Integrated Pop Culture Autobiography - Essay Example

?Integrated Pop Culture Autobiography Order No. 515416 Introduction Popular culture also famously known as ‘Pop culture’ is an amalgamation of people’s ideas, attitudes, perspectives and other phenomena that reflect a certain period in time. The present meaning of popular culture is culture that reflects mass communication. The abbrieviated term of popular culture is ‘pop culture’ that dates back to the 1960’s. (Gloria Steinem, 1965) According to John Storey in his ‘Cultural Theory and Popular Culture,’ there are many definitions that attempt to describe pop culture, but the most favorable of all is that ‘pop culture’ is mass culture, that is produced for mass consumption. Especially in these contemporary times, pop culture is perceived more of a commercial culture, for the commercial value it has. Storey is of the opinion that popular culture emerges from the urbanization of people. Popular culture is an amalgamation of complex forces that are interdependent on each other and impact upon society in every possible way. However, popular culture is never static, but keeps on changing from time to time depending upon the likes and dislikes, tastes and trends of people in the society. It is possible for certain traits in pop culture to be influenced by a sub- culture and be manifested in society if its values are accepted and adopted by them. In comparing popular culture from the 1920’s until now, we find a huge difference in people’s way of life, their music, dance, movies, fashion, sport, art, literature and other media. However, this type of culture is quite popular because it is appeals to a very wide spectrum of people. The different media such as television, newspapers, radio and magazines contribute towards popularizing certain aspects of culture mainly to do with entertainment. In this essay an attempt is being made at investigating and analyzing important aspects of popular culture in the 1920’s and today and trying to find out the similarities and differences by comparing the different periods. Music Music in the 1920’s was quite unlike the music that we hear today. The 1920’s is the period when Jazz was most popular. Some of the popular singers and composers of the ‘Jazz Age’ were Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin and the like who changed the face of music during the 1920’s. Gershwin composed some of America’s most popular music such as musical comedies, film scores, songs, opera and his concert composition called ‘Rhapsody and Blues’ (Classical piano and Jazz) during the 1920’s. Some of the famous cartoon characters introduced during the 1920’s were Mickey Mouse, (1928) Winnie the Pooh and Betty Boop. However, music in the 21st century has been revolutionized due to the changing times. Most of the modern generation is comfortable with Hip- hop, Rap, Alternate Rock and Rock music as they identify themselves with it and feel that they could express themselves in a way they want. However, Classical music of the ancient period is evergreen even today and has served to influence modern composers. Some compositions that have a world vision and carries a special message for guiding the world to peace and harmony are not only popular but but instill positive attitudes among the people. Marley’s music falls under this category and his song which had the line ‘One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel alright’ (Michael A Stusser, pg. 376) brought inspiration to the hearts of the freedom fighters during the struggle between Zimbabwe and Britain. The Jamaican Government recognized his great contribution in the arts and awarded him the ‘Order of Merit in 1981. (Michael A Stusser, pg. 376) On the music front, my most favorite Classical composer is Beethoven, while my most admired artist of contemporary music is Eminem. Dance Dance took on a revolutionary turn during the 1920’s after experiencing the restriction and horrors of the war. People went all out to release their pent up emotions brought about by restriction in their lifestyles due to the war and Depression. They moved away from long heavy skirts with large puffed sleeves held together by tight corsets typical of the Victorian era. The period of the 20’s ushered in a new generation of dancers who brought in new dances that caught on like wild fire and became instant hits. Some of the very popular dance styles of the twenties were the Waltz, the Tango, Foxtrot, the Camel walk and the Square dance which been made even more popular by the actors and actresses who incorporated them into the Hollywood movies that they had acted in. The dancing style in 2011 is the Hip hop which is fast and energetic and can be danced using either Rap or Hip hop music. The new generation identifies themselves with this dance which evolved from an African – American background. The Hip hop involves shuffling the feet, shrugging, walking, popping to the beat, snapping fingers and freezing. Movies Movies were big business during the 1920’s and film production companies began expanding in and around Hollywood on the West Coast. The demand for films during this period was much higher than at other times. In fact, during the 1920’s and 1930’s, films in the U.S. had about 800 releases in a year. In contemporary Cinema 500 releases per year is considered to be remarkable. The period between the 1920’s and the 1930’s was the decade between the war and Depression, but by then the movie industry was strongly established. Silent films dominated the film industry but by the end of that decade the first talking movie was brought out by the Warner Brothers which was ‘The Jazz Singer’. Some of the major genres during this decade were melodrama, swashbucklers and historical extravaganzas. The movie scene in 2011 has been revolutionized due to high-end equipment and the advancement of technology. Modern cinema has opened its doors to a huge variety of genres that involve both fact and fiction. One of the scintillating movies of this century is ‘The Godfather’ whose central theme is the Mafia and the great dons who ruled it. As Jay Cocks states ‘No American film before the ‘Godfather’ has ever caught so truly the texture of an ethnic sub-culture.’ However, the movie that I like best is ‘Titanic’ and it appeals to me because it uses both fact and fiction together with the latest technology. Television Television has taken the place of intense high quality drama of the 20’s and has replaced it with celebrity trivia, reality shows, soaps, gardening, cookery and other lifestyle programs such as travel, beauty and fashion. People today spend a lot of time watching such programs which are mostly made up of hyping such trivia and influencing the general public towards celebrity culture. Much of what is shown on television may not hold much truth because the main idea is to commoditize the products and ensure it sells and it never takes responsibility for the outcomes. My favorite television show is ‘Kings of Queens’ because I find it quite entertaining. Sports The ‘Golden Age of Sports’ is the decade of the 1920’s. It was during this decade that the world wanted to put the horrors of the war behind them and enjoy the freedom of life. After the war, people had a lot of leisure time and so turned their attention to its sports. Some of the greatest sports persons of the period of the 20’s were Babe Ruth (Baseball), Man -o – War (horse-racing), Red Grange (football) Bill Tilden (Tennis), Suzanne Lenglen (best female athlete of the 20’s) and Jack Dempsey (boxing). Sport today has become more commercialized than long ago. Celebrity endorsement makes use of popular sports personnel to advertise their products. However, the arena of sports has expanded its boundaries with the common man being given a place to showcase their talent in various reality shows with a sports backdrop. Fashion The period of the ‘Roaring Twenties’ as it was called, brought about a revolutionary change in the fashion industry that moved away from the heavy Victorian gowns and which continues to impact upon the fashion circles even today. The incredible social changes such as prohibition, the Jazz influence, the Harlem Renaissance, Egyptian influences and voting that took place after the First World War is clearly reflected in the fashion of the twenties. Some of the common fashions of the 20’s were the ‘Cloche’ hat which was a snug fit hat which was worn slightly tilted on the head and the ‘Flapper dress’ which was a long loose fitting gown worn up to the calf in various patterns and styles which looked so elegant. However, the fashion of the 20’s had such style and grace that it continues to influences the contemporary fashion of today. However, fashion in 2011 shows that the style of the 20’s and the 30’s has had a great impact on its wardrobe. We still find the loose dress used today but in varying patterns and styles. Designers of today have been smitten by the 20’s bug and continue to reinvent those fashions due to its style and elegance but with a little innovation here and there. Art Two art movements such as the Art Deco and Surrealism took root during the 1920’s. The Art Deco movement emphasized the decorative arts which had a great impact on architecture. Art Deco was a major style during the 1920’s in Europe and its name is derived from the World Fair that took place in Paris in 1925. In Art Deco, materials such as lacquer, aluminum, steel, wood, sharkskin and zebra skin were used. Two of the greatest artists of the 20’s were Maxfield Parrish (1870- 1966) and C. Coles Phillips (1880 -1927) Contemporary art is art existing in the present times. Art today has become all the more commercialized with artists working with a wide range of materials and incorporating the use of technology. Present day art comprises of abstract figures and Modern art that are showcased in art galleries, museums and exhibitions. Visual Media Visual media has influenced common man to a great extent. According to Van den Haag, “all mass media in the end alienate people from personal experience and though appearing to offset it, intensify their moral isolation from each other, from reality and from themselves.” (Van den Haag, in Rosen and White, Mass Culture. P. 529) Scholarly facts are often distorted and modified by including elements that have an inherent appeal or have the power to shock, titillate or amaze such as celebrity trivia or scantily dressed women. Popular press has reduced the amount of authentic information and has replaced it with such entertainment that reinforces fears, prejudice, scape-goating processes, paranoia, and aggression.” (Rosenberg and White, 2009) Games During the 1920’s, there was no television or computers and radio was in its very infant stage. Hence outdoor games were very popular. Some of the outdoor games of the 20’s were marbles, tic-tac, fishing, girds, hide -and -seek, boats and submarines, football, street rivalry, hurlies and Bogies, hop-scotch, skipping, Catty- Batty. All these were outdoor games that involved a lot of physical movement. However, in 2011 we can hardly find such games played by people due to the 21st century’s computer boom. Digital games have taken the place of outdoor games resulting in almost no movement at all. The luxury of video games has led to people leading a sedentary life resulting in obesity and lethargy. Conclusion The Pop culture of the 20’s has definitely had a great impact on the modern man and has served to influence every facet of the entertainment world. However, due to the great advancement of Science and technology entertainment today has been revolutionized to a great extent. Though the present generation identify themselves with the present entertainment scenario, yet, the influence of the 1920’s cannot be undermined or denied. References 1920’s Dancing www.1920-30.com/dance/ 1920’s Art www.1920-30.com/art/ Michael A Stusser, Bob Marley, Music Man Man with a Mission, Chapter Seven, Writing about Music, pg. 376 Childhood Games of the 1920’s www.fairlieburne.co.uk/games.html Clothes and men’s and ladies Fashion in the 20’s www.thepeoplehistory.com/20sclothes.html Contemporary Art www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_art   Film History of the 1920’s www.filmsite.org/20sintro.html Flappers and Fashion www.rambova.com/fashion/fash4.html Gloria Steinem, 'Outs of pop culture', LIFE magazine, 20 August 1965, p. 73. Jay Cocks, What is the Godfather Saying? Chapter Five, Writing About Film, pg. 202. Kinds of dances in the 21st century www.ehow.com Sport in the 21st century www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2839847.ece The Golden Age of Sports www.sportplanet.com/sbb/apfas/20R.HTM Van den Haag, in Rosenberg and White, Mass Culture. P. 529) Rosenberg and White. (2009) Mass Culture. Nomuzak.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-06-21. 20’s Entertainment www.library.thinkquest.org/J0111064/20entertain.htm Read More