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The Impact of Pop Culture on Society
In recent years, popular, or pop, culture has become overtly pervasive in every facet of society. As more individuals, companies, media outlets, and politicians realize the overwhelming impact of pop culture in every layer of the demographic, it becomes even more indoctrinated into everyday existence. In fact, it has become almost overwhelming.
Popular culture can be generally defined as the latest movements portrayed in media, including print, online, and on screen, as followed closely by the trend savvy. Traditionally, it has generally been reserved for the younger demographic. This is rapidly changing however, and more conservative areas are seeing a pop culture influx. The evening news, board games, and even children’s cartoons are beginning to integrate various pop culture items. In fact, there are entire board games and websites devoted exclusively to pop culture.
Popular culture, as it is defined today, has become so indoctrinated into society, that professional academic fields of study are being developed. Popular culture studies are a blend of the formal studies of cultural and communication. Individuals are now pursuing academic careers, publishing in prestigious journals, and teaching seminars - all in the name of pop culture.
Various theories have been developed over the last fifty years in search of the greater meaning of pop culture. Some believe that it reflects the shortcomings of mass society and that all blame for the shift away from traditional family and religious values can be laid at its proverbial feet. Others believe the polar opposite and feel that pop culture is the true voice of the people. They feel it represents the true nature of society as a whole. A third group falls closer to middle ground with the view that pop culture simply represents the needs of individuals to constructively fill expanding amounts of free time.
In modern day, there are two basic schools of thought on the issue. The elitist view feels pop culture reflects the plebian nature of the masses. These scholars feel that a certain, more-educated, segment of society is being threatened by the undereducated masses. For example, when popular book clubs were developed, many in this school of thought were scandalized. The idea of combining classical quality literature with thriller and popular fiction was abhorrent. Others feel threatened by the world of classical art no longer being reserved for the privileged few. For these individuals, there are clear class distinctions, and pop culture is purely lower class.
The opposing school of thought feels that popular culture reflects the true nature and interests of the population. These individuals finds the elitist view offensive, and frankly - wrong. This optimistic faction feels that pop culture is a blend of cultures, races, and classes of people that creates a common ground and unifying framework for society as a whole. If people in Manhattan penthouses are laughing at the same email or internet jokes and reading the same popular fiction as rural families in Mississippi, can anyone honestly say this is a country divided?
Regardless of the various slants on the topic, popular culture is driven by demand. Media outlets bombard televisions, magazines, websites, and newspapers with the latest trends and celebrity gossip. So long as society subscribes to popular culture, it will remain, well, popular.
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