Response to Dan's Post: "The End"

This is a response to Dan's post, "The End" : http://dgcroatia305.blogspot.ca/2012/04/end.html

            Often death brings forward the need for repentance and action. I believe humans take their life for granted and/or ignore the fact that they are immortal just to forget their fear of death and the unknown. In many movies, those who are either faced with an outrageous catastrophe like the end of the world, or are simply aging or ill, are forced to think of death and are usually the characters to reflect on their past and “mend broken bridges”. I believe this is a normal reaction to immortality. It is very unfortunate that we often wait until our last days to make peace with those we have betrayed and forgive those who have hurt us. I know it is a bit cliché, in any case, I believe if we lived like each day was our last our world would be a better place.

            Your post also reminded me of the Nickleback song “If Today Was Your Last Day” which calls us to reflect on our past and the choices we would make if we knew today was our last day. One verse in particular highlights the need to live everyday to the fullest without regrets:

“So do whatever it takes,

‘Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life.

Let nothing stand in your way,

‘Cause the hands of time are never on your side.”

Nickleback, "If Today Was Your Last Day" - Song & Lyrics

            Another song that came to mind was Pearl Jam’s “Last Kiss”. Instead of a person having to face death because of a sickness or aging, this song address the need for reflection when someone you love passes. After his girlfriend has passed, he sings, “She’s gone to heaven so I’ve got to be good; so I could see my Baby when I leave this world.” He realizes now that he has to live a certain way in the hopes that he can see her again.

Pearl Jam, "Last Kiss" - Song & Lyrics

            There are many mediums in popular culture that ask us to take a step back and reflect on our lives, the regrets we have, and the decisions we can make to better our future and sometimes even our entire world. They often force us to think about death and even a possibly afterlife. After all, if we believe the rapture is dawning, I am sure we would all make changes in our everyday lives. 

We're Gonna Party Like It's 2012!

The apocalyptic genre has taken over music in our popular culture. Jay Sean and Nicki Minaj’s song “2012 (It Ain’t the End),” asks that we all “party like it’s the end of the world”. This song address the fear that 2012 will be the year of the apocalypse and attempts to reassure everyone that it will not be the end.

“It ain’t the end of the world. No, I’m not going to follow anything they say anymore. It’s never too late to start living so lets start it with here, right now… You know it doesn’t matter, as long as we got each other.”

            In the above quotation from the song, Jay Sean tries to put everyone at ease by suggesting the idea of the world ending in 2012 is some fabrication that “they” created, and encourages everyone to live life to the fullest without fearing the unknown.  In my opinion, Jay Sean is taking the biblical approach of the end of days coming “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). It will be completely unexpected, so we should “start living” and make the most of our time here since it could happen at any time, even tomorrow. He encourages everyone to go out and celebrate like it is our last night instead of being fearful of the end. However, I did find it funny that Jay Sean himself is a bit fearful: “You know it doesn’t matter, as long as we got each other” implying he is even unsure of his fate, and just incase “they” are right, he will at least be surrounded by those he loves.

            Another song in the apocalyptic genre but touches the Christian apocalypse in particular, is Coldplay’s “’Til Kingdom Come”. The song was originally written for a special event and was to be performed by Coldplay and Johnny Cash, but Cash had unfortunately passed away before the event was finalized. The song is a hidden track on Coldplay’s album, X&Y and in Rolling Stones magazine Chris Martin of Coldplay explained that he got the idea of this song from the Lord’s Prayer. The song is definitely a Christian one, and some even believe the song is about one’s relationship with Christ. I believe it is simply a song about eternal love. What do you think?

“Only 4% of Women Worldwide Consider Themselves Beautiful”

This post is in response to: "Credibility, Gender and the Media" - http://christianityandpopularculture.blogspot.ca/2012/03/credibility-gender-and-media.html

The issue of gender and women’s credibility is one that needs serious consideration. As you have mentioned, young girls are being bombarded with negative stereotypes. Women are lacking in “credible” positions like news castors or politicians, and when they are in the media, women are often stereotyped as dumb, superficial, annoying, and dependent. Furthermore, the media places great importance on their appearance and the “perfect body”. Essentially, the media tells girls they will simply never be good enough. The only chance people will ever take them seriously is if they are beautiful, but how many girls actually consider themselves beautiful?

In a new global survey by Dove, they found that by age fourteen, 55% of girls are critical about their appearance: “By the time they are 29, this number increases to 96%. After the age of 14 girls increasingly become their own worst beauty critic. While only 10% of girls 10-14 put pressure on themselves to be beautiful, this number climbs to 59% of women 18-64.”   (http://www.dove.ca/en/Article/Surprising-Self-Esteem-Statistics.aspx)

As a result of the media’s portrayal of women, girls are having self-esteem issues. These self-esteem issues are creating a negative impact on their overall health. Many girls and women alike suffer from eating disorders. These diseases would be the extreme result of low self-esteem, however it is extremely hard to come across even one girl who is not self-conscious about some part of their body. This is an issue that speaks to a large majority of the world.

However, I have seen some effort by clothing companies like Levi’s, in promoting natural figures. Levi’s has put forward a new wave of women’s jeans called Curve ID, that fit more than just the ‘size-zero’ body. The Levi’s Curve ID slogans include: “Jeans for Us,” “All Asses Were Not Created Equal,” and “Hotness Comes in All Shapes and Sizes.” The issue still remains that Levi’s’ main advertisements feature thin models, but the door has become somewhat open to fuller-figured girls.