Pop Culture.

[ProHypster]

This Topic is all about the schools of thought about Pop Culture

So far mine is basically:

 

"Pop culture and the mainstream has mostly harmed civilization in the way that commercializing products took over the world through commercials and capital promotion and not quality and that people are getting more and more dependent on these commercials, brands through the fact that they are dominating the places where we look for products such as the internet, TV, News...and block the products with less finances, in the process the ultimate result is that

1.good quality things which couldn't afford to get promoted get forgotten and lost,

2. companies which would've made quality now think of promotion and not quality

3. People being dependent on Commercials and tools to search for these commercials"

 

I just formed that up and might change my view but this is nowadays definetly the hot topic of philosophy.

So....

Type any problems, reasons or controversies of the topic that ever came to your mind or from personal experience.

 

The topic ranges all the way from popularizing drugs through the music scene in the 1960's to the popular slogan nowadays in western countries of being to cool to go to school.

 

The main questions in the school of thought are:

 

Are people sheep in today's society?

 

Did people stop thinking at some point because they want to live like everybody else?

 

How much propaganda is there really out there?

 

Are we aware of propaganda?

 

If not, is there ways to resist it?

 

Are the talented and fine arts suffering from commercialized and privatized arts?

 

What is the future Pop Culture?

 

Who is behind Pop Culture?

 

My aim is really to get everyone here to share and gain knowledge to understand this topic better and to get people learn something by visiting this topic.

 

Because a lot of times this topic is only spoken privately and forgotten.

[Luis]

The topic doesn't belong to Civilization problems, it has been moved to free-for-all because well... Pop culture doesn't has the potential to create serious problems...

 

Are people sheep in today's society?

Yes, but not all of us. Just a part of society that's getting bigger and bigger..

Did people stop thinking at some point because they want to live like everybody else?

No, the reason they want to live like evrybody else or following somemodel of lifestyle is the lack of THINKING.

How much propaganda is there really out there?

Shitloads

Are we aware of propaganda?

The part of society that actually thinks, yes. The other part isn't aware of what it really represents or simply ignores it.

 

If not, is there ways to resist it?

 

Yes, don't let it consume you and have a more critical way of thinking (excuse me if that's not the right expression).

 

Are the talented and fine arts suffering from commercialized and privatized arts?

Yes and no. While many really great artists (like Keep The Gap) are suffering of lack of attention due to ''sheep'' being attracted to these fabricated pop artists some others are getting a lot of attention because they're kinda related to the ''pop culture'' or the ''sheep'' see it like that.

 

What is the future Pop Culture?

 

I don't know u.u

Who is behind Pop Culture?

 

Hitler. Nah, some pretty smart bussinessmen and bussinesswomen

[thebeelzebub]

Fine arts will suffer as long as mediocracy is idolized.

[His Spogness]

While most mainstream artists are mediocre, there are a few that have talent (e.g. Radiohead, Reel Big Fish, Tool, Rage Against the Machine). The best example I can think of an artist suffering because of mediocrity being celebrated, is the Underground Hip-Hop scene (there are indeed more, but I feel that I side with Hip-Hop the most). Hip-Hop today has been bastardized by Caucasian businessmen that have reduced a great form of art and conscience expression into a promotion of violence, drug/alcohol use and sexism; for their own profit, and not for the love of the art and culture. Most people, especially of the elder demographic, always greet the mention of "Hip-hop" with a scowl and disapproval, when in reality the "real" hip-hop should be something to admire.

 

Examples of the underground emcees, with thoughtful, conscience and non-condescending lyrics are acts such as KRS-One, The Coup (with Boots Riley and Pam the Funkstress), Binary Star (their album 'Masters of the Universe' is an underground classic amongst the genre), Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, The Perceptionists (collaboration of Akrobatik and Mr. Lif along with DJ Fakts One); and my favorite, and most vulgar/lyrically intense emcee of them all, is Immortal Technique. Well, it isn't fair to call him my 'favorite' because I love all the aforementioned groups/emcees equally; who all have their own style and lyricism.

 

Many of these emcees also criticize the mainstream hip-hop and rap music, and are very political and cover the topics of social justice and (in)equality in America/the world, racism, the Military industrial Complex and crimes against humanity, particularly in the Third World (Immortal Techniques album 'The Third World' cover that subject especially and is a wonderful album). Although I must warn readers that all these emcees are very far left, and Immortal Technique is more or less a conspiracy theorist. But if you can look past that, their lyrics are brilliant and in a fundamental sense, in the right. The way peoples are treated because of their skin color/nationality, the rich abusing the poor, and First World countries and corrupt corporations taking advantage of Third World countries for their own gain.

 

But of course, all thoughts expressed by these people and an individual such as myself are usually hampered and silenced by the 'mainstream' and the propaganda which is definitely evident. This thread itself, if on Myspace or something of the likes, would probably be attacked by a plethora of people who are blind to reason and are dependent on the commercialism of pop culture.

 

Seriously; what corporate businessmen would want this to be published on a major label?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u15hOBenGWQ -or this- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHuPBf89APY

 

Pop culture and the companies that invest in it to promote materialism, ignorance and over zealous idolization would never want an artist to promote, blatantly, all the opposites. That you don't need 'things' to be happy, that you should educate yourself instead of letting someone do it for you, and you shouldn't try to copy a popular person of interest to the point where you're no longer your own self, but that random person you're trying to be like. Sure, they have these segments of kids that tell you to be yourself, to stay in school and don't do drugs; but at the same time those people who are trying to make a 'moral basis' for impressionable youth are the same people that promote gangster rappers and their drug use/selling and womanizing. Then we have all these parental groups and their censorship in the middle, who do not help AT ALL.

 

But still, not all pop idols are bad. Pink for instance; she's as pop music as pop music gets, but she's written songs against the young women who try to copy Paris Hilton; South Park made fun of them with their fictitious "Stupid Spoiled Whore" playkit, promoted by Paris Hilton herself and how 'fun it is' to be a whore. But in a sense, it's clever of the companies that promote them. It's like Fox, the most right wing television network in America, featuring The Simpsons, not only one of the most popular television programs in America, but ironically one of the most left wing programs. And the Simpsons has lampooned Fox News on more than one occasion; but why do they put up with it? Easy. The tons of revenue South Park, Pink and The Simpsons bring into the company far outweighs the criticisms and parodies they make of the very same companies that own them. Talk about a paradox.

 

That also leads me to point out that the propaganda relies on utter confusion along with its ass-backward promotion and practices. Hell it confuses me to this day, even though I haven't watched any mainstream media in years xD

 

Phew, well I'm too tuckered out to continue; I hope people even have a clue what the hell I'm talking about

 

And I guess I should put the disclaimer just to be safe: no flame wars intended. And if you're offended by something I said...I'm sorry, but oh well; I tried to put it lightly but firm enough to not lose the point I was trying to get across.

[Axeldeath]

"Caucasian businessmen" [/Nuclear_Facepalm]

[ProHypster]

While most mainstream artists are mediocre, there are a few that have talent (e.g. Radiohead, Reel Big Fish, Tool, Rage Against the Machine). The best example I can think of an artist suffering because of mediocrity being celebrated, is the Underground Hip-Hop scene (there are indeed more, but I feel that I side with Hip-Hop the most). Hip-Hop today has been bastardized by Caucasian businessmen that have reduced a great form of art and conscience expression into a promotion of violence, drug/alcohol use and sexism; for their own profit, and not for the love of the art and culture. Most people, especially of the elder demographic, always greet the mention of "Hip-hop" with a scowl and disapproval, when in reality the "real" hip-hop should be something to admire.

 

Examples of the underground emcees, with thoughtful, conscience and non-condescending lyrics are acts such as KRS-One, The Coup (with Boots Riley and Pam the Funkstress), Binary Star (their album 'Masters of the Universe' is an underground classic amongst the genre), Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, The Perceptionists (collaboration of Akrobatik and Mr. Lif along with DJ Fakts One); and my favorite, and most vulgar/lyrically intense emcee of them all, is Immortal Technique. Well, it isn't fair to call him my 'favorite' because I love all the aforementioned groups/emcees equally; who all have their own style and lyricism.

 

Many of these emcees also criticize the mainstream hip-hop and rap music, and are very political and cover the topics of social justice and (in)equality in America/the world, racism, the Military industrial Complex and crimes against humanity, particularly in the Third World (Immortal Techniques album 'The Third World' cover that subject especially and is a wonderful album). Although I must warn readers that all these emcees are very far left, and Immortal Technique is more or less a conspiracy theorist. But if you can look past that, their lyrics are brilliant and in a fundamental sense, in the right. The way peoples are treated because of their skin color/nationality, the rich abusing the poor, and First World countries and corrupt corporations taking advantage of Third World countries for their own gain.

 

But of course, all thoughts expressed by these people and an individual such as myself are usually hampered and silenced by the 'mainstream' and the propaganda which is definitely evident. This thread itself, if on Myspace or something of the likes, would probably be attacked by a plethora of people who are blind to reason and are dependent on the commercialism of pop culture.

 

Seriously; what corporate businessmen would want this to be published on a major label?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u15hOBenGWQ -or this- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHuPBf89APY

 

Pop culture and the companies that invest in it to promote materialism, ignorance and over zealous idolization would never want an artist to promote, blatantly, all the opposites. That you don't need 'things' to be happy, that you should educate yourself instead of letting someone do it for you, and you shouldn't try to copy a popular person of interest to the point where you're no longer your own self, but that random person you're trying to be like. Sure, they have these segments of kids that tell you to be yourself, to stay in school and don't do drugs; but at the same time those people who are trying to make a 'moral basis' for impressionable youth are the same people that promote gangster rappers and their drug use/selling and womanizing. Then we have all these parental groups and their censorship in the middle, who do not help AT ALL.

 

But still, not all pop idols are bad. Pink for instance; she's as pop music as pop music gets, but she's written songs against the young women who try to copy Paris Hilton; South Park made fun of them with their fictitious "Stupid Spoiled Whore" playkit, promoted by Paris Hilton herself and how 'fun it is' to be a whore. But in a sense, it's clever of the companies that promote them. It's like Fox, the most right wing television network in America, featuring The Simpsons, not only one of the most popular television programs in America, but ironically one of the most left wing programs. And the Simpsons has lampooned Fox News on more than one occasion; but why do they put up with it? Easy. The tons of revenue South Park, Pink and The Simpsons bring into the company far outweighs the criticisms and parodies they make of the very same companies that own them. Talk about a paradox.

 

That also leads me to point out that the propaganda relies on utter confusion along with its ass-backward promotion and practices. Hell it confuses me to this day, even though I haven't watched any mainstream media in years xD

 

Phew, well I'm too tuckered out to continue; I hope people even have a clue what the hell I'm talking about

 

And I guess I should put the disclaimer just to be safe: no flame wars intended. And if you're offended by something I said...I'm sorry, but oh well; I tried to put it lightly but firm enough to not lose the point I was trying to get across.

 

You provided criticism with information. This whole topic may piss someone off, but I put my info out there and if someone disagrees let them reply in the scientific method and i will respect them no matter what.

 

Overall I liked your post.

 

About Pink though for example, don't you think art should be art, and if a person is christian and can sing about christianity somewhat, that shouldn't make him more popular then someone who isn't christian and sings about nonsense but sings a million times better.

 

(For background, Personally I don't listen to Vocals/Singers much)

[ProHypster]

"Caucasian businessmen" [/Nuclear_Facepalm]

 

That's a stereotype.... who am I kidding lol, yeah it's mostly whites with money who do the promotion but... it makes clear the author is either black or inuit.

[ProHypster]

The topic doesn't belong to Civilization problems, it has been moved to free-for-all because well... Pop culture doesn't has the potential to create serious problems...

 

Are people sheep in today's society?

Yes, but not all of us. Just a part of society that's getting bigger and bigger..

Did people stop thinking at some point because they want to live like everybody else?

No, the reason they want to live like evrybody else or following somemodel of lifestyle is the lack of THINKING.

How much propaganda is there really out there?

Shitloads

Are we aware of propaganda?

The part of society that actually thinks, yes. The other part isn't aware of what it really represents or simply ignores it.

 

If not, is there ways to resist it?

 

Yes, don't let it consume you and have a more critical way of thinking (excuse me if that's not the right expression).

 

Are the talented and fine arts suffering from commercialized and privatized arts?

Yes and no. While many really great artists (like Keep The Gap) are suffering of lack of attention due to ''sheep'' being attracted to these fabricated pop artists some others are getting a lot of attention because they're kinda related to the ''pop culture'' or the ''sheep'' see it like that.

 

What is the future Pop Culture?

 

I don't know u.u

Who is behind Pop Culture?

 

Hitler. Nah, some pretty smart bussinessmen and bussinesswomen

 

 

Lol, those questions don't just get answered in one sentence

 

Those are schools of thought and nobody in the future on this topic should answer like that. The answers are not as simple as that and quite frankly at least write IMO, You are making fun of philosophy there....

[Axeldeath]

If you automatically discriminate against something because lots of people like it well.... Your an idiot.

[ProHypster]

If you automatically discriminate against something because lots of people like it well.... Your an idiot.

 

I don't see the point of your post to be quite honest...

 

Common sense

[His Spogness]

Ha. For the record I'm not a person of color; I'm as white as white can get. I just happen to agree with the emcees who feel that, despite all the political correctness that riddles our society, minorities are still discriminated against, abused and taken advantage of; despite all that's been done since the Civil Rights movements.

 

And I don't hate on someone because they're popular. Like I said, I enjoy some mainstream artists such as Muse and Pink. And also...

 

About Pink though for example, don't you think art should be art, and if a person is christian and can sing about christianity somewhat, that shouldn't make him more popular then someone who isn't christian and sings about nonsense but sings a million times better.

 

I didn't mention anything about her being a Christian. I wasn't putting her down or anything; I like Pink and her music. It doesn't bother me that people sometimes sing about their faith; and I don't mind Christian music as a whole (the problem is is most Christian groups just end up sounding the same, both musically and lyrically; otherwise I don't mind faith in music as long as it isn't judgmental or condescending or anything).

 

So yes, I do think art should be art; and no one, whether it be a controlling record exec, censorship/parental group or otherwise should try to alter someone's original creative art, no matter what. It's another way of violating someone's First Amendment rights.

 

And as for the Caucasian businessmen bit, yes, that is as much a stereotype as blacks being gangbangers and hookers, and all Hispanics who live in America have entered by illegally crossing the border. However, sorry to say, but some stereotypes are true in some cases. Not all white businessmen are money grubbing bastards that take advantage of less enlightened people; but there are many out there who do.

 

I try not to take extreme sides and be a sort of moderate, but I'm firm when I have to be.

[Alyxx Thorne]

Depeche Mode is a great example of an artsy pop group who often uses religion, especially Christianity, as an inspiration for lyrics. Most of their songs focus on lust and perversion in a quite fascinating way.

[His Spogness]

Yeah, I've heard Depeche Mode's album 'Violator.' I liked it, but I lost the CD unfortunately. I'll prolly get another copy someday. I think the rapper Mos Def uses his Muslim faith a little in some of his pieces too. Or I could be mistaken; I haven't heard all of his works but thought I read somewhere that he references it or the likes.

[Alyxx Thorne]

Faithless, quite ironically, also make very spiritual music at times.

[ProHypster]

Ok from now on please stop replying to me in that way, I'm talking in general and for the knowledge not to defend my own argument. What I said has nothing to do with You or Pink, but with the topic in general.

 

In here let's just talk about the topic itself and try not to personalize it....

 

Oh and for the sake of illusional communication on the internet, I'm not mad at anyone here, the typing without smileys makes me seem like I am

 

I am even happy to hear Your thoughts about this.

[Alyxx Thorne]

Are people sheep in today's society?

I think humans, as a species, are social animals by nature, and while maybe calling people sheep can sound deregatory, that's basically how we act. We more or less have a flock mentality. So it's not necessarily just in today's society, I think we have always been like this and it's not today's society that has made us like this, it's this trait about us that has shaped today's society.

 

Did people stop thinking at some point because they want to live like everybody else?

Wait, how does wanting to live like someone else make people stop thinking for themselves? I mean, even if we are sheep to some degree and idolize others and look to them for solutions and inspiration, that does not stop us from having our own ideas. After all, most of us are still unique individuals and have our own thought patters even if we borrow some from others. As I mentioned in the last question, we are flock animals by nature, but that does not mean we have stopped thinking for ourselves.

 

How much propaganda is there really out there?

Depends on what you mean by propaganda. If you mean subliminal messages designed to control us, I think it's everywhere, every day. We are controlled by media to buy stuff we don't need, to believe things that might be not be true, and so on.

 

Are we aware of propaganda?

I think most of us are but since we are so accustomed to being controlled we don't oppose it. I think to some degree we are all victims of the media's commercialism and some of us even embrace it.

 

If not, is there ways to resist it?

Simply don't buy everything you see and don't believe everything you hear. I think the simplest way to remain opposed to propaganda is to just use common sense and logic and think for yourself. I don't think we have lost the ability to think for ourselves, and a lot of people I meet actually are very critical to media. I'd say we are more critical now than, let's say, in the 50's.

 

Are the talented and fine arts suffering from commercialized and privatized arts?

Well, obviously what is getting the most exposure is what most people are going to see. I don't think necessarily commercialized art is bad, the only thing is that it gets the most exposure. But if I buy an album, for instance, by a very obscure band that never sold much because of low exposure, undoubtedly I will have a very special relationship to that band, compared to buying a hiphop album I heard on MTV which pretty much everyone knows.

 

What is the future Pop Culture?

I think eventually pop culture will expand to become more personal and democratic instead of focusing on the "stars". You're already seeing this trend in reality shows where pretty much anyone can become a star on TV, like American Idol and with the advent of user content on websites like YouTube and MySpace. Eventually pop culture will include all of us.

 

Who is behind Pop Culture?

I think in the end, we are. We are the consumers, and without consumers, pop culture would not exist. We have definitely created it and as an effect, it has shaped our society.

[ProHypster]

Are people sheep in today's society?

I think humans, as a species, are social animals by nature, and while maybe calling people sheep can sound deregatory, that's basically how we act. We more or less have a flock mentality. So it's not necessarily just in today's society, I think we have always been like this and it's not today's society that has made us like this, it's this trait about us that has shaped today's society.

 

Did people stop thinking at some point because they want to live like everybody else?

Wait, how does wanting to live like someone else make people stop thinking for themselves? I mean, even if we are sheep to some degree and idolize others and look to them for solutions and inspiration, that does not stop us from having our own ideas. After all, most of us are still unique individuals and have our own thought patters even if we borrow some from others. As I mentioned in the last question, we are flock animals by nature, but that does not mean we have stopped thinking for ourselves.

 

How much propaganda is there really out there?

Depends on what you mean by propaganda. If you mean subliminal messages designed to control us, I think it's everywhere, every day. We are controlled by media to buy stuff we don't need, to believe things that might be not be true, and so on.

 

Are we aware of propaganda?

I think most of us are but since we are so accustomed to being controlled we don't oppose it. I think to some degree we are all victims of the media's commercialism and some of us even embrace it.

 

If not, is there ways to resist it?

Simply don't buy everything you see and don't believe everything you hear. I think the simplest way to remain opposed to propaganda is to just use common sense and logic and think for yourself. I don't think we have lost the ability to think for ourselves, and a lot of people I meet actually are very critical to media. I'd say we are more critical now than, let's say, in the 50's.

 

Are the talented and fine arts suffering from commercialized and privatized arts?

Well, obviously what is getting the most exposure is what most people are going to see. I don't think necessarily commercialized art is bad, the only thing is that it gets the most exposure. But if I buy an album, for instance, by a very obscure band that never sold much because of low exposure, undoubtedly I will have a very special relationship to that band, compared to buying a hiphop album I heard on MTV which pretty much everyone knows.

 

What is the future Pop Culture?

I think eventually pop culture will expand to become more personal and democratic instead of focusing on the "stars". You're already seeing this trend in reality shows where pretty much anyone can become a star on TV, like American Idol and with the advent of user content on websites like YouTube and MySpace. Eventually pop culture will include all of us.

 

Who is behind Pop Culture?

I think in the end, we are. We are the consumers, and without consumers, pop culture would not exist. We have definitely created it and as an effect, it has shaped our society.

 

 

Not to be rude here but My goodness, Alyxx, mate, although all of that is interesting, those ARE not my personal questions...

And Your answers sound like they are directed to ME.

 

I wrote higher already not to write in this format by answering those question individually.

Guys, I don't think You get this philosophy idea very well :/....

 

The proper post in this topic would be something in a paragraph like I wrote at the top in the first post.

[Alyxx Thorne]

Oh, by the way you wrote those questions, I assumed you wanted our answers to them. Sorry for misunderstanding.

 

I guess I just don't know how to properly discuss this issue.

[ProHypster]

I think Pop culture and the mainstream has mostly harmed civilization in the way that commercializing products took over the world through commercials and capital promotion and not quality and that people are getting more and more dependent on these commercials, brands through the fact that they are dominating the places where we look for products such as the internet, TV, News...and block the products with less finances, in the process the ultimate result is that

1.good quality things which couldn't afford to get promoted get forgotten and lost,

2. companies which would've made quality now think of promotion and not quality

3. People being dependent on Commercials and tools to search for these commercials

 

Something liek this, not necessarilly this short, I was a bit lazy.

 

By writing one large paragraph about Pop Culture with factual backup which explains Your point of view about it.

 

Those questions are there to help You writing your own thesis about this topic. Try to discuss them in the paragraph.

[BTGBullseye]

I'm sorry, but I don't like making an English paper about this subject... It would just be way too boring to read.

 

Suffice to say, the media giants control pop culture for the sole purpose of making money, and they are getting extremely proficient at it.