7-1 Project: Project Submission

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5-2ActivityReflectionSelf_JMoore.docx

4

Popular Culture

Jennifer Moore

IDS-404 Popular Culture

Professor Kozlowski

November 27, 2022

Question 1

Mascara is a symbol of a popular culture that appeals to women. Mascara is used to amplify and open up the eyes, and it can also be utilized to simulate fake lashes. Mascara comes in many different hues and can be used to achieve a range of effects. The popularity of volumizing mascaras increased during the 1990s "big eye" craze, an example of how popular culture has influenced mascara. Moreover, the popularity of longer, darker, and fuller eyelashes has sparked the creation of more potent mascaras that can give the wearer a more dramatic appearance.

However, when seen from the outside, mascara just appears as a cosmetic. Typically, everyone views mascara as a beauty product, which is the general perception of the substance. Nevertheless, using mascara has purposes much beyond aesthetics. It symbolizes gender identity and the ongoing conflict between conservatives and liberals, with mascara and other cosmetics in the forefront of gender politics. Many LGBTQIA+ people view mascara as more than just a cosmetic and as a sign of gender affirmation. Applying mascara was once considered a particularly feminine trait. But as gender politics continue to influence society, men and people of various genders, including non-binary people, have started to wear mascara as a mark of their individuality.

Question 2

It is vital to assess and identify your own biases because everyone has them, and occasionally we are not conscious of them. Being mindful of my personal biases assists me to understand other popular culture and people as well, and becoming conscious of them may aid me in correcting my specious discernments. Therefore, I constantly examine my own prejudices, mainly insensible prejudices which could be adversely impacted by preconceptions; hence it is crucial to identify these biases and be mindful of them.

Question 3

As a sociology student, comprehending the society from a variety of perspectives in order to be successful is crucial. Through the use of mascara, one can view society through a different perspective. It gives me a new perspective on societal concerns and helps me comprehend how society functions. In light of its widespread use in society, mascara is relevant to my topic of research. Knowing the community and the different factors that influence it is a requirement of my profession. The suggested approach to achieving my professional objective is to use this research to educate people on the function of mascara. The use of a multidisciplinary general education lens enables a more thorough comprehension of the historical uses and misuses of mascara. Popular culture analysis and comprehension also assist me better grasp my target audience and how to communicate with them.

References

Central Community College. (2022). Popular Culture. https://libguides.cccneb.edu/popculture