Written Analysis 3

Written Analysis 3

Taylor Alexandria Carroll

Popular Culture

Professor Garey

4/24/2016

Written Analysis 3

            Currently, we are visiting the topic of heroes and the cult of the celebrity. My analysis topic is the show My Little Pony. My Little Pony has several themes that revolve around heroes and heroics. The show has also featured many different celebrities as special guests or reoccurring voice actors.

            My Little Pony features a group of six main characters that come together in situations to conquer evils, and save their society from collapse. Each of these characters is given a certain quality that you would find in a hero. They range from the quality of honesty, to loyalty, even kindness. These characters are unable to come together to defeat the evils without each other. A hero is described as someone who can “inspire us and lead the way for us to develop outside the limitations of our own skills and circumstances and become greater and more important individuals” (Browne, 2005, p 35). This is shown in My Little Pony through the character development, and even in the way the heroes teach lessons to the evils they face.

            As far as the cult of the celebrity, My Little Pony has brought major attention to many new and senior voice actors. These voice actors have been brought into a fandom that has exploded into a pop culture phenomenon. This has placed them in the spotlight for many fans. These fans range from adults to children. The voice actors have been asked to appear at celebrity events, conventions, and signings. Because of the popularity of these voice actors, and the My Little Pony fandom I believe the cult of the celebrity applies in this situation.

References

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

Petracca, M., & Sorapure, M. (1998). Common culture: Reading and writing about American popular culture. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Truitt, B. (2012, November 26). 'My Little Pony' plants a hoof in pop culture. Retrieved April 06, 2016, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2012/11/26/my-little-pony/1725375/