Why I took Cultural Studies

Hello,
My name is Allison Meaux (on paper/family),
Bella Mia (to friends/anyone who cares). I'm from West Bloomfield, Michigan which is about 30 minutes away from Detroit. I'm currently undecided about a major. I enjoy films, Disney, books, music, fashion, Liza Minnelli and vegan ice cream (in that order).
Which actually has some reason as to why I choose Introduction to Cultural Studies. One of my hobbies is thinking. You know the quote (who it actually comes from escapes right now) "I think therefore I am"? Well, I think alot and I read alot and I like to know things, or really I like to understand things better, and that makes me a GEEK.
Yep, I admit it.
And before I moved to the city where there are actually people to observe versus trees, I used to pick apart characters in films, books, television and song lyrics. I like to know the reasoning behind why a painter painted this particular thing or the relationship between any artist and his/her art form.
Yes, I listen to the director's audio commentaries on DVDs and all those other special features.
When I like a band I try to find out everything about them to "figure out" their personal philosophies.
I've been called a pop culture nerd by my friends but really I just think I like films and music and, of course, Disney.
That said, I've never actually thought about what culture really is or how it effects me or anybody else. I've thought about the relationship between society and individuals. I took Sociology in High School (and I'm taking it here this semester) and I thought Cultural Studies would be a good compliment to that. Culture, to me at least, is the things we as a society do collectively maybe not all together at the same time but things we share in common. For instance taking the train is part of Chicagoland culture-or moreover the culture of most urban centers, aside from maybe Detroit- because most everyone takes the train at some point or another because driving is madness in this city.
I don't know if I'm wrong or mixing up Sociology and Cultural Studies but that's why I took the class.
Already we've brought up things in class that I've never really thought about or questioned before like brushing my teeth and the introduction to The Theory Toolbox brought up looking both ways when you cross the street (which in Chicago is a very good idea). I actually did think about that momentarily while I was getting ready this morning;Why do I brush my hair? What is it about the clothes that I put on that I'm trying to convey to others? Why do I put mascara on my top and bottom lashes? (that, however, has everything to do with Liza Minnelli's look in Cabaret).
I guess I could sum up the reason for taking the class as simply general interest.