Abstract
The study of culture and the study of popular culture through the reflection of mass media has been the challenge of social scientists since the phenomena of mass media began to develop in the modern world. The author points out that the reflection of the transition between media and culture can be found in the development of the symbols of media as recognizable and meaningful to a mass audience. The author discusses that one of the controversies is the marginalization of people outside of the cultural average, namely, those of other ethnic persuasions and women.

From the Paper
"Though cultural studies can and does have a historical focus, historical analysis can leave questions about the nature of available research. Arguments in academia often relate to the idea that historical documents are often only representative of one smaller subset of a cultural population. This is especially true in the case of literature where social scientists and historians argue the idea that the representative nature of literature is limited to in some cases one individual's thoughts and in other cases a literate elite, from the given time and place. It is the task of the scientist to mass relatively large numbers of contextual information, in the form of other literature and or historical documentation of other kinds to give a more true idea of the cultural universe. The nature of cultural studies evolves dramatically with the advent of mass media: technology, television, and print media. Studying the last century has an entirely different feel due to the exponential growth of available information."

Tags:symbols, marginalize, women, average, academia

Abstract
This paper centers around the work of Italian Semiotics professor, journalist and author Umberto Eco's "Travels in Hyperreality". It focuses on the different meanings of the word "communication" and text from Umberto Eco and is set to show that the American over valuation of its self and desire to represent its values in society will be its possible downfall.

From the Paper
"The text 'Travels in Hyperreality' by Umberto Eco describes communication through symbols in the United States that are used in representation of various areas of society. These include a hologram of "Two very beautiful naked girls" that is displayed at the School of Holography in New York. Another symbol is Superman, the US 'superhero' and his retreat the Fortress of Solitude. This fortress is a private museum, Wunderkammer, of his life and where he came from, Kandor, Krypton. This place represents the 'ultimate' of the US to preserve past symbols."

Tags:downfall, economics, politics, semiotics, symbolism

Abstract
This paper rejects the idea that a post-modern culture is not valid outside of America. It discusses the origins of the Post-Modern theory and the theorists who write/talk about it at length. The paper also explores the presence of different forms of post-modern culture outside of America including in architecture and music.

From the Paper
"What is postmodern culture? Postmodern culture is the blurring of lines between what is real and what is simulated, it the ever increasing intextuality of our lives - the inextricable binding of the media, mass culture and daily life. In postmodern society there is "an incredulity towards meta narratives" (Lyotard 2004) "and truth is what we invent, not what we discover" (Spender 2004). Postmodern culture is present in every Westernised society, its relevance is global; American society and culture provide excellent examples of the extent to which postmodern culture exists but it is not alone in postmodernity."

Tags:baudrillard, eco, jean, umberto, media, architechture, music

Abstract
Progress is something we tend to take as unproblematic in our day to day lives, yet for the sociologist, it is anything but. This paper intends to explicate where our ideas regarding social progress originate and where they are headed. Are things better today than in the past? Before we are capable of meaningfully questioning our current state of affairs, we must first immerse ourselves in the question - "what does it mean to progress?"

From the Paper
"Sociology took its first steps following the Enlightenment. Embodied in Marx, Durkheim and Weber, the "Enlightenment Paradigm" has been an unyielding and defining presence in the discipline. More recently, sociology has appeared to have developed a kind of discursive "hangover" from this phase in its maturity. It is this hangover that is to be the topic of this essay. To begin, we must consider what the Enlightenment Paradigm means for sociology, what sociology was originally defined as being. Then, we must examine the pivotal idea in dispute, progress. To have a full grasp on this battle over an idea, we must look at progress as both Enlightenment and post-modern thinkers have understood it. Also worthy of note is Immanuel Wallerstein's world system theory, which posits progress as deeply relational, and this too will be explored. It is only from this foundation that we can see what sociology has retrieved from the Enlightenment, and can offer us for the future."

Tags:durkheim, enlightenment, foucault, habermas, marx, modernity, paradigm, post, progress, wallerstein

Abstract
In this article, the writer questions whether items owned by individuals are used to secretly express feelings without speaking. In the course of the essay, the writer draws upon points from various sources in an attempt to discuss the ways in which commodities are used to construct and express sexual identities. The writer concludes that there is no doubt that there is a correlation between the forming and expressing of sexual identity and the purchasing of commodities to heighten that expression or image. The writer maintains that commodities can be used to create an identity, variate an identity or perhaps to just further emphasize an identity.

From the Paper
"In all these cases, there is one association formed between the product and an element. Lynx attracts females. The cause is the application of the fragrance, the effect is that females are attracted. Therefore, it can be assumed that if a male wanted to express his sexual identity he could purchase Lynx with the idea that it will transform him into a guy that would be seen as a sex symbol to other females."
"As we live in a capitalist society, we tend to feel a lack of control over the occurrences in our life as we grow up. This is coupled with the fact that while growing up, the notion that money is power is brought upon us - with power representing happiness. Therefore, it is not surprising that people try to find a possible way to control the environment around them. It was found that consumption offers a form of control over oneself and how one is perceived socially."

Tags:sexuality, superficiality, money, power

Abstract
This paper analyzes the differences found between online journals or magazines and hard copy examples. The paper explores the similarities and differences between two magazine publications - "Hyper" (an Australian video gaming print magazine) and the "Imagine Games Network" (IGN.COM, an American video gaming online magazine). The paper concludes that both styles of magazine have their strengths and weaknesses - both are popular and both are profitable.

From the Paper
"As of the September issue 2003, Hyper has been in monthly print for exactly a decade in Australia. This makes it the longest running video gaming magazine in the country - obviously due to its success. Hyper's publisher Next Media publishing sells approximately two million magazines a month and is ranked in the top ten of Australia's media publishers (Fish: 2003, Hyper Issue 112 pg6). Looking through the various articles, pictures and even advertisements in the magazine one can gather that it is targeted at a predominantly male readership. Subtle sexual innuendos aimed at teenage boys are scattered throughout each issue. The wording of each article is written in a casual fashion and never talks down to the reader. The magazine never takes itself too seriously either, perhaps in a knowing attempt to allow their readership to escape their hectic lives for a while (much like videogames do). An example of this can be found in Issue 97, which shows a preview for a game by the name of 'Conker's Bad Fur Day'. A picture showcasing the visuals of the game depicts a squirrel character standing over a female dinosaur character with a giant bone in his hand. The caption states: 'oooh, looks like she's about to get boned dude!' (Shea: 2003, Hyper Issue 97 pg68). Although it is clear the screenshot itself is not intended sexually, the journalists of the magazine know their audience and are fully willing to use some sexual humour to spark up some interest."

Tags:IGN, online, publications, journals

Abstract
In this essay social forces such as class inequality, status, life chances, culture and gender are discussed in regards to its influence on poverty in contemporary Australian society.

From the Paper
"Poverty seems to be a problem that is deeply buried in this nation often conceived as egalitarian or classless. Hil (2002) admits that there is an issue of a "poverty taboo" in Australia where the government busies itself with globalization ideas and forgets, or perhaps prefers to avoid its internal problems. His research shows that the gaps between the affluent and the poor have been "increasing dramatically over the past few years". It contrasts with the "beloved" view of contemporary Australia as a classless society. With issues such as poverty in an egalitarian society, the idea of Australia being classless becomes a hope rather than a reality."

Tags:age, class, culture, egalitarian, gender, inequality, issues, power, social, sociological, status

Abstract
A discussion of the reasons for the decline of the mainline denominations from the 1960s to the 1980s in Australia. The paper explores how the churches have responded to this phenomenon. The major religions discussed include Chrisianity's streams of Anglican and Catholic, as well as Methodist and Protestant.

From the Paper
"After experiencing a period of steady growth and an ongoing important place in the Australian community during the 1950s and the 'remembered 60s' the mainline denominations found themselves losing numbers and influence from this point on, beginning a decline that would last throughout the eighties. According to Hilliard The 'remembered sixties' are from1964 or 1965 to 1972 in Australia (p.210). In 1961 Protestants including Anglicans accounted for 65 per cent of the population, by 1986 this was 40 per cent (Breward p.226) and by 1996 had dropped a further 2%. In the state of Victoria from 1961 to 1986 the percentage of Anglicans in the total population fell from 6.11 per cent to 4.40. Likewise Methodists and Presbyterians combined dropped from 5.28 per cent to 3.70 in the same period. (Australians: Historical Statistics, Wray Vamplew (ed.), Sydney 1987, cited in Hilliard, 1997). As for the Roman Catholic Church, Australian Sunday Mass attendance figures fell from 55 per cent to 37 per cent in the period 1966 to 1981. (Campion p.248)."

Tags:church, deline, denominations, growth, mainline

Abstract
This paper discusses how real reality television shows are. It describes the general format for a reality television show and then specifically focuses on the show, "Survivor". The paper then looks at law suit claims against reality television shows such as "Survivor" and "Joe Millionaire" and their outcomes. The paper also presents examples, from "Survivor" and "Big Brother", of how the producers can assign a particular character to a role that they want the character to be portrayed as and discusses the effects of this on the overall validity of the program.

From the Paper
"To a certain extent, reality television has always existed since the dawn of television's creation. When television first began, all broadcasts were done live (Altheide, 1976 : p74), whether they be presentations, community announcements or news reports - scripted events were by and large not a major contributor to the content that was broadcasted. Therefore, we can claim that reality television was never actually introduced to people but that it was always there in some form. However, a show like Survivor (which began in the year 2000) cannot be considered as being in the same league as a news report, or a live variety show (such as Rove Live). What makes a show like Survivor so different and appealing is the fact that the characters involved in all the drama are said to be real. Not actors with a detailed script and memorised lines (although when watching various episodes that point could be argued extensively). What allows television to appear as if reality is emanating from it, is its 'ability to render realistic audio and visual representations... and to do so in real time as events occur' (Friedman, 2002: p24). A reality television show such as Survivor tapped into these key concepts and added some of its own fragrance to spawn a whole new market for network channels. At the end of each episode, contestants cast secret ballots to expel 'losers'. In fact, sometimes the decision is made to explicitly exclude people who are a threat (i.e. they might be a contender to win the final prize), including those who are weak and lack what the 'tribe' feels is needed. Survival is dependent on making sure you look after your own interests, and working out a strategy to exclude others, in the form of alliances. It is in these key moments that the audience hears contestants confess the truth about another player in the game, and depending on the viewer's stance, they might feel they can relate to the person casting the vote or the person being voted against. This accompanied by various betrayals and manipulations brings forth a sort of basic humanity to the show which the complicated western civilisation may feel it lacks. In any case, it is always a sad (yet satisfying) moment when a contestant's fire is extinguished at the end of each episode. As the host constantly states, fire symbolises the contestant's life force during the game, therefore when it no longer exists their 'life' is no longer a part of the game. Utilising this basic understanding of the show, we can now begin to take it apart and discover various inconsistencies with how 'real' it actually is."

Tags:big, brother, producers, editing

Abstract
The paper addresses the effects of the Internet on the elements of community, identity and social contact. The paper uses a variety of studies and empirical data and applies utopian, dystopian and supplementary views to this examination. The paper concludes that the Internet can be perceived as positively influencing the dramatically changing nature of social interaction in contemporary society.

From the Paper
"The Internet refers to a diverse collection of technologies that consists of programs such as the World Wide Web, E-mail, and Instant Messaging (Livingston 2005, p. 10). Unlike traditional media, such as television and newspapers, the Internet allows for synchronous communication, in which users are engaged in a two-way flow. In examining the effect of the Internet on social interaction the utopian, dystopian and supplementary views all offer different interpretations. Whilst the utopian view sees the Internet as positively transforming the method of interaction in society, the dystopian view argues that the Internet has in fact had negative effects on social interaction. Whilst the utopian and dystopian views both privilege the Internet by seeing it as drastically changing how people interact offline, the supplementary argument gives the Internet less of a central role in its effects on social interaction in contemporary society."

Tags:utopian, dystopian, supplementary, views, communication, community, identity