Mackenzie Hammett
APLAC P.2
Mrs. Burnett
15 January 2015
Living Among Constant Change Popular culture was originally designed to amuse and entertain the public, but mutated into an obsession with media sensations. After the Industrial Revolution many Americans had more free time on their hands with all of this new technology. Making their lives easier such as washing machines, cars, microwaves, radios, and many more. Now that Americans had more leisurely time on their hands; people had time to read, see and be exposed to more media. The first forms of social media were newspapers, radio, and television. This new demand for media allowed a new form of popular culture to arise. This the first time in history where we start to see “trend”. People, even then, sought after “the next big thing”. This was the start of the forever, ongoing, changing social atmosphere (Curtis). Although popular culture actually defines generations, it promotes social change.
The public is consumed by pop culture, influencing our ways of life, concerning what we wear, what we do, and activities we participate in. When an individual looks around a room, what does he or she see? Multiple books? Signs? What do all these things have in common? They are all unconsciously promoting culture. Forty percent of humans with cell phones use a social network site (“Social Networking”). Thus influencing even more viewers to be governed by popular “trends” and or “pop culture”. Whether through the reading of a book, purchasing of a shirt, or the questioning of purchasing the newest hair product. Human perspective is constantly redefined by outside forces. Reading them, thinking that you might try that new product is a prime example of how popular culture promotes change. Change that is small but has a massive effect. Social change has an avalanche effect on generations. The more people that get involved with the “trends” define the overall main ideas and icons of generations, and how do we get those without social change! Pop culture revolves around the clothes, brands, celebrities, and events that influence your personality choices. The average young adult follows a trend, and it morphs so does the teenager. This is social change through pop culture at its simplest level. Sixty eight percent of teens find the latest trends through ads. Thirty three percent of teens find the latest trends through celebrities (“Statistic Brain” ). Television, the internet and many more are forms of media that are available to the average teen at the tips of their fingers. Thus causing more and more exposure to forms of pop culture. Pop culture is one of the many reasons that children go through so many teens “stages”. They change their style as they see, hear, and experience the next biggest thing. They follow these icons that they look up too and then want to do and have many of the same things, just like another other child does. They change as the media itself changes. This is just one of the many ways that pop culture is directly related to social change. This so called “Social Change” isn’t a bad epidemic that is happening around the world. Most of the effects on teens through social media, promote social change in a good light. When teenagers or adults get to choose what they follow “trend-wise” they feel more confident in themselves. One in five teens say social media makes them feel more confident. (Wallace) Twenty eight percent of teens said it makes them feel more outgoing. (Wallace) Twenty nine percent said it makes them feel less shy. These changes affect whole generations. They make them more known, and leave a lasting effect in society. Social media is the newest, never resting, always changing new popular culture. Social media helps teens and adults to make their voices and opinions heard. This lets anyone express how they feel anyway they like. Not just through the arts anymore. There are so many positive effects from the use of social media to promote vigorous