Just about everyone on the planet is familiar with the two golden arches. McDonalds has been an American staple and has even earned international acclaim. I have such fond childhood memories of this golden place. McDonalds was my reward for excelling academically in school. I could select whatever I wanted from the menu. I would bust with pride as I dug into my hot fudge sundae, French fries, and Big Mac. I swear McDonalds has the best French fries in the land. Remember the Happy Meal and the toy?
McDonalds is the perfect example of a pop culture artifact because it has both national and international recognition, and it transcends generations. People from all walks of life have enjoyed McDonalds. McDonalds is the subject of fond memories and stories for so many people. The fact that my nieces and nephews enjoy it as much as I did at their age makes McDonalds a really special place. It would be tough to imagine our culture and world without McDonalds.
According to Module 1, popular culture is our way of life and consists of the eighty percent of what is manufactured, distributed, and consumed. I define popular culture as any person or entity that is mainstream, an integral part of our society, and greatly impacts our culture.
Popular culture is relevant in business because in many ways it drives the course of business and determines how business operates. Where would business professionals be without cell phones, or blackberries, or the internet, email, or computers?
Popular culture has great relevance in my own career and will continue to do so in the future. Having an understanding of the internet and search engines, learning my agency’s newly advanced phone system and intranet, and being comfortable with emails as a communication tool, all directly impact my job performance. Having an understanding of popular culture is no longer an option but a necessity for personal and professional development.
Retrieved January 7, 2010 from McDonald's. St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, Jan 29, 2002 by Catherine C. Galley & Briavel Holcomb at http://findarticles.com
Leslie,
ReplyDeleteYou have me craving some golden delicious McDonald's french fries right now. I completely agree with what you've said here. I too have fond child hood memories of McDonalds. And you are totally correct that it has international recognition and it transcends generations. Both my parents and my children enjoy the food and have fond memories of the restaurant. McDonalds is definitely a perfect choice for a classic pop culture artifact.