Lily Morris

Although history, music has been a major part of society. It is a means of expression and entertainment and can bring people together. Although music has evolved throughout the years, the intent remains the same. But with evolution come different norms and mindsets, so when comparing music from the 1950s and the 2000s, not to mention 2023, there will be significant differences in messages, genres, and societal acceptance. Ultimately, the 1950s was a different world than today: different society, social norms, and completely different music.

In today’s world, Rock-and-roll music is still very prevalent. According to an article written by Ansel Pereira and published by Spinditty, called “100 Best Modern Rock Bands,” the most popular “modern” rock bands are a collection of artists through the decades.

Top 10 modern rock bands:

1. Linkin Park
2.  Foo Fighters
3.  Red Hot Chili Peppers
4.  Nirvana
5.  Arctic Monkeys
6.  System of a Down
7.  Radiohead
8.  Green Day
9.  Shinedown
10.  Incubus

Modern Rock-and-roll bands today are considered “alternative.” In today’s world, Rock doesn’t have a specific genre, so it is really up to us to decide what is considered “Rock-and-roll,” but this is not how Rock was perceived when it came to be.

Rock-and-roll was born in the 1950s, and the purpose for this type of music originated from younger generations taking a stand and breaking free of the societal norms and events occurring. At the time, it was a “rebellion,” which made many traditional people angry. An article written by Lexie Thomas called “Commentary: Modern Rock influences music across genres” tells us that Rock was a statement; it says, “Back in the day when Rock was coming to be, it was all about defying the system. Rock music was about making a statement and going against the grain.” The article says that at the root of Rock was the idea of “rebellion” and taking a stance against what was happening in the climate of the 1950s, like the Cold War, segregation, discrimination, inequality, and injustice. The 1950s was considered a period of “conformity,” and rebellious teens were passionate about social change, and because of that, Rock-and-Roll was born. 

An article published by American Songwriter and written by Jacon Uitti called “8 Rock Bands from the 50s That Shaped the Genre” tells us the roots of Rock and roll and the bands responsible for the genre that created social change.

Top 8 Rock-and-Roll Bands of the 50s:

1. The Crickets
2.  The Everly Brothers 
3.  The Platters
4.  Bill Haley and His Comets
5.  The Drifters
6.  The Isley Brothers
7.  Little Richard
8.  Chuck Berry

My ranking:

1. Elvis Presley
2.  Chuck Berry
3.  Little Richard
4.  Jerry Lee Lewis

The article tells us that some bands lasted for years when the genre came to life. It says these are “eight legendary bands from the 1950s that helped define music born from the blues and made electric.” But even though these lyrics seem innocent and tame compared to music nowadays, back then, parents were enraged by Rock-and-roll because of its sexual nature.

At the time, Elvis Presley was a National Celebrity, and his interactions with drugs, alcohol, and women put a bad taste in parents’ mouths, and this was the impression they got for that type of music as a whole. An article by Eric Vaillancourt called “Rock ‘n’ Roll in the 1950s: Rockin’ for Civil Rights” says, “Most parents of the 1950s found themselves adamantly opposed to rock’ N’ roll. One of the main complaints of parents had to do with the sexual nature of Rock In’ roll lyrics and of some of its performers.” But why do they think this?

Since the 1950s was a time of conformity and youths trying to rise because of social injustices, the older generation viewed the music as propaganda. They saw the movement it was creating, and at the time, the older generation did not need to see change in society. Many older generations saw this rebellious music as a threat to American values. Parents feared that their children listening to this music would lead them to embrace African-American culture and values. This aspect of fear is why Rock-and-roll was considered a threat to traditional American values and way of life.

One of the main reasons the older generation did not like Rock and roll was because they did not see a need to end segregation. An article published by the University of Southern Indiana called “Rock ‘n’ Roll and “Moral Panics” – Part One: 1950s and 1960s” says, “One of the moral panics associated with the first wave of rock ‘n’ roll was the fear of race mixing – that young black and white kids would get together over this music that had a rhythmic, primitive, sensuous beat.” The older generation typically viewed the genre as “black music.” Because Rock-and-roll originated among the lower classes and a segregated ethnic group, many white people thought it was vulgar. 

One of the last reasons so many parents were opposed to Rock-and-roll is because it was considered “satanic” because of the inappropriate lyrics and messages. An article published by Mike Palumbo called “Criticism of “The Devil’s Music” (Rock & Roll)” says, To them, “everything about Rock & Roll spoke of the “Devil’s Music” – from its roots in African-American culture to its hip-shimmying rhythms and less-than-pious lyrics. Many saw rock music as a sign of cultural and moral decline, and some even believed to hear hidden satanic messages in its lyrics.”

Overall, music is constantly evolving and changing. As our society and technology grow, our values and social norms progress. Life is entirely different from life in the 1950s; it is no longer a “conformity” society; it is a society where we fight for change, stand up against what we feel is wrong, and protest for what we think is right. Because of the conformity, traditional American values, religious beliefs, and old ways of life, Rock-and-roll was not socially acceptable because of its “vulgar” lyrics and the rebellious spirit it caused in the youth. Parents at the time did not feel the need for change in society, but the younger generation saw the flaws in our country and wanted to fight for change. Rock-and-roll acted as that defiant outlet. Rock-and-roll posed a threat to the old generation because it was a symbol of change and did threaten American values, but only because the “values” at the time were rooted in racism, inequality, and social injustice. Rock-and-roll musicians wanted to make a change, and that’s what they did.

The “Daily Me” concept is centered around each of us, and we have our own “Daily Me” routines. The Digital Literacy textbook describes this concept as individuals doing things that are convenient for them and when it is suitable for them.

Technology is continuously advancing, and with that, society and our daily ways of life have molded to this process. 

The textbook mentions how VCRs and DVRs have advanced to Netflix and other major streaming platforms where you aren’t forced to sit down and watch something as it plays, but instead, you can watch them anytime and for however long YOU want to.

The concept is made for us because, as humans, at the end of the day, we truly only want what is best for ourselves. This idea acknowledges that fact and encourages and allows us to use and access things, like streaming platforms, whenever, wherever, and for however long we want. 

“What Could Be Better Than All Me, All The Time?”

– Digital Literacy Textbook

The author tells us that the “Daily Me” concept has three characteristics that ultimately make up the “self-serving” idea. 

1. Partnership

The first concept is a partnership, a streaming platform’s “terms and agreements” portion. When you start using any app or platform, you typically have to sign one of these agreements, which allows you access to the technology.

2. Participation

The second concept is participation, which is a direct result of partnership. This is when the fun begins because after you agree to those terms, you can “participate” and interact with all the things the platform or software has to offer. This is where the engagement starts.

3. personalization

The third and last concept is called personalization. This “stage” takes on three forms.

1. Individuation

• Individually, you choose how you want to display yourself. On social media platforms, you would customize your profile, post pictures or videos, and do whatever you have to do to build yourself on that platform personally.

2. Selection

• This is where you choose what you want to see and who can see you.
• An example of this would be shown through TikTok’s “for you page.” This “page” is a continuous feed, and when you watch videos you like, the algorithm customizes what is shown to you based on how you have interacted with previous videos.
• The platform wants to keep you engaged, so their goal is to customize your experience to the best of their abilities so you will keep engaging with the platform.

3. validation

• This last one is an endless cycle because we are all guilty of wanting validation.
•  This is when people notice you and then follow and interact with you, your profile, and your content.
•  Almost every social media platform has likes, comments, following, or even follower count, influencing how you would act on that platform.

Overall, this concept is so fundamental. The author gets it right by shedding light on this essential idea, which brings us to think about why we use some apps and platforms. Every day, we humans wake up and think about how today will be good for the US. This isn’t a bad thing because we are important to us.

Still, it is interesting to see how all the social media platforms, streaming networks, apps, and any technology we use daily are centered around the idea of “us.” Typically, if we are not posting ourselves or our lives, we see how people validate what we may have recently published. It’s an endless cycle.

The “Daily Me” concept is something that I didn’t understand before. I thought I was sometimes thinking about myself or my interests, but after learning about the concept, I realized that was exactly what I was doing. Again, it isn’t bad, but it is precisely what our media has centered everything around in today’s world.

One hot topic in the news right now has people on the edge of their seats. This story has everyone talking, and when it is brought up, everyone has their own opinion, whether good or bad. There are many different perspectives on the news story. You may be wondering what this mysterious and groundbreaking story is, and I’ll tell you that today, we are discussing Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship.

Travis Kelce is a Tight End for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Taylor Swift is a world-renowned pop singer. Speculations regarding the story started surfacing in July of this year when Travis was discussing attending Taylor shows. He said that he heard fans made friendship bracelets and exchanged them at each show, so he decided to make one with his phone number and planned to give it to Taylor. He didn’t get to see her that night because Taylor was doing her Eras Tour and singing 3 ½ hour shows, so she was not doing meet and greets before or after the performance.

In September, rumors circled that the two were in the “talking” phase of the relationship, and a few people claimed they spotted the couple in New York together. An article by Cosmopolitan says that later in September, fans spot Taylor, again in New York, wearing a necklace “with Kelce’s birthstone—an opal—on it.” The article goes on to say that even though this can’t be confirmed, and could be a coincidence, every Taylor Swift fan knows that “Easter eggs” (clues) are her specialty. Travis Kelce finally spoke out about the alleged “romance” and said, “I threw it out there, I threw the ball in her court, and I told her, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage at Arrowhead. You might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit.’ So we’ll see what happens in the near future.” A few days after that, Taylor was spotted at his game sitting next to his mom. That same night, Travis rented out an entire restaurant for his family, friends, and teammates, and Taylor was also seen arriving with Travis.

Over the next few weeks, Taylor and Travis continue to be spotted together. She attended more of his games, and then photos of them started circulating where she kissed his cheek. The same article talks about how news finally broke that they are dating, and said, “A source tells the Daily Mail that ‘Taylor is blown away right now and her family is all about Travis. She is trying to keep it together, but is falling in love with him, and he feels the same way.'” 

This milestone event is crucial because it has been the “talk of the town,” and the million-dollar question that is circulating among Swift and Kelce fans. Now we know the truth and can be excited to see what happens in the future.

Any news story can have an impact on us. The news can be “small” stories like Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift dating or “big” stories like political or global issues like the Israel-Gaza war. Any story that impacts people is considered “newsworthy,” and one major event that happened recently was the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

On January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court. This decision decided that the U.S. Constitution protected an individual’s right to an abortion. Sadly, almost 50 years later, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, and a woman’s right to an abortion was taken away. On June 24, 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not protect the right of women to obtain an abortion, and this decision paved the way for states to ban abortion. 

This landmark news story has an immense impact on every woman in the United States in one way or another. This ruling impacts me because, as a woman, I cannot fully decide my future. After all, I no longer have full body autonomy. I am no longer able to choose what to do with my own body and with my own life. If I were to get pregnant, since I live in Oklahoma and Texas, I would not be able to get a safe and legal abortion.

In Oklahoma, abortions are completely banned in all cases except if it is life-threatening or a result of rape. The law states that an individual can travel outside the state to get one. Still, for someone unable to pay for a trip like that, unfortunately, there is nothing to do except keep the child unless she was to get an unsafe and illegal abortion. The story’s moral is that in Oklahoma, performing an abortion is a crime and will result in criminal offenses and effects. According to NBC News, the Governor of Oklahoma signed a bill in April of 2022 that would make performing abortion a felony. The bill says, “Anyone convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years prison and a $100,000 fine.” This went into effect 90 days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. v. Wade, back in June of 2022. 

In Texas, the result of obtaining and performing an abortion is not too different. As of July 1, 2022, only 23 short days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. v. Wade, abortion was entirely banned. This decision was not a complete shock to Texas residents because of the Heartbeat Act passed in May of 2021. This act, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, prohibits abortions once a ‘fetal heartbeat’ is detected, except in emergencies. According to the National Library of Medicine, this bill does not only ban abortion after a certain point, but it also is dangerously broad. It can impact a vast amount of people involved in the process of abortion besides women. The list includes health professionals, reception staff at healthcare clinics, family and friends who counsel the woman, and even Uber drivers who take the woman to the abortion clinics. Currently, in Texas, abortion is a criminalizing act, and the only exception is if the woman faces a life-threatening condition directly caused by the pregnancy. The scariest part about being a woman in Texas is that these abortion laws hold no exceptions for rape or incest. 

As a person living in this country, I respect and appreciate all the rights and freedoms we have been given. Still, after June 24, 2022, It was obvious that my country does not return that respect women previously had because now we are at the mercy of hoping we don’t get raped, hoping we don’t accidentally get pregnant, and hoping we aren’t going to require an abortion. After all, if we do, we need to be ready to face criminal charges or pray that we survive a back alley abortion. The overturn of Roe v. Wade pushed back the women’s rights movement for about 50 years and will have a lasting effect. This decision Is not isolated to one group of people and isn’t targeting only pro-choice individuals. The overturning of Roe v. Wade affects every woman in the United States. Whether it is you, your friends, or your family, this ruling will affect your life somehow.

Halloween is a holiday that goes back thousands of years and is deeply rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. November 1st was the Celts’ New Year, and according to an article published by History, the night before was dedicated to lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off ghosts. This day was often associated with human death, and on the night of October 31st, they believed that the ghosts of the dead would return.

The name of this holiday has evolved. In the eighth century, Pope George III dedicated November 1st to honor Saints, and the night before was called “All Hallows Eve.” The holiday still incorporated those original traditions from the Celtic festival, and now October 31st is referred to as “Halloween.”

“In the real world, Halloween is when kids dress up in costumes and beg for candy. In Girl World, Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it.”

– Mean Girls

Nowadays, Halloween has evolved into a day of festivities that still incorporate some of those original traditions. There is Trick or Treating, gathering for festivities, dressing up in costumes, and even carving pumpkins. For many people, Halloween is the one time of the year when you can dress up any way you want, and also a day when you can express yourself. To express yourself, you need to find the perfect costume, and I will give you ten trendy and classic costume ideas that are perfect for Halloween in 2023.

Trendy Costumes:

New TV shows, movies, and pop culture events inspire Halloween costumes. Since these industries and events are constantly changing and evolving, so are the costumes that tag along with them. The costumes that go along with these recent and upcoming films, TV shows, and pop culture events are considered “trendy,” and these “trendy” costumes are going to change every year, so keep a lookout for what is “in” and what is “out.”

1. Barbie and Ken
2. Top Gun Maverick
3. Peaky Blinders
4. Taylor Swift (Eras Tour)
5. Elvis and Priscilla Presley

Classic Costumes:

Some costumes are not considered “trendy” because they are staple pieces during every costume season and are here to stay. These costumes don’t go through “in” and “out” cycles because they are continuously picked each year for someone to wear on Halloween. These are just a few of the “classic” costumes that you can choose not only in 2023 but during every Halloween season.

1. Dallas cowboy cheerleader
2. Witch
3. Pirate
4. Vampire
5. Firefighter

“Thanks to Barbie, all problems of feminism have been solved.”

– Barbie Movie

This year, a profound movie came out about women’s empowerment and how the patriarchy in our country affects all of us, regardless of gender. If you cannot tell, I am talking about the new Barbie movie! If you have not seen this eye-opening and inspiring film directed by Greta Gerwig, you missed out on the closure you needed to fully move on from your childhood. 

In a broad summary, the movie is about Barbie, Ken, and all their friends living in the perfect world, Barbie Land. Some weird events keep happening, so Barbie must be courageous and risk going into the real world (oh, and Ken tagged along). This summary alone is enough for me to watch the movie, but there is a much deeper meaning that Barbie carries around with her in a “tiny plastic purse.” 

The movie goes beyond the looking glass and explores the concepts of finding yourself and realizing the “perfect life” does not exist. According to an article written by Kevin Kodama and published by Movie Web, “Barbie is a metamodern approach to dissecting the toy’s standing in the world and how it relates to the ways we construct our own identities.” This theme of “finding our own identity” is relatable to any viewer. It also ties back to the fact that when we were young girls playing with Barbies, we did not know who we were or wanted to be. We played with Barbies because “Barbie can be anything.” Barbie shaped a lot of girls into the woman they are now. At the movie’s end, Barbie decides to stay in the real world; even though she sees how imperfect it is compared to Barbie Land, she realizes who she is, or at least who she wants to be throughout the movie. The same article states, “This again echoes this movie’s major theme: accepting everything about yourself, flaws and all. It’s easier to face the world when you know who you are.” Finally, an article written by Ashley Austrew and published by Care says, “Ultimately, the movie has lessons for Barbies and Kens. Barbie realizes that it’s no longer fulfilling to her just to be an “idea” of a woman. Her path to joy lies in becoming human and accepting all of the complexities, heartache, and imperfections that go along with that.”  

“That’s life. It’s all change.”

– Barbie Movie

This movie was what I needed to say goodbye to the final chapters of my childhood. When we think about what or who shaped us into the person we are today, we typically think big, like family, friends, or significant milestones in our lives, but most of the time, we do not realize that the small moments are the ones that shape us subtly. As I head into my 20s, I look back at my life and think of how I got to where I am now and what shaped me into the empowered woman I am. The one thing I remember doing the most was playing with Barbies, watching her movies, and dreaming about everything she told me I could be. Of course, the “big” moments in my life also shaped me, but not in the same way. Our younger years are the years that shape us and define who we will grow up to be. For many women, those vital few years of development were spent playing with Barbies.  

The movie brought me back to the joyful moments of playing with the different dolls and the times when my mom and I would go on “mother-daughter dates” to Target. We would walk through each aisle of the toy section and look at the different Barbies to see which one we would purchase next. She would point to each of them and remind me that I could be whatever I wanted, so I kept dreaming big because that is what Barbie told me to do. Growing up, my mom continued to drill that lesson into my brain, constantly reminding me that no dream or no career is out of my reach. WE BOTH STARTED CRYING when I went to see the Barbie movie with my mom. 

“We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back and see how far they have come.”

– Barbie Movie

The message was empowering, and it was a film directed towards women, both mothers and daughters. Our generation has fond memories of Barbie growing up, but we forget that our mothers also had those. The empowering things that mothers tell their daughters as they play with Barbies are the same things that their mothers told them while doing the same thing. While sitting next to my mom at the movie, she pointed out all the dolls she had growing up and even the discontinued ones the film mentioned. If you cannot tell, my mom has always been my best friend. Having these special moments with her growing up and seeing the movie almost 15 years later creates such a bond because we both experienced it as children. The Barbie movie is like the curtain closing at the end of a play. The final bow of Barbie and my childhood years, but I was able to take that bow with my mom. I realized the impact Barbie has had on every girl and the women in my family, and that is something so profound beyond words.

@megs_fitz2410

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♬ original sound – 🙂

https://www.tiktok.com/@_song_lyric_001/video/7265223195253411105?_r=1&_t=8fuQncFfXMh