CMNS 1221: Lecture Notes Assignment on Mass Culture & Staying Home

This assignment, completed for CMNS 1221, addresses four key questions related to mass culture, technology, and societal changes. The first question explores the allure of luxury items, using a Ferrari as an example, and discusses its appeal through media and cultural significance. The second question contrasts folk culture with mass and popular culture, examining how technology and media have reshaped cultural practices. The third question delves into the factors determining the value of art, with a focus on painting and sculpture, highlighting the subjective nature of artistic valuation. The final question examines the impact of technology on loneliness, discussing how technological advancements, such as ATMs and online platforms, have altered social interactions and provided both challenges and opportunities for connection during times of isolation, such as the era of staying home. The student provides detailed responses, incorporating personal reflections and examples to illustrate the concepts discussed.

Question one
I picked a Ferrari as my luxury item. One of the primary reasons that an individual would
need a car is because in the current times it has become a more critical and essential mode of
transport. With a car, you do not need to rely on public means of transport for your daily
commute and you can enjoy the flexibility and lifestyle associated with a car. I want a Ferrari
because of my passion for automobiles, that is, Sports cars with a class and speed. Additionally,
a Ferrari has been owned by The Ruling Class and those who want to show the world their
wealth.
The media, that is, TV, radio stations, newspapers, TV shows, films, and online media
houses talk about cars all the time. Cars owned by the rich, the most famous persons and the
ruling class make trending topics for the media. Nobody told me that a Ferrari is good. However,
from the attention that it has attracted since it emerged as a sports car giant ranging from, the
owners, the cost of the car and exhibitions, then it occurred to me that it is one of the priceless
things that I could own.
The Rock in 1996 is one movie that used a Ferrari. Both the film director Michael and
Nicolas Cage are car enthusiasts, in particular Ferrari. They love and owned the vehicle and
started using it in their movies. Cage steals a Ferrari to chase down a Humvee H1 and what
ensues is a real Ferrari action in a five-minute chase.
Question two
Folk culture is about how people used to do things in the old days. Folk culture used to be
different in various places because the old ways of life tended to be different before the Invention
of mass media and technology that has made today's culture look similar. For instance, many
people in the folk culture used to listen to acoustic music that was played among friends.
On the other hand, mass culture is a culture of the great majority of people, that is, what
everyone is doing now. Technology and the media have revolutionized and affected the mass
culture. In today's world, people listen to music through television, live shows and radios, they
watch movies and use the internet and only spectate sporting events instead of actively taking
part. Mass culture has seen many youngsters produce music of all kinds. Mass culture involves a
mass audience and only occurs when culture can be produced for mass audiences.

Finally, popular culture may emanate from a variety of sources but is consumed by many
people. Popular culture mostly originates from urban areas and is uniform over a large
geographical region whereas cultures like folk come from rural health.
Governments, international corporations, and private individuals now have the ability to
influence people through the use of technologies science Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. Also,
each person has more influence on choosing their popular culture in the form of Facebook likes,
Instagram likes and comments made on Twitter.
Question three
The value of art is determined by many factors. For instance, an art that has been shown
in many exhibitions means its more valuable. A piece that has been featured in famous places
like the New York MOMA could also be considered valuable or a piece that presents a work of
art showing a particular style by an artist who has made their name in the history of art.
Painting is the work of art that I think is the most valuable. The authorities or sellers might
dictate the value of a piece of painting but this is usually subjective. In most cases, the painters
paint their thoughts, creativity, current situation or their experiences make a particular portrait
have a robust imaginative appeal. The good thing with painting is that they can be preserved for
generations to come. A picture is worth a thousand words. For example, The farm oil painting
made by Joan in 1921. The portrait was used by the artist as an inventory of what they owned
since 1911.
Sculptures have been given low values in the modernization era as compared to other
pieces of art. However, I feel that these pieces are the most valuable since they represent a time
in history before the invention of painting or any modern means of creating art. Our forefathers
would use stone curvings to come up with these portraits. For instance, the Netsuke tiger with its
two cubs done in the mid 19th century in Japan.
Question four
Being lonely in the era of technology is not a new thing nor was it unimaginable from the
beginning. Being lonely all started when ATMs were used to replace tellers. Currently, we have
supermarkets that have self-scan checkouts and will probably have fully automated supermarkets
in the near future with Amazon being on the forefront with its no-checkout-supermarket. People
are able to buy train tickets which are then checked by machines. People buy books through

digital catalogs without having to go to a physical library which has seen most of their physical
library is closed.
In this particular moment when we are asked to isolate, avoid contact and socializing and
stay at home, the internet can be used to bring us together and reduce the atomization caused by
both the TV and the radios. For instance, a medical professional in the Lombardy region of Italy
sent outcries for help using the Facebook page to raise money to help buy Covid-19 testing kits.
The physician then set up a crowdfunding account with gofund and within 24 hours, they had
received a sizable amount of help from the world over.
The internet is not just helping us capture moments with Instagram, but also help raise
funds for those in need. The current situation where people are spending hours in their house will
also teach people how to well relate and collaborate with persons who are miles away to solve a
local problem. Already, with many schools closing in over 188 nations, e-learning through the
internet will reshape how many people learn.