We've been talking about how pop culture reflects the social values and morals of the society that creates said pop culture art. We talked about how violence in particular is an accepted part of our culture and how it is in many of our films, television shows and even in our music. A gunshot is okay, but a bare buttock isn't. Contrasted with Europe, where the opposite is general true.
Are there examples of where you think this isn't true? As in, do you think perhaps there are examples of pop culture values that aren't the real values of America? Adultery and cheating for example; it's common in film, but is it common in real life?
Post your comments and react and respond to each other.
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6 comments:
America being hyper-violent is a cultural inaccuracy. We see it all the time in movies and even on T.V. shows, but the reality is that Americans are quite frightened with violence. Teenagers usually connect with video games that have very violent and questionable content. Grand Theft Auto was recently attacked for having overly violent and sexual themes that are very easily accessed by teenagers. The game is popular for idolizing street crime. For instance, you can gain points by running over a prostitute or stealing a car. When teenagers or young adults play this game, they very hardly ever consider doing these things in real life. In fact, the allure of the game is the fact that you can do all of these horrible nasty things without any real-world repercussions. The teenage boy who is tormented at school , can now go home and run the streets of San Andres and repeatedly do things that would be illegal in the real world.
Games like these have become major icons in American Culture. Years from now on VH1 you won't see washed out comedians talking about how video games, television, music and our pop culture changed the world in a positive manner. Instead, we'll be remembered as a country that is in lust with violence. Not just violence, unnecessary violence. We cause wars for invisible bombs and in our pastime we pleasure ourself with gruesome doses of blood and guts. But that is harshly inaccurate. We are a culture that fears actual violence. When the news runs a story about a child being shot on the street, we congregate and try to figure out why we have such senseless violence. Across the world violence is a normalcy. Americans use violence to entertain, while many other countries deal with real violence day by day by day.
Contrary to our Popular Culture, America isn't a violent nation. For the most part, we respect each other's right to life. The average person doesn't want to run over that prostitute or jack that car for extra points. We may retaliate against the establishment, but we also have respect for it. You wouldn't know that if you were from any other country than America.
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This is a great idea Mr. Jameson, I really enjoyed working my mind. This will definitely help me with the assignment due on Thursday.
This is Matthew Wilkins from your 3rd period by the way. :)
America live with violence we can see it everywhere cities,TV, videos games in internet that invite you in places that take all your time learning dunm staff that make you sick.... that make you not paid attention of school or something else, there is to much sex(porno) on TV that let childrens learn it... there is no more respect
It is true that much of pop culture reflects the social value and morals of the American society and also correct about how violence is acceptable but a bare buttock never acceptable however, in my experience I have never seen anything not pertaining to adultery or violence in the pop culture world because in the movies that are now showing or will be showing in the future, many of them will show some kind of adultery or violence, its either one or the other, very few of them (movies)have these aspects of the current pop culture. These aspects are common in our real life society because everyday, we hear that violence or disturbing things have happen all over our culture (pertaining to news). A few examples that reflect pop culture are movies, television, games, real life stunts, etc. This is my opinion on pop culture.
-Frederick Period 2
In response to woonfany:
I disagree. I think that America is now moving towards making fun of and idolizing things like violence and adultery. Think of hot internet fads like Happy Tree Friends. The internet flash cartoon series by Atom Films shows kiddy and child-like animated characters that at first glance would be adorable and marketable to children. However, if you watch one of the episodes of the internet hit, you'll find that it's nothing but senseless violence. In fact, they are making fun of violence. Poking fun at a bloody arm or a misplaced eye. Shows like this desensitize youth. It makes it more acceptable and almost the cool thing to do. I'm sure that if things like Happy Tree Friends were around when I was much younger, I'd be a drastically different person. The the fact is, that these things are readily available to children. Despite content warnings about the internet, parents are increasingly allowing their children to have almost unlimited access to the internet. While Atoms Films may be a Canadian Based company, the power of the internet makes it very popular among net surfers of our age.
On adultery, TV shows like Desperate House wives capitalize on the allure of having an afair. Shows like that tell women that they're never too old to start a fling with their 20 year old gardener and that it's fun, sexy and makes you an almost powerful woman to have sassy encounters with men other than their husband. That TV show alone, has inspired a subculture of older women that like to date younger men called "cougars". There isn't anything wrong with older women dating younger men, but if you look at the ideology of most women that consider themselves "cougars", you'll find that most of them have a very non-monogamous viewpoint on relationships. Part of the allure of being a cougar is the fact that you're so sexy that you could get any man you ever want, regardless of your actual age. It's the same for men for the most part. Nowadays it's really hard to find a plot that doesn't at some point include adultery.
The television and the silver screen and sometimes your internet screen may not portray violence and adultery as realistic as real life, but it certainly does promote it.
"I think that America is now moving towards making fun of and idolizing things like violence and adultery." This statement would be kinda the opposite what i just commented, in continuation of you post you have mentioned many things pertaining to violence and adultry which is quite a great example. By the way its Woonfay not Woonfany.
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