
In our society, the media overwhelms everyone with images and trends. One concern regarding the current direction of popular culture is how it affects everyone. The media defines popular culture, what the trends are, what people should wear, what they should listen to, how they should act, and what they should look like. Pop culture defines what we should look like through movies, television, magazines and music. We all get sucked into the latest trends in one way or another. However, it seems to me that pre-teens and teens are the ones who are most vulnerable to popular culture. They want to dress and look like celebrities Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, among others. Not only do they dress and imitate the looks of these celebrities, pop culture also dictates what music they listen to, what books they read, what television shows and movies to watch. What concerns me is that these kids are so young and impressionable that they aren’t developing their own personalities because they are too busy trying to look and act like someone else.
Another concern is the violence we all see on the news, television or in a movie. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that if someone who watches a vioent movie or sees a violent incident played out on the news will turn around and commit that same violent act themselves. However, there are people out there with serious psychological problems that take it all in and do turn around and commit violent acts themselves. The Columbine tragedy is just one example where we saw other kids commit the same violence in their schools. My opinion is that media needs to stop using rampage shootings and school shootings in the same way it would use hurricanes and earthquakes to get people to watch their programs. I think that watching the behavior on the news does impact future behavior in some people.
I strongly agree with you. This is also the topic I spoke about in my blog. The focus on looking a certain way, dressing a certain way, and acting a certain way is taking away from individuality and a teen finding out about themselves.
ReplyDeleteHere, here! Individuality is so important in a world of box houses and identical lives. I am concerned about the way small children perceive the way popular teens & women dress and act, as well. I don't have children, but I help raise my twin neices: Sophie and Alex, who are just 1. I do not want them looking at Britney Spears thinking that she is who they should emmulate! I'm not about censorship, but they certainly won't see her videos while I'm watching them! It's tough enough to fell adequate...and why start them off feeling like they have to be sexy or compliant before they can even understand what it means!? Nice page, bu the way. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteHeather