"I’m a world of power, and all know its true. Use me once, and you'll know it too." James Brown, "King Heroin"

These are the words of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, depicting himself as the American killer, heroin, in his poem/song: "King Heroin". However, most people in America don't remember Brown for his social awareness and politically relevant music. In fact, I would be willing to bet that the majority of Americans, when remembering James Brown would see a caricature comprised of drastic traits and behaviors. A soulful, charismatic man with a flare for the dramatic, jumping around and screaming sometimes-incomprehensible phrases over funky music. While, in many respects, this is what he became famous for, his act has become exaggerated in our minds. Nowhere is this hyperbolized image of the late great James Brown more clear than in the video clip above (Eddie Murphy’s rendition of a fictitious James Brown song on Saturday Night Live.)

In order for one to understand the humor involved in this clip, it would help to put it into context. In the late seventies, Saturday Night Live was king, and in the musical world, so was James Brown. The Godfather of Soul was reaching the peak of his popularity, and more and more people were watching his acts. Ripe with crowd interaction, theatrics, jive linguistics, and of course, funky music, his shows were amazingly entertaining.

At the same time, in the world of television, a young up and coming comic named Eddie Murphy was gaining popularity. One of his most entertaining bits was his exaggerated impression of James Brown's "incoherent ramblings". He clearly saw that this bit was making people laugh, so naturally, he made a television skit with the same premise.

There are certain aspects of Mr. Brown's act that one must appreciate before one can laugh at this clip. He was well known for making 5-7 minute songs about the simplest of topics (e.g. "I’m Super Bad", "Cold Sweat", "Get up Offa That Thing"), and he usually just repeated the words of the title in different ways for the entire duration of the song. However, he was able to make it entertaining and interesting. One must also realize that James Brown had a tendency to be theatrical. Every show, he would have a stage-hand come onto the stage and drape a robe over him as they began to walk away, but to everyone's surprise, he would throw the robe off, scream, and the show would continue. His flare for the dramatic and his ability to take a word nobody knows and extend it into a full seven-minute song, are clearly shown in Eddie Murphy's parody.

When examining a video clip like this, it is important to understand the context first before one can understand the meaning. Normally, I would just assume that most people find this footage hilarious, but I then realize that those who don’t know James Brown, Eddie Murphy, or either, would probably find this clip only slightly amusing without really understanding the whole story. With that being said, I urge everyone to give a little love to the late James Brown and learn more about his life and music http://www.godfatherofsoul.com/man/biography.html . Download a song, or watch a clip of a performance, and I’m sure you will have a better understanding of why I find this footage so hilarious, and why I find James Brown to be an American icon.

RIP James Joseph Brown (1933-2006)

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Web MD is an amazing in-depth website regarding modern day health issues. However, in order to fully understand the site, one must understand its context. Within our culture, ‘Web MD’ serves as an intermediary between Doctors (sometimes inaccessible /inconvenient) and the laypeople whom have many inquiries. In our current society of mass communication, regular people now can gain knowledge which was once reserved for PhD’s and MD’s. Just as everything else in the world today, medicine must evolve with the changing times. Furthermore, there seems to be a movement within modern society which is almost overly concerned with health and medicines. Whether it’s a Dateline special on the ‘avian bird flu’, or an article on men’s health regarding diet in relation to sex drive, health related issues seem to be on everyone’s mind these days. All people want to avoid disease, obesity, and any other future unforeseen consequences of our current lifestyle choices. Furthermore, not all people may feel comfortable with approaching a doctor with some of their problems. All these reasons and more, lead people to seek an independent and trustworthy source of medicinal knowledge. ‘Web MD’ is just this source.
The sheer availability of information from the internet compared to conventional sources explains why many choose to use the net as their primary resource. However, the consumers themselves also contextualize the importance of a site like ‘Web MD.’ Most people today are always on the move, and want everything in their daily lives expedited and consolidated. If we could get resources for all facets of life together on one page, I’m sure we would. People want accurate, reliable information, and they want it now. This aspect of our culture gave rise to the thinking behind ‘Web MD’; Give the people a user-friendly and convenient platform in which to find all the health resources they need. In that sense, the website is a complete and utter success. Moreover, the actual delivery of the information and resources is just as important these days. Not only do people get accurate information quickly, they usually receive it in an aesthetically pleasing presentation. Even though the consumers of ‘Web MD’ are usually suffering from some ailment, they are not dead; and the same principles of aesthetics and convenience should apply. If it were merely a vast database accessible only by keyword search, the site would not enjoy the same success which they currently do. Because there are many avenues of navigation within the site, it makes it much easier to arrive at your destination without necessarily having proper directions. This creates an environment in which the layperson can become more comfortable.
When creating a site of any genre, there are certain conventions and methods which should be used in order to create a comfortable environment for the consumer. ‘Web MD’ is one of the better sites I have ever visited, and they keep their information in the context of our modern society. Understanding their target audience, the site does a great job of providing very valid and substantial facts, while, at the same time, making it easy to navigate and comprehend.

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The World Wide Web provides the consumer a vast pool of information and resources. No matter what one's specific interest is, there is a site (or a thousand sites) completely devoted to it. For the modern day hypochondriac, that site would have to be 'http://www.webmd.com/.' This comprehensive site is every layperson's window into the complicated world of human health issues. Though its content can be more consequential at times, 'Web MD' uses the same conventions as every other popular website on the net. A complete search engine can be found as the centerpiece of the site. Just type in your affliction, and an in-depth description of the ailment appears along with many related links and articles from health journals, etc. While the search engine and huge archive of medical terms and concepts seems to be the focal point, the site features many other conventions used to gain attention. An ever-changing slideshow window scrolls through the week's featured topics and articles with pictures. Also, there is a 'Top 12 health issues' area with links to those respective topics. Each one has an amazing amount of supporting facts, both qualitative and quantitative. Of course, like any other spot on the web, flashing advertisements on the top and sides of the screen change constantly, vying for recognition. However, there are some very unique parts of 'Web MD.' One window gives direct access to the "weight loss clinic" within the site. By providing some basic information about one's health and lifestyle, a personalized weight loss program is given. Considering that obesity is one of America's most prevalent health issues, I would guess that this window is fairly popular. In addition to a large library of useful information, there are several interactive aspects of the site. There is a poll found at the bottom, which asks a new health relevant question every day/week. After you answer, you can immediately view the results of others' polls. Also, there are interactive quizzes, self-assessments, etc. available for those who need the "hands on" approach.
Compared to other sites of the genre, 'WebMD' does an excellent job of making their information and links aesthetically pleasing, as well as highly relevant. You wouldn't think by looking at the first page, that is a window into one of the largest archives of health related topics known to the layperson. Because those who use this site are usually very average people, I really appreciate the approach of simplicity and relevance. Furthermore, if the site doesn't directly provide one with the facts they need, there is always a link to a site that will. This combination of a vast database, and Internet resorting creates one of the better informative sites around. More and more, I use 'WebMD' to relieve my health concerns, and to avoid visits to the doctor's office which leaves me with no new information, and 40 less dollars in my pocket. The advent of the Internet and its many facets of knowledge have changed the way we look at all aspects of life, including our health.

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