Analysis of Space Jam
American Studies
Popular Culture Analysis There has never been a time when popular culture has been more pervasive and influential in American society. With advances in technology and creative innovation, outlets for popular culture have expanded greatly and are virtually innumerable. Through the consumption of television, music, magazines, movies, newspapers, blogs, and memes to name a few, American citizens and others around the globe are inundated with ideals and images that work to mold their collective psyche by impacting every facet of their daily lives and by providing a critique of modern-day society. Perhaps much of the influence of popular culture lies in the fact that its primary function is to appeal to the masses; therefore, it is widely and easily accessible to an extremely large audience. Many people in this audience partake in popular culture simply to be entertained; however, they fail to realize the extent to which it shapes their way of thinking in areas such as education, politics, the economy, racial relations, and overall global relations. The analysis of popular culture is an essential practice for the sheer fact that it has such an overwhelming presence in our lives. Space Jam, a highly popular movie made in 1996, blends elements of animation, comedy, sports, and renowned American icons to spin a tale that is not only highly entertaining but provides tropes and narratives that are teeming with insights and critiques of American society. The first step toward analyzing any piece of popular culture is to lay out and understand its explicit plot, or storyline. Space Jam is an enjoyable film starring world famous basketball player Michael Jordan and the characters of the Looney Tunes franchise as the main protagonists of the story in a partially live action and partially animated cartoon world. The film begins with an introduction to Michael Jordan’s childhood days with his father as he practices basketball. His father’s ultimate goal for
Popular Culture Analysis There has never been a time when popular culture has been more pervasive and influential in American society. With advances in technology and creative innovation, outlets for popular culture have expanded greatly and are virtually innumerable. Through the consumption of television, music, magazines, movies, newspapers, blogs, and memes to name a few, American citizens and others around the globe are inundated with ideals and images that work to mold their collective psyche by impacting every facet of their daily lives and by providing a critique of modern-day society. Perhaps much of the influence of popular culture lies in the fact that its primary function is to appeal to the masses; therefore, it is widely and easily accessible to an extremely large audience. Many people in this audience partake in popular culture simply to be entertained; however, they fail to realize the extent to which it shapes their way of thinking in areas such as education, politics, the economy, racial relations, and overall global relations. The analysis of popular culture is an essential practice for the sheer fact that it has such an overwhelming presence in our lives. Space Jam, a highly popular movie made in 1996, blends elements of animation, comedy, sports, and renowned American icons to spin a tale that is not only highly entertaining but provides tropes and narratives that are teeming with insights and critiques of American society. The first step toward analyzing any piece of popular culture is to lay out and understand its explicit plot, or storyline. Space Jam is an enjoyable film starring world famous basketball player Michael Jordan and the characters of the Looney Tunes franchise as the main protagonists of the story in a partially live action and partially animated cartoon world. The film begins with an introduction to Michael Jordan’s childhood days with his father as he practices basketball. His father’s ultimate goal for