34
Popular Culture Review
Various Features to the Data Set
It should be noted that several T-shirts had the same message (e.g., In
Loving Memory); therefore, there was an element of repetition of messages in
the study. In addition, it should be pointed out that not all T-shirts with language
could be considered as data relevant to the study. For example, a T-shirt
inscribed with the language of Original Gangsta [sic] might convey a negative
or a positive emotional message from the individual who wears that article of
clothing to readers of the message. That particular message could be considered
as a commercial device to enhance the sales of a fashionable article of clothing
but not a memorial message. Therefore, some forms of language seen on Tshirts are in keeping with current clothing trends or are in keeping with the
larger youth and hip-hop culture where certain forms of clothing mark the
wearer as a member of that subculture. In instances of this type, where choice of
language is