Assignment 1-4-5: Formulas

Written Analyses-Formulas

Kristen Watson

HUMN240-H3WW

Assignment 1-4-5

Gregory Smith

December 9, 2012

Written Analyses-Formulas

            This week’s theme focuses on Formulas in popular culture and may be the toughest one yet in regards to applying it to the topic of energy drinks. In our book, Ray B. Browne (2005) compares formulas to cooking recipes and says, “It outlines the ingredients to be used in the cooking and generally how they are to be cooked and mixed” (p. 115). In my understanding, this means that the makers of energy drinks made the product for a specific reason and the consumers buy this product for a specific purpose. The outcome, for the most part, is what you would expect.

            The many different energy drinks out there on the market, such as Monster, Red Bull, 5 Hour Energy, and Rockstar, were all created with a certain formula and with the purpose of providing individuals with a shot of energy throughout their day. Many of us know what we are to expect when we consume one of these popular drinks. We get a boost of energy and are able to make it through the work day or stay up late finishing an essay for school. To me, this is comparable to formulas in popular culture. The energy drinks mentioned above are all different brands with only minor changes in ingredients but all with the same intent to the consumer.

            From studying formulas in popular culture I now understand the patterns of different forms of entertainment such as movies, drinks, games, etc. For the most part they each have their own themes and many of us already know what the outcome will be. I already knew that if I were to drink an energy drink, than most likely it should give me a boost of energy and get me through the day. The same with love movies, because, we all know that most of them have the happy endings with the couple getting back together. All of the makers and producers of certain products follow a formula and because of this we are able to identify the outcome.

References

Browne, Ray B. (2005). Profiles of popular culture: A reader (p. 13). Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.