Pop Culture

Observations:

In this picture I see a large group of what looks like mostly teenage girls being held back by male police officers. One person in the crowd has what looks like a camera. The girls are all dressed in skirts or dresses with knee high socks and the boys have older hairstyles. The police officers are holding the crowd back and their outfits are a lot different than the style we see today. The police officers have the old police hats and ties. Some of the girls seem to be crying or they are looking very happy. This picture is taken outside on the street.

Historical Assumptions:

From this picture I can assume that the mob of people are trying to get at someone famous because of the reactions on their faces and the one camera in the air in the middle of the crowd. I can also assume that this picture was taken between the 50s and the 70s because of the style of dress that both the girls and the police officers are wearing. I can also assume that the mob is not seen as being dangerous because the police officers are not carrying any weapons and they are facing away from the crowd. This leads me to believe that they are not protesters but may be fans of whoever they are trying to take pictures of.  With the abundance of women in the crowd I can assume that the object that they are trying to get at could be male especially since there are some girls crying and some look very happy. I feel it is safe to assume that this picture was taken during the height of Beatle Mania.

 

Observations:

In this advertisement I see Marilyn Monroe promoting makeup. This makeup is created by Hollywood makeup artists and is being marketed to the average American woman.  The advertisement is claiming that the make up will make you look just as good as the movie stars on screen. The Tru-Glow makeup is being promoted as well as Hollywood lipstick and the prices are on the ad as 59 cents for the makeup and 29 cents for the lipstick both plus tax but there is a spot on the ad that states that in Canada the price is a little bit higher. In the picture Marilyn Monroe looks very sexy and beautiful and it is being shown that she is wearing the makeup that they are trying to sell.

Historical Assumptions: 

Since Marilyn Monroe is in the advertisement I can assume that it was taken in the 1950s when she was very popular. I can also assume that at this time they were discovering that sex and celebrity sells and then when women see a movie star wearing a certain type of makeup they will want to buy it in order to look the same way. I can also assume that it was in this era because of the prices of the makeup.  This ad may also not be just directed towards women because it mentions that it was created by men and I could see men wanted their wife or girlfriend to look like Marilyn. This could be one of the first advertisements using celebrity to endorse the product which has changed the way advertising and consumerism has evolved.