New Inovative Product... I must have!

I have grown up in the horse world, I have been riding since I was 6. Most of the tack and gear I have for my horses have all been hand me-downs or were pre-owned that I purchased at a Tack sale. After moving out to Montana, I was out of this horse world for a few years. Well I'm back in it stronger than ever with two colts that I started (meaning tough to be ridden). 

I cant believe all the new innovative products for horses out there. I used to just think a saddle pad was a saddle pad, just a little cushion between the saddle and horse. Now they have air ride pads, gel and even ones that are custom fit to your horse! All these new products they have out are amazing, like the bridle-less bit I just got an email for. 

I got to thinking about all these new products out there, and why I am more informed than ever about new horse things coming into the market. Well back in the day, I would get mail catalogs now and then, and ordered a few items that way. Now in 2013 its a whole lot different. Now I am a lot more advertised to though social media, e-mail and cookies on my computer. I know of new products that are coming out such as Professional Choice's latest leg support products, or the newest feed supplements. 


I personally like checking my email and reading about new products, or seeing what companies are doing via their Facebook page. This is helping me to stay on top of my horses health and comfort.  

What is Mainstream culture?

One of the possible exams questions got me thinking, and I don't think to hard very often. The question was, "Do you think there really is such a thing as "mainstream culture" or is the mainstream really just a collection of subcultures, peoples personalities, and lifestyles?"

When I was pondering this question I started thinking about things that have changed and/or evolved in my family since I was born. The first thing was this idea of church as part of our culture. Both my parents were brought up going to church on Sundays until they were 18, and then it was there choice. When I was really young, my bother and I would sometimes go with my grandmother. Once we got older it was our choice if we wanted to attend or not. Is this considered as us being "mainstream"? I think not, this is just our culture evolving over time. Our lifestyles changed, and our personality's took us into a different direction. 

So to answer this question, I don't think there is such thing as Mainstream Culture. I think its a mix of peoples lifestyles, personalities, and different subcultures emerging due to older cultures evolving into something new. 
  

Burning Man

After reading the article "Can Consumers Escape the Market? Emancipatory Illuminations from Burning Man"by Robert V. Kozinets, it was amazing to read about this culture that gets together for one week out of the year and tries to avid being consumers and consumption. As I was reading this article, all I could think in my mind was how one could completely escape advertising? It had to be somewhat relevant at this event. The example in the reading that kinda answered my question was the guy who was covering up the brand of motor-home he had with duct tape. 

Still, there must be some talk or brands, and consumption at this event. I'm sure conversations arise about car brands, types of shoes, and probably even comparing brands or diffrent tents and/or motor home. I think this event definitely gets its participants involved in being creative, making ones own clothing, own vehicles, being self expressive, the idea of art, sculptures, and all the radical things that make this event what it is.    

From the reading, I gather this event of Burning Man will always be evolving, away from what it did stand for and into something else. The way Kozinets described the gift giving, and the trade of things as curruncy in this community and how it is changing from what it was to something diffrent.     

I guess to fully understand the Burning Man experience, one most attend for themselves!

 

The Marketing Grove of Subcultures

I found the reading on subcultures very interesting. I wasn't aware that there were so many diffrent ways people in American could be seperated into theres diffrent groups based on culture. One thing that made me laugh was the way that companies such as Coors, Braniff and Budwiser had many english to spanish translation mishaps in there slogs.

This topic of subcultures really got me looking for signs in the commercials I was watching. This one by Subarur showed many diffrent types of the "Big Three" American Ethic and age subcultures in there car add. All these people were being marketed the same common thing that is important to any culture and that is the safety of the passengers (mostly children) in the back set of the vehicle.  

Here is the commercial, see if you can pick up on the hits of subculture coming together on a common important goal.

Heres the link: http://youtu.be/Nor4SuFEKSU