I.
Introduction
A. Common definition of Pop Culture
B. Thesis Statement
II.
Body
A. Effects on society
1. Creates cliques/groups
2. Promotes innovation
B. Effects on teenagers
1. Stereotypes other people
2. Defines self
III.
Conclusion
A. Restates 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 one asks the members of Generation Y, pop culture is equated to
Justin Bieber, the Dougie dance, Harry Potter, and several others. But, if one
asks 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 does pop culture mean?
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, especially the
youth, change.
Although
the trends are, more often than not, set by the younger masses, pop culture
also aims at the elder masses. Since pop culture has a wide range of audience,
there are numerous effects of pop culture 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, and other aspects. 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. The
items of today drive people to be more innovative for tomorrow. The most asked
question on people’s minds today is how they will change and/or improve
something. The gadgets and other things we have today are no match to the
things the future people will have. The possibilities of developments are
endless, and this is partially because of pop culture. There might be no need
for a laptop or a tablet in the future; things may possibly take a holographic
form.
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, also known as STEREOTYPING.
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 quite different from theirs. Often an argument among
people with opposing likes and dislikes 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 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 cannot 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 cannot avoid persuasion brought about by 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:
popular culture. (n.d.). Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon (2012) Retrieved from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/popular+culture
Linley, P. (2011) Retrieved from: theoryofthephil.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/the-function-of-popular-culture-in-society
Tramel, A. (2011) Retrieved from: livestrong.com/article/524468-the-effects-of-pop-culture-on-teenagers
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