American Popular Culture - Essay Example

Popular culture evolves with time. When the narrator moved from Brooklyn to go and study in Columbia, he felt that he had made a mistake. Low education during his period was deemed as the popular culture. During this era, a lot of people had no formal education. Thus, education levels were generally low. The narrator felt uncomfortable and expressed doubts about joining the school. Furthermore, the narrator due to his education commenced to see or view the world differently from his parents. Nevertheless, he kept most of these thoughts to himself so as not to anger his parents (581). Education disconnects a person from his family from the working class.

Rodriguez for instance started to view his parents negatively as a result of his education. He commenced despising his parent’s inability to dress properly and speak fluent English. The working class has little comprehension of the going-ins at school and the often complex system of learning or reading. Thus, school-going children from working-class families used to separate themselves and look for quiet places to read. The narrator for instance used to study in the kitchen far away from the living room so as not to be disturbed by the TV (582).

On the contrary, children from the middle class are always being encouraged to attend school and read books. Whereas the working classes are concerned about the present, middle-class families are concerned about the future (583).

Since poor education is the popular culture among working-class families, parents, and children do not see the importance of going to or attending school. After attending a college situated far away from home, Rita came home only to be alienated by her former friends who felt that she had abandoned them by going to college (585). Juggling between college life and home life turned out to be a daunting task for Rita. Also, Loretta started to experience alienation after going to Boston College. Whereas his boyfriend (a construction worker) was unable to read, Loretta always read the New York Times. This action did not sit well with her boyfriend and other construction workers who thought it weird for a gal to read a newspaper. Their attitudes and beliefs toward education were always negative. As a result, Loretta found it difficult to interact with his boyfriend.

George Lucas’s star wars have been deemed a fantasy of our times. The film has gained worldwide acclamation and praise for its mythological creations and storyline supported by wondrous technical and special effects. George Lucas created the mythological film in a period when America needed a hero to believe in. also, the film took into account all factors of American popular culture such as science fiction, old movies, comic books, and television, and subsequently held them together at their basic level via the journeys of a mythical hero. The film synthesizes the old and makes it new again.

George Lucas invaded American popular culture and came out with the basic elements to form or create the film (592). Lucas was able to use American popular culture to create a film that satisfies the needs of both adults and children simultaneously. Every generation has its popular culture and its heroes. Star wars came at the appropriate time when America was being cast down from various fronts such as watergate and Vietnam. During these periods, the distinction between good and bad became blurred. As such, America needed a hero. Moreover, America needed to redefine itself as the good guy on the international stage.

Both education and the creation of star wars have had a significant impact on American popular culture. In their creations and progress, these two elements have transformed and changed popular culture in vital ways. Since popular culture changes with time, star wars has affected the film industry immensely. Newer films have started using computer effects to shoot their movies unlike in the previous periods where movie shots had to be combined from different films. Star wars gave the American population a chance to celebrate victory via an easy portrayal of the good side fighting the evil side (591). Thus, star war is a great exporter of American beliefs and values across the globe. The films created in America often serve as the de facto ambassadors to the outside world. A lot of people first get an American impression through a movie. With free expression and the notion of America being a land of opportunity, star wars have played a big role in creating the idea that the good always wins.

Popular culture is slowly shifting from the working class and poorly educated people to encompass the middle class with a good education. For instance, Loretta and Barry were unable to understand each other since she was more educated than him. Some behaviors exhibited by the working class population were commencing to lose their popularity. Education on the other hand was being appreciated and acknowledged on a wider scale than before. as a result, mass media film and education played significant roles in creating American popular culture. Read More