Popular Culture

Taco-Hero · Post by **Taco-Hero** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:35 pm

Hey guys, I have this assignment that is due pretty soon, and in the assignment I have to argue how popular culture is ruining America. I already have some thoughts on the subject, but I was wondering if you guys have any thoughts on it. Maybe not how its ruining America, but on society as a whole.

Maybe you don't think its not ruining society. What do you guys think?

What is popular culture exactly? Eh, whatever is popular? Like I went to the library the other day and there was a lovely rack dedicated to magazines, and a good 90 percent of these magazines had some celebrity on it and some advice on beauty and some other stuff on it. So I guess popular culture is stuff like those magazines, or popular television shows like Jackass and music. Facebook, Twitter, etc.

MR Snake · Post by **MR Snake** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 10:29 pm

Eating fatty burgers is part of popular culture. Mcdonals, Burger King, Pizza hut, KFC etc.

You should do an interview of Walter who only eats "good" food and how he feels the fast food industry is destroying the country.

Taco-Hero · Post by **Taco-Hero** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 10:50 pm

I didn't even think about fast food. Thanks.

inomel · Post by **inomel** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:21 pm

Law, Entertainment, Culture/Sub-Culture, Old School/New School Values, etc. With such a broad subject, you have your hands full.

You (could) examine unrequited lurve on the innanet between two DACers...

Post by **Retlaw83** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:42 pm

MR Snake wrote:You should do an interview of Walter who only eats "good" food and how he feels the fast food industry is destroying the country.

The fast food industry isn't destroying "the country," but it's doing quite a bit of ecological damage in various ways in various parts of the world. As for the effect on people's health, people who eat that shit constantly are going to develop problems. Unfortunately, the health care industry loves this - sick people equal profit.

TheCynic · Post by **TheCynic** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:48 pm

1) Athletes/Celebrities-Wacky how much athletes affect kids (or adults for that matter). Same goes for "celebrities" really.

I don't know how they became so ingratiated into pop culture, but eh.

For example, people know the actors in Shrek but not the representatives of their state/county/town. You know, the people who can make a difference to their quality of life.

2) Advertising- Selling the people previously discussed.

Or something I've noticed, commercials or posters done in a certain way and have nothing to do with the product. I.E." I like that commercial b/c it was shot indie-style"

That's all I got.

inomel · Post by **inomel** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:52 pm

Dogmeatlives wrote:

SenisterDenister · Post by **SenisterDenister** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:09 am

Fucking weaboo japan loving sons of bitches. They didn't even make him a black guy.

Blargh · Post by **Blargh** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:09 am

'Popular' culture is only a symptom of a greater malady - the people who have wrought it.

Post by **Dogmeatlives** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:24 am

I think to make an effective case against any part of pop culture, you should first hone in on something more tangible. A strong argument could be made against the ideals that popular media sell to our children. You should prolly get it out of your head that pop culture can "ruin" the country. It can change it, but it sounds sorta crotchety to start a paper with "Hip Hop music is ruinin' mah country!".

the problem i have is that profit oriented corporations are pretty much the most influential entities in many childrens lives. Of course alot of blame is put back on the parents to take control back from videogames, films, music, friends, other sources of influience, but its fucking hard to grab a kids attention when you're competing against multibillion dollar companies who wanna suck you and your kid's wallets dry.

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:36 am

Did you choose this topic, or was it... assigned? If it was not your choice: please elaborate on the subject of the class. I would be curious if I were not disgusted.

Taco-Hero · Post by **Taco-Hero** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:34 am

It is for my U.S. History class. I'm actually doing it with a group which chose the subject.

And thanks for all the comments, I know its a pretty wide subject but I think our teacher just wants to see what we come up with. He also wants us to discuss this in class, other people have been assigned different things like for/against gun control, death penalty, etc.

Dogmeatlives wrote:I think to make an effective case against any part of pop culture, you should first hone in on something more tangible. A strong argument could be made against the ideals that popular media sell to our children. You should prolly get it out of your head that pop culture can "ruin" the country. It can change it, but it sounds sorta crotchety to start a paper with "Hip Hop music is ruinin' mah country!".

I was thinking about writing something along these lines, how corporations are telling these kids what to do or what to think in order to sell a product. It's just hard to sort formulate it into words.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Blargh · Post by **Blargh** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:01 am

The reason 'It's just hard to sort formulate it into words.', is, once again :

Because of THEM (and THEIR thought viruses).

You are a victim. So insidious, that, by extension, all your choices, works, dreams, all that is you, are victims too. Comma comma comma.

Proof of concept, defense of procrastination and/or apathy.

Yonmanc · Post by **Yonmanc** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:53 am

Taco, do you be any chance go to a christian school? It just sounds like a retarded "the outside world is scary and is fucking with out idyllic utopian" kind of retard question. How is "Popular Culture" ruining America? Popular culture actually defines America culture in general, as it does with any nation. It's simply a reflection on people's thougts, views and interests. How are ideals ruining a nation based on its own ideals?

Taco-Hero · Post by **Taco-Hero** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:59 am

There are people that were assigned the opposite, that pop culture is <i>not</i> ruining America. I think why there is sometimes such a negative connatation to Pop Culture is how they define it. People believe it to be stemming from mass media that serves to the lowest common denominator. But whether I believe it to be or not, I still have to argue that it is ruining America, whilst other people are going to be arguing that it doesn't.

Yonmanc · Post by **Yonmanc** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:04 am

In that case, blame the ethnics!

Post by **King of Creation** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:43 am

I wouldn't say popular culture is destroying America. I would say that Reality Television is destroying America by producing legions of "fake" celebrities.

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:48 am

I would argue that it is not ruining it fast enough. Software evolution and mimetic viruses - please provide a singularity with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Edit: Dear God, I am thankful that my U.S. History class was not retarded. Love, Wanker Number 5.

inomel · Post by **inomel** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:27 pm

SenisterDenister wrote:Fucking weaboo japan loving sons of bitches. They didn't even make him a black guy.

He IS a 'bwight' guy. Perhaps people only see what they want entirely too much. A good laugh was had from your comment, thanks.

Taco-Hero · Post by **Taco-Hero** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:42 am

MadBill wrote:I would argue that it is not ruining it fast enough. Software evolution and mimetic viruses - please provide a singularity with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Edit: Dear God, I am thankful that my U.S. History class was not retarded. Love, Wanker Number 5.

Do you believe that Post-Singularity is such a good thing, or just something that will eventually happen but not quick enough?