A Quiz on 20th Century Anglo-American Popular Culture
Choose one of the ten questions from the quiz, explain why you chose that particular question, and write several sentences about its subject matter.
The Myth of Psyche
In our online class we m anaged to discuss the first few questions regarding the story of psychology. Many interesting questions have stayed unanswered, so choose one or a few that inspire you, and give comments on them.
10 QUESTION :Which band did Sting play and sing in?
ReplyDeletea) Pulp b) Police
c) Placebo d) Portishead
ANSWER
I chose this question because I like music and I am interested in famous singers and bands from the 20th century. The correct answer is b) Police. Sting was the lead singer and bass player of the band. The Police were very popular in the late 1970s and 1980s, and they made many famous songs like “Every Breath You Take,” “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “Don’t Stand So Close to Me.” The band was special because they mixed rock, punk, and reggae in their music. This style made their songs very interesting and different from other bands at that time. Sting also wrote many of the songs, and their lyrics often talk about love, society, and personal experiences. I really like his solo song “Desert Rose”, because it has beautiful melodies and a special atmosphere. I think music does not know borders, and it can connect people from all over the world. I like The Police and Sting because their music is easy to listen to, but also emotional and meaningful. They won several Grammy Awards and became one of the most famous bands of the 1980s. After the band ended, Sting started a successful solo career and continued to make popular songs. This question is interesting to me because it shows how one singer and one band can influence music and culture all over the world. I learned that music can be very creative, mix different styles,and I also learned that music can spread love and make people feel happier, improving their lives in many ways.
Thank you, Boris!
Delete2. Against which author was a fatwa issued in Iran?
ReplyDeletea) Vikram Seth b) Salman Rushdie
c) Arundati Roy d) Khaled Hosseini
Answer is Salman Rushdie.
This question is very interesting to me because I first heard about The Satanic Verses from my mother. She told me about the fatwa and how Mr. Rushdie has been hiding almost his whole life from people who want to kill him. After I learned a bit more about it, I decided to buy the book and read it. The book was very hard to read and understand, but I didn’t give up — and I loved it. It’s such a great story, blending reality, fantasy, religion, and the struggle between good and evil. It offers a strong, modern, and brave point of view on some very important matters of life.
The book was banned in several countries, and a fatwa ordering Rushdie’s execution was proclaimed by Ayatollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran at the time, who called the book “blasphemous against Islam.” Many Muslims didn’t like the book because it seemed to question or mock events from Islamic history, such as the revelation of the Qur’an and the character of the Prophet (called “Mahound” in the novel). The book was banned in India, Iran, Bangladesh, Sudan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Thailand, Tanzania, Indonesia, Singapore, Venezuela, and Pakistan.
For me, issuing the fatwa because of the book was such an extreme decision, it shows how powerful and sometimes dangerous religion can be, when even murder is seen as acceptable in its name.
The fatwa was issued in 1989, and ever since then, Mr. Rushdie has survived many assassination attempts. The most recent one happened in 2022, when he was attacked in New York. He survived, but lost sight in one eye.
This book and its author were so interesting to me that I started to learn more about them, and also about the religion of Islam.
Maša Raičević (1807/24)
Thank you, Maša!
DeleteQuestion number 4: Which of the four musicians is still alive?
ReplyDeletea) Bob Dylan b) Jimmy Hendrix
c) Jim Morrison d) John Lennon
The answer is Bob Dylan.
The reason why I chose this question is because I really like music, especially the music of the time these 4 lived. Interesting thing about Hendrix and Morrison is that they are members of ''Club 27'', alongside with Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse and others. Club 27 is consisted by a number of people, specifically musicians, who died at the age of 27. The cause of death is usually drug abuse, overdose, homicide or suicide. Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison died at the age of 27 by drug overdose, while John Lenon, who is not a member of the Club, died by homicide.
There is an interesting myth connected to the artists who are members of the Club 27, and that is that around the time of their death they had a plain white lighter in their possession. Since then, owning a plain white lighter means bad luck or misfortune.
Before I move on to the John Lennon's case, I should say that Jimi Hendrix was considered one of the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music and was also a singer and a songwriter. Jim Morrison was the primary lyricist and a member of a band called The Doors and my favorite song of theirs is called People are strange.
Bob Dylan, having a 68 year long career, is one of the best sold musicians alive. Unfortunately, I have never listened Bob Dylan and there is not much things I have to say about him. I love his song Knocking on heaven's door, but only as a cover by Guns 'n' roses.
Now John Lennon died by a hand of his own fan. Lennon was a member of The Beatles, who were and still are very popular and their music will be iconic for a very long time. Their hits like Hey Jude, Strawberry fields forever, Let it be, And I love her, Here comes the sun, and a lot more shaped generations of young people. But Mark David Chapman who was a fan of Lennon's and got an autographed copy of the album Double fantasy decided, the day after that, to end Lennon's life by shooting him 5 times in the back.
If I may use the term ''interesting'' while talking about this horrible homicide, I would while commenting on the inspiration and aftermath of this murder. Mark envied John Lennon and his lifestyle and was inspired by the book by J. D. Salinger called The catcher in the rye. The book is about a young boy who is torn between adulthood and childhood and who acted ragefully towards adult hypocrisy. After committing the murder, Chapman waited for the police on the spot of the crime, while reading the same book.
I chose to talk about this question, and I could continue for a while longer, because these musicians have a very large legacy and have shaped a lot of lives, movements, brought a lot of people joy and happiness, brought them together. In one word, these artists and their music, were influential and still are, connecting both new young generations and their parents.
Thank you, Bobana!
DeleteQuestion 4
ReplyDeleteWhich of the four musicians is still alive?
a) Bob Dylan b) Jimmy Hendrix
c) Jim Morrison d) John Lennon
My answer is a) Bob Dylan
When I found out that Bob Dylan is the only one still alive, it made me think about how unique his journey is compared to the others. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and John Lennon all had intense, fast-paced lives that ended far too early, and sometimes it feels like their stories are frozen in time. Dylan, on the other hand, kept moving forward, changing his sound, experimenting, and refusing to be defined by one era or one style. What I personally find interesting is how someone can stay relevant for so long without trying to fit in with trends. Dylan just kept writing what felt true to him, and somehow that honesty kept him connected to generation after generation. It’s almost inspiring in a way, a reminder that longevity in art doesn’t come from perfection, but from staying authentic and constantly evolving.
Thank you Aleksa, you have points for all three answer you provided, this one is again written in AI style. Please write authentically.
Delete7.What was Merilyn Monroe’s baptized name?
ReplyDeletea)Margaret Woolworth b)Hilary Howard
c)Norma Jeane d)Emilia Jansen
The correct answer is c)Norma Jeane. I choose this question because at some point in my life I was very interested in Marilyn Monroe and her life. While discovering more facts about this iconic woman, I found out she was born Norma Jeane Mortenson and was later baptized as Norma Jeane Baker. I also found out that her mother was the one to give her the original name. More interesting is how Norma became Merilyn. Apparently, her artist name was given to her by her studio excessive Ben Lyon and that one was inspired by musical star Marilyn Miller, and legal change of name occurred nearly a decade later. Monroe part came from her maternal grandmother.
Thank you, Duska!
DeleteI chose question 7: "What was Marilyn Monroe's baptized name?"
ReplyDeleteThe correct answer is c) Norma Jeane.
I picked this question because I've always been fascinated by iconic figures from history, and Marilyn Monroe is one of the most recognizable names in popular culture. Learning that her real name was Norma Jeane gives us a glimpse into her personal story and reminds us that behind the glamorous image was a real person with a different identity.
This question also highlights how public figures often change their names to fit a certain image or persona, especially in the entertainment industry.
Thank you, Milica!
ReplyDeleteDear Professor Andrijašević,
ReplyDeleteHere is my assignment:
7. Who of the following is not a writer?
a) J. K. Rowling b) V. S. Naipaul
c) O. J. Simpson* d) J. R. Tolkien
I chose this question because it stood out to me and I already knew the answer. I like reading, so I immediately recognized the writers on the list and I know their most important works. J. K. Rowling is famous for Harry Potter, J. R. R. Tolkien for The Lord of the Rings, and V. S. Naipaul for his award-winning novels and he was the one who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
O. J. Simpson, on the other hand, was a professional American football player, and he became even more famous after being accused of killing his ex-wife in a very public and controversial case. Because of that, I knew right away that he wasn’t a writer.
Best regards,
Jovana Mićanović (1800/24)
Thank you, Jovana
ReplyDeleteI chose question “Who of the following is not a writer?” because I love reading, so anything related to authors immediately catches my attention. The only name that wasn’t familiar to me at first was O. J. Simpson, but when I looked him up, I discovered he was actually a well known American football player. Something interesting that I found out is that he also had a Hollywood career and starred in the popular comedy film series The Naked Gun, which I actually watched with my father and liked even tho I don't like comedies.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jovana!
ReplyDeleteDear Professor,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for submitting my answer so late.
I chose the question number 3: Which of the following movies is not a musical?
a) Hair b) Tommy c) Cabaret d) Carrie
I like it because it's a trick question. All of these are musicals. Cabaret and Hair are the most famous ones and the ones that I'm most familiar with. I also know about Carrie because we happened to mention it in high school music classes. I have to admit, I had to google about Tommy, but when I saw it, I remembered my dad had commented on it a few weeks ago so I was pleasantly surprised hahah.
I don't watch musicals often, but when I do I really enjoy them. I'm yet to watch these, but I can say that so far I really like Grease, Ride the cyclone (I recommend this one, you can find it on YouTube) and Chicago. I've watched more than that definitely, but those are my top 3 ones.
I would like to hear what your favorite musical is, if that's okay. Looking forward to Your answer!
With kind regards,
Julija Mijušković 1809/24
Thank you, Julija! Just one correction - Carrie is not a musical. If a musical version of it exists, I'm not aware of it. When it comes to musicals generally, I'm afraid I'm not a fan. 'Hair' is perhaps the most influential one for my generation.
DeleteDear Professor,
ReplyDeleteI choose to comment on question 10, since the answer is Sting. This artist holds a special place in my heart because I first heard him in elementary school, when my dad played “Englishman in New York,” and I was completely captivated. I am very nostalgic, and whenever I hear that song, I am transported back to my childhood and those long walks with my dad. Later, I discovered more songs by The Police, like “Every Breath You Take,” and then Sting’s “Shape of My Heart,” which became my new favorite at the time because of the movie it was associated with. Sometimes I like to reminisce alone, but it is especially lovely when I happen to hear his songs on the radio, awakening a sense of synesthesia in me. For at least those few minutes, I feel like that ten-year-old girl again, endlessly delighted by my dad’s colorful musical taste.
Thank you, Katarina!
Delete7. Who of the following is not a writer?
ReplyDeletea) J. K. Rowling b) V. S. Naipaul c) O. J. Simpson d) J. R. Tolkien
The correct answer is O. J. Simpson.
I chose this question because I am into reading and it was easiest for me. I recognised J. K. Rowling and J. R. Tolkien because of their famous book series – Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. I have also heard about the Nobel Prize that V. S. Naipaul won, even though I have never read his novels. Thanks to Google and AI, I discovered that O. J. Simpson is a famous football player, so I knew he was the odd one out.
Thank you, Ivana!
Delete