are used as examples in today's classrooms and his paintings are placed in museums for people to study, examine, and admire. Another icon that still has a large impact on today's mainstream society is Beethoven. Although Beethoven was born in the 1700's, his musical genius still endures and lives on today. Anyone can find Beethoven's impact on today's generations through looking at the musical classes offered in schools, museums/ historical venues, and by wandering into cubs of the elite. Beethoven's music is almost seen as sacred by the way it is cherished and passed down from one generation to the next. His musical talents have influenced many in the music industry and have even been seen as beneficial in the science field. Beethoven's works are still being cultivated today and will be in the future to come.

My main reason for choosing the three icons I have, Madonna, Vincent Van Gogh, and Beethoven, is because these people have been seen as almost misunderstood in the beginning of their careers, but are now viewed as absolute icons. The icons I have chosen had to make a way for themselves in the industry they chose. They were not so much welcomed into their passion, but paved the way for themselves and did not apologize for doing so. After they broke down the doors, they continued onward to create works that were seen in the past as well as the present as magnificent. Each icon holds some sort of standing in today's society that deeply impacts our culture. Children today are listening to Madonna's music, creating copies of Van Gogh's artworks in their classrooms, and developing an ear for fascinating sounds and rhythms in middle and high schools around the globe. These people are icons because they are globally known and recognized for their works. Madonna is from Detroit, Michigan, but goes around the globe with her dozens of organizations and aid programs to help others. Vincent Van Gogh is from the Netherlands, but we study and read about his work here in The United States. Beethoven was born in the Electorate of Cologne, now Germany, but is being studied and his works carefully maintained here in The United States. 

These specific icons all have and hold a particular meaning to me. Madonna was always an artist that I listened to growing up. This was mainly due to the fact that my mother listened to her music and I had no say so on what was played on her radio, but the fact that we shared that time together listening to her music has held a sort of impact in my life. I was presented the music that my mother listened to in her youth and this very same artist is current in today's musical stream and is still making hit records today. It is hard for me to believe that an artist can last as long as she has and can still make music that today's generation would find "hip" or in style, but her way of keeping up is amazing. she is innovative, imaginative, and in my eyes will not be slowing down anytime soon. I look forward to what new ventures, ideals, and fads Madonna will create in the future and will always keep in the back of my mind that my mother was the one that introduced us. Vincent Van Gogh will always hold a place in my heart. I will forever remember learning about his mysterious ways and his innovative passion to create works that were different, but sane in a sense to him. I can not tell you how many times I have personally attempted the "Starry Night" painting and can not even begin to count how many times you hear his name in the educational atmosphere. Van Gogh is long past, but yet somehow they keep his relevant in today's society. A mainstream example would be when I was younger and had somehow gotten ahold of a comforter set adorned in the Starry Night painting which was most likely sold at a Walmart at some point in time. This just goes to show that if the product is in demand, the companies will produce it. Now Beethoven on the other hand did not have a direct impact on my life, but seemed to always somehow sneak his musical endeavors into my ears at different points in time. The first I can recall would be school of course when  you have to learn sound patterns and learn the different musical symbols and what they all mean. The second encounter would be driving down the road and switching the stations around to see if there is anything better on the radio than the channel of streaming commercials you are having to listen to. Skipping around and then coming across a station that plays classical music that you stop and listen to for a second because you have heard through the grapevine that classical music has been scientifically proven to make babies smarter while there in the womb. Then you realize you are no longer a baby and flip the station because your brain is already fully developed. The third time I remember running into this musical genius is when I was pregnant, walking through the baby isles and the end cap playing a musical medley of Beethoven which can be purchased on a cd for your child to listen to. And the final recurrence of Beethoven would be now and it is all due to my children. This is simply because they watch Nick Jr. which plays the show "Little Einsteins" and constantly plays classical music genres to teach children about the vast musical capabilities they can achieve. So in other words, I could not escape Beethoven even if I tried. They have always found a way to reinvent these artists and have keep them relevant way past their time. 

An icon should be something that can be seen in a sense as forever lasting or eternal. Of course I do not mean that people will live for an eternity, what I do mean though is that their principles, works, stories, talents, virtues, etc., will be forever lasting. For example, the story of Jesus can be seen as iconic in a way because the story that happened so long ago is still being told and held in high regard. I am not saying this is the only religion of course being held in high relation, but I am simplifying using this as an example of something that is iconic. Jesus was found to have been born around 4/ 6 BC and the story is still alive and well in today's culture. People have founded churches, started organizations, passed down stories, wrote books, drawn and created paintings, etc., from something that was so long ago, yet the concept of God and Jesus can still be seen with very large relevance in today's society. So, now that I have gone over my icons and what I feel to be true about the ones I choose, what would you consider a contemporary icon?

Popular Culture: Flannel Fixings

Let's Talk Pop

Popular culture is said to be the study of one particular component of culture. I see popular culture as the popular, or, well known/ overall agreeance, of ideals, fads, beliefs, customs, attitudes, and tastes that could potentially define the people within a society by others that are either a part of that culture, or, by other cultures that do not share any links, ties, or bonds within that group, but are able to define the group based on the ideals at hand.
Business Savvy
There is a need for a direct understanding of popular culture within a business environment and relevance toward my educational goals and career because popular culture is something that basically runs society. Within the business environment, societal groups, organizations, businesses, individuals, etc., use popular culture to determine what needs to be produced, what they will purchase, what attitudes, values, norms, and beliefs will be exuded into mainstream. These trending beliefs, arts, customs, traditions, and attitudes will predetermine the future and surrounding areas towards the next craze and what exactly people will be choosing to satisfy within themselves to fit into the "norms" of society.

Who's idea was it?
Within my present environment, I am able to point out several forms of popular culture around me. There are various things being advertised on television, things we see or witness as a passersby, things we see in our daily ventures, to the computers, phones and tablets we use for recreational and business purposes. 
For example, we can take the cell phone and talk about the applications we are able to download onto them.  Advertisements are being thrown at us on television for apps to purchase in the app-store, along with advertisements that frequently pop up as we are browsing the web. We can also look more into detail by diving into  a particular type of app on the phone, Instagram. People follow and like pictures, videos, and advertisements that others are posting on a daily basis. It is used as a sort of hub for people to advertise, to be in the know, to communicate, and to stay on top of what's trending. It's almost certain that people will follow trends, and fads if it is someone they look up to or idolize is suggesting to do so. Also, friends and family can become a large part f what influences us to do the things we do. People want to fit in along with wanting to fulfil the need for belonging within society. Majority of people want to belong and crave to fill the void with friends, groups, or surrounding peers. Even though there are those that do not wish to interact, talk with, or hang around others, which we may say are introverts, these people will ultimately find themselves having something in common with someone else, or holding values, norms, or beliefs that others as well hold true and in the end they may choose to lean towards the things that they have in common with others and follow trends that they have now found to have in common. For example, music selection, style, and foods. I am not saying that all people will follow fads, trends, or bold statements, but for the majority of people residing on the planet, we just want to belong. The taste of cultures is what drives popular culture and the need to fulfill, within one's own self, the satisfaction of knowing that one will fit in amongst the community, or, society that one is socially, emotionally, and physically a part of.

Future Goals
Within my future career, it will not only be a necessity, but vital for me to have a better educational understanding of popular culture and how it affects people as beings. What we are influenced by, what we hold true, values, beliefs, and norms will all be considered when taking into account the needs of school aged students. Becoming a school Psychologist will allow me to help others, but only after I take into account the ways that students are being influenced. I will be working one on one with students to support them in their own personal capabilities and abilities to learn. I will also help teachers within my district to build upon materials and ideas to best help students reach their full potential within the schooling system. It is essential that I fully understand the students. This includes taking into account what they are influenced by and what exactly is causing them to think, act, and behave the way they do. I will need the ability to think about and reach upon the conclusions that they deem reasonable and effective within their own personal beings. I will be applying tests and relating that information as to why the student may behave, think, or act, or choose to not particulate in particular activities, groups, behaviors, and attitudes towards others or even themselves. The overall goal of my career will be to see students succeed socially, behaviorally, academically, and emotionally and in order to do so, I will be a better understanding of popular culture and how the influences of society can and may possibly already be affecting the way students think, act, and believe things to be.

Popular by Demand
I would consider clothing as an example of a pop culture artifact. I chose a flannel t-shirt because I tend to see a lot of people wear this particular type of shirt. It is now fall and in the fall people tend to dress warmer. It seems as though a lot of people tend to choose flannel shirts when fall comes around.  To me it has become more of a fashion statement than a way to keep warm on cooler days. On the business side of things, companies seem to be producing more of these types of shirts in order to keep up with demand for the specific shirt. With more shirts being produced, it allows elite, popular, and folk cultures to partake in the trend. More production allows for cheaper prices, which allows for more people to afford clothing that may be more costly originally. Almost every store has a variety of plaid flannel shirts to choose from in a variety of colors. On the personal side of things, we can see this becoming a fashion trend and people wanting to wear this shirt as a form of fitting into popular fashion styles then as a use for warmth.