Is pop culture good for you?  

                                                 By Samir Ramessar  

I personally believe that pop culture is good for us as a society. It provides entertainment, while also giving us a glimpse into the current social climate. Pop culture allows us as a society to let loose and have fun; this idea is explored in the “Why Pop Culture” ted talk, by Alexandre O. Philippe. In his Ted Talk, Alexandre explains how pop culture allows us to have fun and connect. He mentions events such as San Diego Comic Con, a breeding ground of pop culture. People show up in droves to discuss and show off their favorite characters and forms of media. In a world that's getting colder and colder, we as a society need to have outlets to have fun and escape the cruelty of today’s world.

Pop culture isn’t only a means of exploring interest or having fun, it's also a tool. You’re probably asking, “what do you mean by tool?”. I’m referring to pop culture as a tool, due to the ability it has to shape the social landscape. Think about forms of media such as shows, movies, and even internet memes; they all play a crucial role in shaping the way people see the world, as well as how they  express themselves. This idea is also explored in the “Why Pop Culture” Ted Talk, by Alexandre O. Philippe. He mentions Star Wars, one of the most known franchises of all time. And how it has shaped numerous industries and forms of media. In all, pop culture is the ultimate influence of today’s world; controlling social norms, as well as what's relevant and popular. 

 

Pop culture isn’t only a form of entertainment or social influence; it’s also a way to send a message to us. This was very common with 80’s and 90’s sitcoms. Shows such as: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,  Family Matters, Full House, and many more. These shows, along with others, were used to dissect certain social stigmas as well as to speak on social issues. In an episode of Full House, titled “Silence Is Not Golden” we as an audience explore the topic of child abuse. In this episode, Stephanie is assigned to work in a group with a classmate named Charles who she isn’t too fond of. Once the two begin to work together, Charles confides to Stephanie about the abuse he faces at home at the hands of his father. Charles tells Stephanie to promise to not tell anyone. When Stephanie gets home, she mentions it to her Uncle Jesse. After being made aware of the situation, Uncle Jesse reports it to the authorities. Charles is then removed from his home, and put into foster care. Stephanie feels guilty after this, but Uncle Jesse reassures her and tells her that she did the right thing. The episode ends with psa by actors John Stamos and Jodi Sweetin; who encourage the audience to report suspected child abuse. 

Pop culture also shapes public relations. This is discussed in, “Watching Tv Makes You Smarter” by Steven Johnson. Johnson mentions how television can shape the social landscape. He mentions the tv show 24; discussing how it mainly focused on”Its portrait of muslim terrorists and its penchant for torture scenes.” This came out mere years after 9/11; as you could imagine, it sparked heavy controversy. And opened up a discussion within our country. This and many other forms of media have opened up us as a society, into discussing controversial topics. Thus shifting the perspective on not only certain topics, but certain demographics and groups of people. 

In all, Pop culture has numerous impacts on our world: from being a source of entertainment, to providing social commentary. Pop culture can, and has greatly impacted our society. Many look at the negatives associated with pop culture, but with its negatives, come many positives. There are countless forms of positive and optimistic media. There's: tv shows, movies, books, memes, and so much more. A world without pop culture would truly be a boring existence. Pop culture shapes us in many ways.