By Jesy Amaro |Staff Writer|
Pop culture provides inspiration and idealization of social trends, movements, and motivations that captivate audience attention through various forms of mass media.
According to a definition created by Google, pop culture is “modern popular culture transmitted via mass media and aimed particularly at younger people.”
Pop culture involves anything from music, art, cinematic films, or social trends that can influence ideals, values or interests of an individual.
By viewing these components one can acknowledge certain aspects of popular culture and decide if it is right for them.
Social movements like the amyotrophic laterals sclerosis (ALS) ice bucket challenge for the neuro-degenerative disease online and “Let’s Move!” organization promoted by Michelle Obama are influential trends sponsored to raise awareness about diseases and healthy lifestyle choices.
Individuals can engage and interact with various aspects of pop culture that can allow them to express themselves.
“Pop culture is just a way of people expressing themselves,” said student Lizvette Gonzalez.
Pop culture creates a channel through which they can share those interests by providing different forms of media for mass consumption.
Social media is a component of pop culture that encourages audience participation in consumer consumption, whether beneficial or detrimental.
For instance, many well known celebrities uploaded videos of themselves taking part in the ice bucket challenge.
This serves as an example that highlights pop culture’s influence because it motivates people to participate in an activity that can promote awareness regarding important issues.
Another viewpoint for positive influence regarding popular culture in today’s society is the promotion of fostering healthy lifestyle habits.
Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” organization is taking an approach to create lively lifestyles among people of all ages to get up, get out and be active.
On the contrary, there are those trends in popular culture that contradict good behavior and push pass breaking points of originality, such as the Kylie Jenner lip challenge.
This challenge is considered as a trend for young teens to achieve fuller lips similar to the lips of young teen icon Kylie Jenner.
The challenge consists of individuals sucking their lips into shot glasses which led some individuals to suffer severe bruising and swelling.
Wrong influential trends prevent individualism because it implies an ideal form of beauty the participating individual does not naturally have.
Trends involving body image should emphasize the natural beauty of an individual rather than altering one’s individualism.
I find myself trying to keep up with the latest fashion, music, and films, in order to identify with popular interests.
I engage in pop culture through media by getting my daily dose of YouTube to satisfy my interest cravings of upcoming films, celebrity brawls, and top music artist in the weekly polls.
Pop culture should be considered influential in helping individuals become socially and culturally aware, despite opposing views that believe it is senseless and sensationalist.
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