An Unhealthy Obsession with Snooki

America's Obsession with 'Jersey Shore' star Snooki: She's the 2011 version of the pet rock

When Snooki Polizzi from the MTV reality show "Jersey Shore" was paid more to speak at Rutger's University than Nobel-Prize winner Toni Morisson was, writer S.E. Cupp went to investigate just what is up with one of our generation's newest obsessions. Do you think it is fair to say our generation is more entertained by this "Gym, Tan, Laundry" lifestyle than we should be? Is being a fan of the show excusable after considering S.E. Cupp's argument that every generation has a dumb cultural trend? Or is this show on a whole new level of stupidity that reflects poorly upon the fans of this generation? One final thought to consider is what are the implications of this regarding our society's values?

Test.

"May the 4th be with you"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5275019/Star-Wars-inspires-couples-bizarre-sci-fi-wedding.html

UK couple weds in a not-so-traditional fashion: the Star Wars way. Light sabres, wookies, and all.

What do you think of outside obsessions, such as Star Wars, being brought into traditional ceremonies such as weddings? To what extent does Star Wars define this couple? Does dressing up in costumes and changing the vows undermine the seriousness of the wedding?

Real-life Twilight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q77sJT8O56E

The above link is a clip from a Texas news station short focusing on a new kind of high school clique - teen werewolves.

What do you think the transformation from childhood to adulthood has to do with wanting to be a part of such a circle? Typically, what type of high school student do you think would be drawn to the wolve pack and why? How does the way one physically expresses him/herself reflect on society's view of their character?

Happy bloggin'!

This Will Never End - A Song about the Harry Potter Fandom

This is a YouTube video of Harry Potter fans reminiscing over the series. What kind of identity does this give to Harry Potter fans, does it portray them as loyal, or obsessed? Do you think other fandoms have a hard time “saying goodbye” to what they follow? Do you think Harry Potter leave a legacy, such as Star Wars or Batman?

Hottest Topics on the Web Right Now.

This is a screen cap of the top stories from a celebrity gossip website. What kind of identity does this give to people in general? Does this show that people are more concerned with pointless celebrity stories than world conflicts/politics? Do you think this is an accurate representation of what concerns most people?

The Great Meteor of 1998

This screencap is of an actual facebook conversation. What can you determine about the original poster from their status? How much of this is intentional and how much accidental? Looking at the responses, how have the original poster's friends interpreted her identity and how are they engaging with her as a result?