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How does gladwell start the introduction of the tipping point
Analysis of the book, tipping point
How does gladwell start the introduction of the tipping point
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How exactly do social trends start and how do they become such huge phenomena? The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell explains how ideas, trends, and behaviors reach a “tipping point” (Gladwell, 2000). According to Gladwell, a tipping point is the peak of a particular phenomenon. The Tipping Point describes exactly how health epidemics, fashion trends, television shows, products, etc. become popular and last for elongated periods of time. In this summary, I will attempt to reiterate what Gladwell means in reference to “how little things make big differences.” Chapter One To understand how things reach a tipping point, you must first understand the three rules of epidemics. Gladwell defines the three rules of epidemics as the law of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context. The first rule, the law of the few, explains how individuals with the gift of connections and persuasion make a difference in pushing epidemics to the limit and spreading a useful message wide and far. It most certainly takes talent to be that person or persons to make something reach its peak. The ...
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell looks at a number of social epidemics and analyzes their build up to the point where they tip. “Tipping” is that point where an epidemic booms, or grows, to its maximum potential. Gladwell begins defining “tipping” with a literal example of the famous shoes, Hush Puppies. Once considered old-fashioned, Hush Puppies experienced a social boom in the mid-90s when hipsters in New York made them trendy again. Gladwell continues explaining “tipping” with a medical epidemic of syphilis in Baltimore. Gladwell introduces us to three essential rules of epidemics: the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of Context. The Law of the Few says a key factor in epidemics is the role of the messenger: it spreads through word-of-mouth transmission. Gladwell explains this theory with an example of how Paul Revere managed to spread the news of British invasion overnight. Gladwell continues to explain that there are several types of people that create these types of epidemics. They are called Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. Connectors are those people that are very social and can literally connect with people with as little as two degrees of separation. Mavens are those that know a lot about a lot of different things. They may recommend a certain restaurant and you must go because you know what they told you about it is true. And Salesmen are exactly that: people that are easily social and persuading.
Gladwell strongly believes that activism was viewed in a much different way before technology took over the world. In the 1960’s protests, and boycotts spread rapidly but usually only among friends. Today, information spreads to thousands of people in seconds due to social media. Gladwell believes traditional activism formed strong-ties whereas today 's movements and protests form weak-ties because of social media. People are motivated when they have close friends with them in a movement, not just through a text message. As Gladwell states, “where activists were once defined by their causes, they are now defined by their tools.” (Gladwell 408) Gladwell believes these tools can’t really help a social activism movement, but he does acknowledge the speed of social media networks. But, without news and social media how will the information spread? Anything placed on the internet can be broadcasted to a large audience within seconds. Gladwell writes: “Social networks are effective at increasing participation—by lessening the level of motivation that participation requires.” (Gladwell 408) Gladwell makes a good point but how will the motivation ever be there without people receiving information? Nevertheless social media has many flaws, but with other tools
The innovational time of the 1950s was known for the uprising of mass culture within America. Due to the financially fluctuating years prior, Americans were unable to spend much and were excited to take advantage of the new consumer goods introduced in the 1950s. There were new movies, television programs, genres and superstars of music, new products and new ways to get them that all became frenzies with the American people. Mass culture was responsible for bringing the nation new diversity in many different areas of society, bringing out a new idea of societal a...
The Tipping Point is a book about how hits happen. Utilizing the exploration of pandemics, Gladwell demonstrates how little activities at the ideal time, in the correct spot, and with the right individuals can make a 'tipping point' for an item – the minute when a domino impact is activated. For instance, Hush Puppies "tipped" in 1993, when a couple design forward fashionable people from New York began wearing the moping brand once more. This set off a chain response that fell however the US, expanding deals 70-overlay and making an informal pandemic. Utilizing the three fundamental laws of pestilences, Gladwell traces a straightforward three-guide arrangement toward get your item to its own particular
In a time of war when warfighting technology and capabilities are reaching new heights, the status quo for which convention exists is continually changing. At the dawn of World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy was one of the most powerful navies in the world. With little naval presence to deter Japanese aggression in the Pacific, the Imperial Navy would dominate virtually uncontested, aiming to take land that contained vital resources for the sustainment of their country. Then, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese severely overstepped boundaries by bombing Pearl Harbor with the intention of reducing the United States as a threat in the Pacific. With the airpower from six Japanese carriers, the Imperial Navy dealt a blow to the United States that immediately led to a declaration of war on Japan. This event heralded a drawn out struggle between the United States and Japan. As Japan being the dominating power in the Pacific, it was not until the Battle of Midway, starting on June 3, 1942, that the United States gained the upper hand that would later lead to victory in that theater.
As described in novel The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference the course of any trend, movement, social behavior, and even the spread of a virus has a general trend line that in essence resemble a parabola with 3 main critical points. Any trend line first starts from zero, grows until it crosses the first tipping point, and then spreads like wildfire. Afterwards, the trend skyrockets to its carrying capacity (Galdwell, 2000). Then the trend gradually declines before it reaches the next tipping and suddenly falls out of favor and out of memory. Gladwell defines tipping points as the “magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire” (Gladwell, 2000).
Bushman, Brad J., Roy F. Baumeister, and Angela D. Stack. “Catharsis, Aggression, and Persuasive Influence: Self-Fulfilling or Self-Defeating Prophecies.” Online Posting. 17 July 2001 <http://www.apa.org/journals/psp/psp763367.html>.
Strinati, D. (2004). An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture (pp. 52-79). New York, NY USA: Taylor & Francis.
Popular Culture has changed drastically over the decades with the biggest question being whether or not popular culture is a positive or negative expression of our ideas and reflections. American Pop Culture has an extremely important role that influences the United States and around the world. There are countless topics that make up pop culture and it is nearly impossible to name all of them. Some of the topics are Television, Music, Religion, Politics, Arts, Economy, Education, Family roles and structures. Three of the cultures that I believe has changed the most and seems to cause the most controversy are television, music and religion.
Everett Rogers defines diffusion as “a special type of communication in which the messages are concerned with a new idea. It is this newness of the idea in the message content of communication that gives diffusion its special character. The newness means that some degree of uncertainty is involved” (Rogers, 1982, p. 6). Moreover, it is the process of communicating an innovation through media over time among members of a social system.
2) Pop culture came from pop art (Danesi 4) and transformed the idea that the art reflected everyday roles and more playful than other artists, eventually it came down to it being a meaning for people as a whole. It evolved over time during the 1940s and 1950s that reflected everyday things in art, like Campbell’s soup (Danesi 5).
Why do some innovations get adopted while others fail? The diffusion theory offers up one explanation for this phenomenon. The theory can be applied to a multitude of different products or ideas. This theoretical approach is fascinating do to the breadth of different fields that it can be applied to and to the depth that it can go into the field to formulate a. It allows for people to formulate a better understanding of the spread of new innovations. Diffusion theory can give a comprehensive picture as to how ideas spread in this social media age. To understand the depth of the diffusion of innovation theory you have to first understand what the theory is and how it analyzes situations. Then it has to be applied to and utilized. Lastly the justification of why this theory is an appropriate fit for the selected field of interest. The study of diffusion has been pursued by many scholars dating back over a hundred years.
There are many ways to define popular culture. Many individuals have grappled with the question what is popular culture? And how to critically analyze and deconstruct the meanings. Looking at the root words of popular culture is where to begin. Raymond Williams states ‘popular’ means: “well liked by many people" or “culture actually made for the people themselves (Storey, p.5). This is part with the word ‘culture’ combine to look at how the two words have been connect by theoretical work within social and historical context. John Storey approaches popular culture in six categories, they are as followed: “Popular culture is simply culture that is widely favoured or well liked by many people”, Popular culture is “the culture that is left over after we have decided what is high culture”, Popular culture is “mass culture”, “Popular culture is the culture that originates from ‘the people.” and “Popular culture as a site of struggle
On an individual basis, popular culture helps establish and mold the subjective self. It influences the way individuals think, act and respond, and this becomes part of how people develop their personalities, preferences, beliefs, and their overall identity. For example, most people idolize certain fashion statements or fads which determines their preference of clothing. This process of self-formation coincides with both elements of personal choice and the responses and attitudes of others. Furthermore, the identity that an individual asserts is influenced by and helps determine the development of social relationships; it influences the communities and groups to which an individual will identify with and how that identification is processed. In the establishment of communal bonding, mass culture helps with, as Leavis describes, a “leveling down of society” (35). The lines of class distinction have been blurred which, to Leavis is not a good thing, but it unites us nonetheless. Popular culture also promotes unity in that it “blurs age lines” (29). As stated earlier, the products of popular culture are targeted towards a variety of audiences; adults read comic books, children watch adult films, etc. (Macdonald 29). Similarly, teenagers and young adults are brought together through night clubs, fashion, and music; college students come together to enjoy campus events; book fans wait in line hours for new releases, etc. Each of these instances produce feelings of belonging, acceptance and connection with members of society over a common
Pop culture is a reflection of social change, not a cause of social change” (John Podhoretz). It encompasses the advertisements we see on T.V, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, and it’s the reason Leonardo DiCaprio has not won an Oscar yet. It defines and dictates the desires and fears of the mainstream members of society and it is so ingrained into our lives that it has become as natural as breathing. Moreover, adults never even bat an eyelash at all the pop culture and advertising that surrounds them since it has become just another part of everyday life. Pop culture is still somewhat seen as entertainment enjoyed by the lower class members of society but pop culture standards change over time.