Write a brief blog post (250 words min) about your perspective of pop culture. You should present a main idea about pop culture and support it with a few examples. You can, of course, include pertinent links, but are not required to do so.You can take this post in any direction you’d like, but here are a few questions you can use to get going:
- · Does pop culture have a positive or negative influence on American society?
- · Are some genres/forms of pop culture better for us than others?
- · What areas or genres of pop culture interest you the most?
- What do you want to learn in this class?
- What's a clever title for our blog?
I believe that pop culture is a medium for people to connect with what’s happening out in the world, or what is most popular in the world, through social media. Pop culture to me is a good and bad thing. The reason I feel pop culture has a negative effect is because it can be a major distraction to people, specifically the younger generations. Sometimes, people don’t realize that pop culture should just be for entertainment and information and not take over their entire lives. Now, people use what they see in pop culture as their life goals, when there is more to life then pop culture. The positive side to popular culture is the fact that we can get some modern information and up to date news. Also, it can be very entertaining to see what celebrities are doing. Social media is a huge part of pop culture and the main reason, today, why everyone knows what’s going on and what is popular. Social media keeps artists in close interactions with their fans, provides an outlet for people all around the world to communicate with each other, and also keeps some people up to date with important current news (because a lot of young people don’t actually watch the new stations on television or read the news papers). However, social media can also be a negative thing. For example, people have been recorded without knowing and have had their private lives put on social media for the world to see. So, pop culture is definitely a negative and positive influence on American society.
ReplyDeleteI would like to learn how to analyze pop culture in this class.
A clever title for our blog could be "Pop into our English Culture".
I completely agree with everything you have said when it comes to pop culture and social media and the younger generation considering it "life goals" rather than entertainment. I feel it's hard for them to distinguish what life goals really stand for and how hard it is to achieve them. It is indeed both negative and positive effect with pop culture. I provided a link below with an example.
DeleteWe Are What We Consume!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/200912/popular-culture-we-are-what-we-consume
When I think of Pop Culture, I think of a song called “Pop Muzik” by M (the alias of Robin Scott) which topped the music charts in 1979. It was “cutting edge” in my day, but I’m sure that the younger generation will merely shake their heads at how “cheesy” it looks and have a good laugh at it. In the Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Scott explained the concept of his song, "I was looking to make a fusion of various styles which somehow would summarize the last 25 years of pop music. It was a deliberate point I was trying to make. Whereas rock and roll had created a generation gap, disco was bringing people together on an enormous scale.” Pop not only encompasses music, but also includes fashion, societal trends, and technology. Pop Culture is always changing and is driven by the youth (those who are in their teens and twenties). In the pop culture generation that my mother grew up in, Motown was the sound and the style that she and her friends sought after. Back in those days, not everyone had a television set and so that was the greatest technology (in black and white, no less) that was desired. My pop culture days were the 80’s with Prince and Madonna bringing the lace back into style. I grew up with vinyl records, then audio cassettes, and the latest technological devices that we used were Walkman portable music systems and pagers. And with the most recent generation, my daughter has grown up with computers, mp3 players, complex video games, and the cell phone. There’s even a new and ever changing texting language that just “boggles” my mind. Change is good; and so is pop culture.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPoiv0sZ4s4
1. Fred Bronson, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Billboard, 1988
Popular culture is as broad as it is inescapable. It’s in our movies, our music, our art and even in day to day interactions with others. Thinking about how so many different forms of pop culture could be connected under one subject lead me to the first thing I saw they had in common. Their Name.
ReplyDeleteIt’s almost self-explanatory. The reason popular culture is so omnipresent is because it’s popular. That is to say that popular culture is everywhere because it unites us at some basic level, and is understood or at least recognized by the majority of people. It captures our interest, appeals to our humor, and represents emotions. That’s not the only thing that makes pop culture pop though.
Popular culture must be easy to digest and spread. Pop culture doesn’t rely on education, or obscure information. Grumpy cat is funny because she looks grumpy and it’s funny. It’s simple, easy to digest just looking at it, and was able to spread easily on the internet through social media. You don’t have to be well educated to enjoy this picture of a cat that looks so disgruntled. Grumpy cat became what it is because it is a silly representation of an emotion that we all feel and know well as humans. Pop songs don’t need a deeper meaning. They’re popular because they have simple, easy to digest messages and catchy beats. They convey emotions that we all understand.
To some extent, it has to be good for us. We need it. In a time where opinions are so easily shared and divide us so deeply, anything that can unite us is a good thing even if it’s only through sharing a chuckle together over a silly picture.
As I embark on this journey of this english class I hope to work on my writing skills and learn a little more of what this class has to offer. I am willing to work with my classmates and embrace their feedback to not only better my writing skills but to also be able to speak properly on a daily basis. This week our writing discussion is pop culture.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up i was always fascinated by Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, The Simpsons and of course Super Mario video games. Everyone is going to have different perspectives as to what pop culture means to them. Pop culture is known to be an up to date array of activities, commercials, movies and music aimed to please a variety of different people. Pop culture is deemed fun and as the population changes so does pop culture. Pop culture can have both a positive and negative influence on American society.
One of the many ways that pop culture can have a negative influence is through slander. Gossip sites can be a leech on some of the younger generation in that they believe what they hear and see. Companies are degrading stars, but to the stars is this usually always bad? No, it is not. The artist themselves are better known. Jobs are also created and income is being made to the company which turns into a positive influence.
Some suggestions for this weeks blog names will be
Life with English
iLearn Pop
I agree that pop culture can have a both positive negative and positive impact. I also feel that whether the pop culture has a positive or negative impact on our society depends on what form of pop culture it is. Like you, I would like to improve my writing skills and get more involved in class.
DeletePop culture, it’s everywhere in today’s society and has a huge effect on how generations are acting today. Pop culture is defined as a collection of thoughts, ideas, attitudes, perspectives, and images preferred by the mainstream population. Many ask if pop culture has a positive effect on today’s society and most answers are very mixed. I feel that because of what pop culture has turned into, some of the older generations would say that it is a bad influence on people and how they go about in their daily lives. I believe that younger generations don’t feel like it has any negative effect on them because that’s what we have grown up with. My answer is very hypocritical because I love pop culture, and am a fan of most aspects within pop culture, but I believe that some pop culture has a negative influence over a handful of people. Pop culture is a trend that is happening in the world and many people look up to those who are famous and are starting the trends. Certain trends, I consider are teaching the younger generation things that are not necessarily true. I wouldn’t essentially go on to say that some forms of pop culture are better for us than others, because to me personally they all kind of run the same. Pop culture is a form of entertainment and in a way connects the world with one another. With that being said, I don’t find it fair to tell someone that is or isn’t good for you, they can decide that for themselves.
ReplyDeleteForms of pop culture that interest me the most would have to be music, films, television (obsessed with reality TV) and sports. I am excited to have this class because I feel like since our focus is pop culture and that is what we will be analyzing; I think that this English course will keep my attention throughout the semester!
(Also I am not a good person to come up with a name for the blog, because I am one of the most uncreative people on this planet)
(Cina Nguyen).
DeleteI agree with everything you said about pop culture being both a good and a bad thing because it can be (after all, it is an opinion, so there's always both side to it).Also, it is true that the older generation view it as negative while the younger generation view it as positive. And I have never thought about pop culture as something that connects everyone together, so that shift my thoughts toward the positive side a bit. Thank you for your insight.
Does pop culture have a positive or negative influence on American society?
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, I feel it goes both ways. It influences everyone differently and sometimes the same person both ways at different times in their lives. Take music for example..
Jessie J-Domino
https://youtu.be/UJtB55MaoD0
(In this video/lyrics she's feeling sexy and free. Clearly in love, happy and out of control. Dancing in the moonlight, how every girl wants to feel)
Jessie J-Do It Like A Dude (Explicit)
https://youtu.be/pOf3kYtwASo
(Not exactly sure if her heart was broken in this situation or she may have lost herself or experimenting, but you have girls kissing, grabbing their privates. Explicit, what I believe to be drugs. Smoking, rolling money like pimps, you need to lick my dollar etc.)
Jessie J-Who You Are
https://youtu.be/j2WWrupMBAE
(In this video/lyrics, she explains nearly losing herself, and being true to who you are. It's okay to be hurt. She's staring at her reflection in the mirror, realization, acceptance)
The perfect example of different influences, positive or negative at different times in your life. It just depends on the moment.Of course I can go deeper and talk about the effects it has on not only the younger generation but myself included, but as a team we have pretty much made that clear. Are some genres of pop culture better for us than others? Absolutely not. Everyone is different so we all "feel" differently. When it comes to music, some people just listen to the beat and think it is dope. Others listen to the lyrics and think it is meaningful. Then you have odd ones like myself that break down the track and "feel" both beat and lyrics, and how they compliment each other. When it comes to television, same thing. Some people prefer "FRIENDS", others prefer "GIRLFRIENDS", and I prefer both. No particular area of pop culture interest me. I consider myself a little of everything and everyone. As far as what I would like to learn in this class besides refreshing my memory, I'm not completely sure. I'll know as time goes by, but as for now I would like to learn as much as I can in order to make an A.
Clever Title Names:
Combine Kalista and Dominique
"iPop N2 English Culture"
"iPop into English"
"I Honestly Don't Know"
"I've popped out of ideas"
Whitley, your post was very effective! While I focused mainly on the negative of popular culture, yours is really informative for the positives. While there are negatives, there are still some positives to give credit to. I like what you did what the Jessie J. examples because she writes different music. Some would view some as negative and the others as positive. Also, I'd have to agree that time is an important factor in pop culture, because trends change with time. Overall, I agree and enjoyed your post.
DeleteI really enjoyed your interpretation about pop culture and how you explained it in class. I agree that certain moments in your life can play a huge role in how you may interpret songs or tv shows, etc. I loved how you stated that everyone thinks differently because most people think that pop culture has the same effect on everyone, but in reality people let it affect them how they want it too. I agree with your post and thought that you presented your ideas in a great way.
DeleteIn my perspective, pop culture deals with change, and this change can have either a positive or a negative impact on our society. Although pop culture can have both a negative and positive impact, it is more beneficial to our society than it harms us. Even though pop culture removes classical ideas and tradition like classical music, bands, and operas, it brings new ideas and improves the economy. Pop culture has helped expand our technology systems by introducing new inventions such as the internet and apps to our society; it has also improved the economy of countries by bring in money. For instance, if having a IPhone was popular, then more people will buy the product regardless of the price. As pop culture evolves, more people tend to spent money, and it eventually improves the economy of countries. This is because money is able to circulate, and the government is able to get more taxes which contributes to helping the country.
ReplyDeleteSome of the pop culture such as apps, software, and other technology systems has helped the society the more than entertainment such as music and TV shows. Through the advancement of new technologies, the world has become more connected and advanced. Personally, I am interested in the technology aspects of pop culture. This is because I am a computer science major, and I would like to learn more about how pop culture has influenced and will influence the technology department.
From this class I would like to be able to express my ideas, effectively analyze papers, and learn more about the impact of pop culture. I also think the blog should be called “TrendyEnglish1102”.
(Cina Nguyen).
ReplyDeleteAlthough pop culture can either be a good thing or a bad thing, I believe pop culture has a more negative effect on us because it gears everybody towards one perspective and belief. It is like a bandwagon that everyone feels like he/she has to jump on in order to be accepted in society. It is not the idea itself that is negative, but how people, especially the younger generation, who idolize pop culture so much that they belittle other "not so popular" areas. that Since I am personally into old fashion music, movies, style, etc, I find it very difficult to express my taste to others who believe that we have to go with the majority and "fit in" with the latest trends. However, there's no way to change that because it wouldn't be called "popular" culture without a large number of followers. Therefore, I view pop culture is a little harmful. We don’t have to like something everyone else's like. Being different is a gift, so we don't have to focus on what's the most appealing thing is to the public. However, if no one applies this pressure onto others then I don't think there should be a problem with pop culture.
I don't think any form or genre is better other because it still gathers people into one standard way of thinking (although not all, but most) and leads to public division by emphasizing one over the other.
I really want to improve my writing and also learn more about pop culture because I had no idea that it was short for "popular culture". I thought it was pop music related or something. Therefore, I am looking forward to researching more about this topic and analyzing it influences on society since it is what the class will be about.
I think a title for our blog can be "Pop into English 1102"? (sorry, I'm really bad at this)
Pop culture can be defined differently amongst diverse types of people, but to me it is the common traditions and innovations that appeal to the majority. While pop culture usually appeals to the masses, it mainly involves millennials. Pop culture is not limited to traditions and innovations, but those are a few to name. Attitude, fashion, and relevant people are three large parts of popular culture as well. If something becomes a trend or popular, it is usually because it was seen being used by person of relevance. For example, if Kim Kardashian wore something different and edgy, it would likely be seen as trendy. Whereas, if I wore the same outfit not as many people would pick up on the trend. This very idea is why popular culture as a whole could be viewed as negative or positive. More often than not it is negative because the people who start these trends usually do not use their platform positively. The fascinating part about popular culture is it is ONLY popular if people support it. While people talk bad about the Kardashians, there are millions who still tune in to their show and support them. On the other hand, there are types of popular culture that are more positive than others. Football games for instance is usually a more positive family-friendly environment than a music video or even the Kardashians’ show. Sports and fashion happen to be two of my favorite types of pop culture. Even though the two do not go together I was raised around athletes so I appreciate their game. In this class I would like to widen my understanding of popular culture. I would also like to hear everyone else’s perspectives and thoughts about popular culture and how it is shaping our society.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.refinery29.com/2015/07/91473/kardashian-family-pop-culture-relevance It's like people cannot get enough
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point on the negative, that we sometimes blindly follow popular culture without much thought which can be very expensive and addictive (in the form of substance abuse). We are the "if it looks good, tastes good, feels good it MUST BE GOOD" generation even though we have more information to the contrary at our disposal than ever. Information overload is actually THE problem. On the positive side though, popular culture of today (at least here in the USA) tends to be very aware and shunning of discrimination in the form of racism sexual orientation-ism and social injustice like police brutality. You would be aghast to sit through an award show without at least one celebrity mentioning a civil issue.
DeleteGreat post, Ms. Ware.
I love pop culture and it is easy to stay current with (although I am just now catching up to Snap Chat). I love it not only because of the songs, the movies or the fashion it spews out, but also because of the necessities it brings. For example, iPhones, Nikes, and even Uber are all part of our popular culture here in the United States.
ReplyDeletePolitics is also pop culture, just look at this presidential race. At one point there was a debate on 10 channels at prime time simultaneously for what felt like every night of the week! I am sure you have been asked, “Trump or Hilary?” and “isn’t it crazy that we have to choose between those two?”. You can lay awake at night pondering it, but know that it is only pop.
Donald Trump is a pop star.
Pop culture is what we as a society collectively choose to “vote” for with our time and money as being entertaining or necessary. Would the iPhone be a thing if half the country did not spend $700/year on one? Something can be completely underground but once enough people jump on the bandwagon of that subculture to create a critical mass it becomes mainstream (e.g. Tesla, electronic dance music (EDM)). Remember how it was so different to be “punk” or “emo” but they soon became pop.
Most folks nowadays realize that popular culture has us all by the brainstems, however awesome or awful it may seem.
Blog titles: “Pop Culture Vultures” and “Donald Trump is a Pop Star”
Everything has both negative and positive consequences including pop culture, however depends on how you accept it. Let's discuss about the latest popular trend in America and worldwide and see how it affects the society. If you hear people talking about spending their stardust and candies, chances are they catch up in the lastest pop culture fixation: Pokemon Go. The game is designed to help players exercise more by physical activity to find pokemons and hatch eggs, it's remarkable how much of a motivator of the game is for getting out and walking around. Beside, it brings people together in real life. I have never seen so many people gathering at the parks or the beaches exploring and talking to one another. For this new trend, I have positive impact and it improves my life. I see the glass half full. However, some people see the glass half empty. There are reports about car accidents because players driving and catching pokemons at the same time, get injured and found dead bodies while hunting, etc. And they don't blame themselves for not being responsible for their behaviors but blame the game, and think the game shoule be banned while so many other people enjoying the game healthy, safely. So, why don't we take advantage of the new changes, avoid the negative effects and apply to our life positively?
ReplyDelete