Pop Culture has numerous effects on society and teenagers
I.
Introduction
A. Common
definition of Pop Culture
B. Thesis
Statement
II.
Body
A. Effects
on society
1. Creation
of cliques/groups
2. Promotion
of innovation
B. Effects
on teenagers
1. Classification
of other people
2. Definition
of self
III.
Conclusion
A. Restatement
of points
B. Suggestion
Popularity: Is that all there is to it?
Popular culture, better known as pop culture, is defined by
many as the latest trends in society. If you ask the members of Generation Y,
pop culture is equated to Justin Bieber, the Dougie dance, Harry Potter, etc. But,
if you ask the members of Generation X, pop culture is equated to Michael
Jackson, Elvis Presley, Madonna, and all those trends back in the 60’s up to
the 80’s. But, what is POP CULTURE?
Pop Culture, as defined by dictionary.reference.com, is the
set of activities, products – probably even people – that are preferred by the
general public. Other people also refer to pop culture as “mainstream”, which
means current trend. Pop culture is dynamic; it changes as the tastes of the
masses change. Since pop culture has a wide range of audience, there are
numerous effects pop culture has on society and on teenagers.
It is extremely evident that pop culture affects society. It
aids in the forming of cliques, groups, and what have you. People certainly
have various tastes in music, clothing, etc. We identify our likes and dislikes,
and then we approach people who have seemingly similar likes and dislikes as
ours (Linley, 2011). Evidently, someone who likes Eminem will not have much in
common with someone who likes Incubus. Some people, though, would enjoy
conversing with someone who has a very different taste from his own. Still, it
is highly rare to find someone who would do that.
Another plausible effect pop culture may have on society is
the promotion of innovation. How different is our world today than yesterday? The
latest trends drive people to be more innovative (Linley, 2011). What is here
today was not present yesterday. There were no smartphones, no tablets, and no
modified headsets back in the day. The clothes we wear today might seem unusual
to the people living in the past just as their clothes will seem unusual to us.
Pop culture greatly affects teenagers since the youth is the
one more involved with the latest trends. Pop culture aids in a teenager’s
definition of himself. (Tramel, 2011) His tastes in clothing, music, hobbies,
and others are usually what “defines” a teenager. Teenagers have coined terms
for what to call themselves. Usually, these terms are based on the things they
like. For example, people who like Justin Bieber are called “beliebers”. People
who have read, and have fallen in love with, the Harry Potter series are called
“potterheads”. It is as if teenagers of today have some sort of label plastered
on their foreheads determining what kind of person they are. This, therefore,
leads to another effect that pop culture has on teenagers – classification of
other people.
Not only do the youth of this generation classify themselves
as one type of person, they also classify other people – still based on their
tastes (Tramel, 2011). People have the tendency to judge someone simply by the
clothes they wear or how they act in public. People today, especially
teenagers, tend to judge someone via the things they like and do not like. As
mentioned beforehand, people, nowadays, choose the people they talk to. They prefer
conversing with someone who might share their interests. In the same manner, they
prefer not to talk to people whose interests are the quite different from
theirs. Quite often, an argument between people whose likes and dislikes are
different from each other’s happen. This argument is referred to as “fan wars”.
People who participate in these “fan wars” have uttered very hurtful words
towards a person and the things the person likes. When these arguments occur,
people are not well aware of what they are saying. These fights over certain things
then, somehow, lead to violence.
Pop culture may also be promoting violence, at some point (Tramel,
2011). Every aspect of pop culture today has cursing or some sort of violence
in them. A pop song without cursing or some sort of bad vocabulary is quite
difficult to find nowadays. The video games might have the most impact on the
promotion of violence. This promotion of violence is not as prominent as the
others mentioned beforehand, yet still present.
Pop culture is as wide as the range of its scope. Also, pop
culture makes a huge impact most especially on the youth. Its effects may be positive
or negative, but its influence can not be stopped from spreading. As long as
the times are changing, and there are people left in this world, the influence
of this culture will go on and on. We will never avoid our brains from being
washed by this pop culture, no matter how hard we try.
A single move by Rihanna will appear in tomorrow’s tabloids.
The week after, girls will be trying to imitate her. A new single released by
Usher will be tomorrow’s hottest song. Soon, everyone will have memorized this
new single. The hairstyle Jennifer Aniston once wore (The Rachel) was the
hairstyle of that year. Everyone wanted to have friends like Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe,
Ross, and Rachel. Every turn of the head, one will see another drinking
Starbucks coffee. The impact of pop culture on us is undeniable. People may say
that this popularity thing is unnecessary, that we must be true to ourselves
and only then can we be judged. We know that this is no longer as true as it
was before, if it were even true.
There are things in this world that we cannot change, and
our instinct to follow what is prominent is one of those. Trends are here to
stay, there is no denying that. Pop culture is as immortal as myths and
legends. We should find a way, somehow, to use pop culture for a more positive
thing. There are several conflicts that this world is facing today, and pop
culture is a remarkable medium of influence. Personalities might as well use
their influence for the betterment of the world and mankind. It is probably
part of our survival instinct to follow a leader of some sort. Let us use this
power we have wisely.
References:
dictionary.reference.com/browse/popular+culture
theoryofthephil.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/the-function-of-popular-culture-in-society
livestrong.com/article/524468-the-effects-of-pop-culture-on-teenagers
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