Leadership in Pop Culture Elements - Essay Example

Leadership in Pop Culture Elements Leadership is a social influence process whereby one supports and helps other people to have a common accomplishment or a goal. A leader is then a person whom people follow and also offers guidance and direction to others. On the other hand, pop culture is a combination of interest and activities that a group of people shares mainly suited by their tastes these items may be movies, series, TV shows, Games, clothes toys or even a singer. The paper describes leadership theory using pop culture, it provides the outline of the pop culture theory using vivid examples, and it also provides an explanation of what is expected from a leader as portrayed in a movie written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick named Courageous where the actor commit themselves to take responsibility of being accountable in everything they do (Alstleitner, 2005). Leadership is characterized by a variety of theories that range from simple to complex ones. According to critiques who argue that mass-produced entertainments aim to appeal to the vast audiences and hence both the intellectual stimulation of high art and the bases release of low art and primary release of low art. Due to the prevailing growing need for leadership development in today’s society, the changing nature of the social and also the economic issues, leadership development has implications for each of the primary categories which are mainly characterized by the human resource development through development. However, this typically occurs within the context of either training or development. This makes the practitioners and scholars in the field of teaching and development of leaders, feel valuable to find innovative and new ways to teach leadership theory and aid in the use of theory. Using media from pop culture remains one of the most effective ways which one should approach teaching leadership (Short, 2001). The pop culture media is a rich way of teaching leadership theory and also transferring learning to use this is done through the use of various written and other visual media like prominent TV shows. Popular culture media is one of the techniques for teaching leadership this is because they give the students an opportunity to identity with current trends and also the ideas, students can be captured and retained by things that interest them. Here the assumption is that if students can use and apply theory to PCM where they are able to apply and use those contexts in which they live and work, therefore, fostering theory to practical thinking. Popular films, television, fiction and non-fiction are essentially stories that are used as elements for teaching. Learning and also understanding making throughout history, storytelling which is also made through writing of novels which is one of the primary and most effective for teaching, making people understand, communicate and make sense of ideas through the use of tropes and metaphors to foster leadership in people. Films and movies shown in TV are known to create a sense of realistic picture of social interaction in which leadership conditions are likely to occur. Also, they facilitate the individual process to utilize and also help leaders to cope and negotiate their organizational environment where they provide leaders with general culture-based stories as a sense making tools whereby they prepare them deal with situations that fall outside their normal organizational reality. An Indian movie named Taare Zameen Par brings out the concept where a boy through much perseverance is taught the most basic things on education which are writing and reading (Higgs, 2003). Through novels like Think Big Written By Ben Carson, narratives which are formed in one way by stories written in the novels, at an individual level people shall tell stories to convey a message alternatively, pop culture level mass media do the same thing where stories are meant for shaping culture where they are shared widely and also carry distinct and different meanings. TV documental where the broadcaster bring prominent leaders whom the world perceive to be most achievers are interviewed in public television that everybody watch and learns from them oh how to be great leaders by getting familiar to the character traits the posses. The great man theory which implies that a leader is born a leader can be used to show others, that the highly believed born leader can be used to make others to be leaders. Using TV shows that are more vivid in explaining the abilities and performance of a person are of paramount importance. Jab Tak Hai Jaan is an Indian movie of a person who through courage spent seven years in pursuit of his ambition which he got though much patience.(Dillman, 2000). According to behavioral theory of leadership which is mainly explained within TV show where they bring out a young character who is shown to be from the worst background than one may never desire to come from, through schooling and hard labour the character is seen to rise slowly taking a step at particular time,. This leader is made through hardship as the saying gold that the finest gold is tested by fire. Through behavior check and adjustments the leader is made in a long process. The TV shows are very educative in this sense. Mainly the great musician who are globally celebrated are the best examples behavioral theory since most came from very humble backgrounds like 50 Cents. Who is living evidence that no matter where one comes from their dreams are valid (Higgs, 2003). Connectively, the contingency theory of leadership which is more closely associated to the trait theory suggests that a particular variable which may relate determinant of the leadership best suited for any given situation. Additionally, no leadership style is best in all situations where success will mainly depend upon numbers of variables, where situational variables will best predict the most appropriate and effective leadership style that will fit particular circumstances. The talented singer, music composers, speakers and advice givers who are influential in the society and shown on TV shows are good elements should also be used to show how pop culture is used in making leaders. Musician and celebrities like 50 Cent, Snoop Dog And Brandy are used as role models (Collins, 2004). The trait approach of explaining leadership arose from the great man theory this was a way of recognizing key features of successful leaders. It was believed that, via this styles, leadership characteristics would be isolated hence having people selected, recruited and then installed into leadership positions in the society where they are required to perform with the set guidelines. TV shows explains the situational theory of leadership mainly through movies where the actor is Cornered in a compromising situation with no one to help him/them with the use of training of basic information the actor is able to figure out something that ultimately helps them to come out of a difficult situation. With this the TV shows are used to present high level of decision making in the actor, the actor may be the leader of a certain group which look upon him for guidance as depicted in the movie named Encounter where every actor is expected to take personal decision .(Short, 2001). Alternatively, the so much likened contingency theory of leadership that suggests that there be no single best way for managers to lead where the conditions will create leadership style requirement for a manager that suggest that the solution to a managerial situation be contingent on the factor that impose on any situation. Accordingly manager can be either task oriented or relationship oriented, it was found out that managers and managers tend to perform better in an environment with good leader-member relationships which are structured where there us weak or strong powers work. Intelligence TV series like The Intelligence TV Series, The Revolution, And Person Of Interest, Are used to bring out the participative theory in that for an agency to achieve a common goal it needs different specialist from different fields who came together with the purpose of having a greater general performance. Here the pop culture makes people understand the importance of having a committed group which is only oriented in making a common goal (Alstleitner, 2005). Leaders also can reshape the environment variables to match their style by weighing the variable to favorable and unfavorable which will define the extreme where the relationship orientation excels in the middle ground. Animals shows that are broadcasted in our local TV is one of interesting relationship theory that suggests, through positive co-existence with our environment we are able to inspire and also motivate people by helping others this makes us be leaders whom are emulated in the society. However the main aim of the documental may be different but one is able to grasp a different intention of the actor as fulfillment of their desire and potential (Champoux, 2005). Through pop culture which operates as a form of informal education where a TV show is watched for entertainment, passing time or educational purpose, leadership is taught through. Scholars also argue that pop culture can be brought into the formal educational where it can be used to teach leadership through firsthand experience by offering a rich source for classroom teaching that draws upon and also engage learners experience and knowledge which has potential to energize classrooms. The use of science and technology innovation documental which scientist use to explain different phenomena mostly in different construction sites is a effective way by which management theory which shows a successful undertaking that was implemented and its positive results this can be a new locomotive like a car, bike, or a boat model with super abilities in its movements which is more explained in movie named Knight Rider by use of a thinking car. The use of leaders character traits which are considered best for any person who want to be a leader in the society, therefore, borrowing what other fore leaders used there before to achieve best leadership qualities. The use of pop culture that is TV shows remains one of the best ways to enhance leadership in the society. A TV shows has a variety of ways which it can utilize with different leadership theory where a leader may come in different package to ensure they perform well in their designated positions in the society Reference Alstleitner, H. (2005). Principles of effective instruction-general standards for teachers and instructional designers. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 32(1), 3-8. Champoux, J.E. (2005). Comparative analyses of live-action and animated film remake scenes: Finding alternative film-based teaching resources. Educational Media International, 42(1), 49-69. Collins, D.B. & Holton, E.F. III (2004). The effectiveness of managerial leadership development programs: A meta-analysis of studies from 1982-2001. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 15(2), 217-248. Dillman, D.A. (2000). Mail and internet surveys: The tailored design method. 2nd ed. New York, NY:John Wiley & Sons. Higgs, D. (2003). Review of the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors. Department of Trade and Industry - January, 2003. Retrieved from web www.dti.gov.uk/cld/non_exec_review> on 20th march 2014 Short, D.C. (2001). Strategies for applying metaphor in HRD research, practice, and education. Advances in Development Human Resources, 3(3), 379-396. Read More