Is Pop Culture Good For You?

 

It is a constant throughout all generations to complain and compare one generation to the previous and next ones. It is seen throughout all of history, and continues to be a continuing trend, perhaps even tradition, in today’s world. While Pop Culture is one of the main focuses of this, it is constantly changing with the interests and habits of the ever-changing world, and a rapidly-changing world at that. What a was cool or interesting last month, let alone last decade, is not the trend today. With it, these trends and other elements of pop culture help shape the interests of today’s society, as well as the creativity, communication and social life, and overall inspiration. Current music and art of today’s world inspires what is yet to come, and what came before today and inspired what the present holds. Overall, pop culture, despite the admittedly various controversial aspects it brings upon society, is a good thing that keeps the creative fuel and drive alive. 

  In The Tedx Talk, “Why Pop Culture?” given by Alexandre O’Phillippe, he hlighits what makes pop culture, and how it differed from regular media such as religion, politics, or simply mundane media (with no humor or entertaining intents). O’Phillipe high it’s how photos of soldiers or politicians are not considered pop culture, but a photo of a storm trooper or a meme made out of a photo of a politician is, given its creative and entertaining aspect. It is “fluff” as he says, yet that is perhaps what makes it pop-culture. Using zombies and Psy’s “Gangnam Style”, as well as Star Wars, O’Phillipe brings to light how it is the creativity that brings humanity together from all over the world, its impacts on society (such as Star Wars changing the film industry), hence causing inspiration and bonding, and how the more “important” media such as religion and politics, whilst also impactful and important, are things known to divide humanity, bringing more controversy and hate unto others. If it weren’t for pop culture, as is also according to O’Phillippe, then humanity would not nearly be as a joy able, fun, and bonded. 

  In Malcolm Gladwell’s article Small Change: Why The Revolution Willl Not Be Tweeted, Gladwell adds a rather interesting notion about how it will take more than posts on websites to make a difference. While many forms of communication are, can and should be used when spreading words and messages, social media tends to be used for various purposes, linluciding those of entertainment. Whereas back in the days o racial segregation, there was no social media, today, it is a tool that can be used with, but not exclusively for, the purpose of making a difference. It is the walk, not just the talk. Pop culture through social media helps bring platforms to these matters, making it in itself a vital tool for success. 

  Steve Johnson’s Watching TV Makes You Smarter provides and interesting and rather reassuring idea about watching TV, and its role in pop culture. Johnson provides the argument that what the world seems to define as “smart” TV shows such as Big Bang Theory, are perhaps not as high-up as many may think. Wherein the subject matter may involve characters with high intelligence, the plot is already broken down, themes discussed, and everything prep-chewed. There is no thinking left for the audience to do, as it is already done by the cast and creative team. These highly-praised shows in pop culture are more shiny than they are valuable, skewing the idea of what is deemed as intelligent and “good” TV in pop culture. Johnson then goes on to say how a show like The Sopranos or The Simpsons, the themes of either gore, basic themes or silly comedy may provide more for the audience to think about. While the world may see these themes as unpleasant and of little depth, there is a lot more left for the audience to be able to understand, to comprehend, and to perhaps appreciate. 

  Phill Miller provides an somewhat counter-argumentative approach towards the opinions on pop culture in his TedxTalk “Pop Culture Is Dead!” Miller describes the fast-pace move and chance  of pop-culture; how, with so much constantly being posted, it is tough for one solid form to be prevalent for too long before the world moves onto the next. Miller shows the audience what is deemed as important according to a survey in 2006 wherein children were asked what they thought was important in pop culture (such as being wealthy, attractive, and a celebrity) and how relevant it still is today. Miller goes on to add to this, however, he does so with a more positive outlook, saying that these things that pass through pop culture do leave a legacy, no matter how quickly they pass through, and that we create the pop culture of today’s world. Even if it vain and lifeless, it still provides us with memories that we make and cherish ourselves. 

  Overall, it is interesting to see how, despite its soulless and perhaps somewhat annoying presence, pop culture does provide us with a lot of joy in life, and that it isn’t a bad thing to happen. Without pop culture, there would be a lot less for humanity from all over to be bonded by, a logo less for people to use their brains to think about, to create, or to simply enjoy each new day.