Could changes in American popular culture make America a better society? Explain what changes you'd like to see and why. Looking at your own pop culture inventory, could changing your interaction with aspects of American popular culture bring you closer to where you want to be in life?
This question sparks a lot of thoughts in my mind. Could changes make America a better society? Yes, of course. Will they most likely happen, no. The changes that I would most like to see are sexual exposure, and the overall status of class that Americans have. I chose these two changes because I believe they possess qualities that have the most negative impact on our society.
Sexual exposure seems to be everywhere, now more than ever. It has been commercialized and used as propaganda, not only in the form of a way to make money, gain power or status but also is even being infiltrated into the education and religious systems of America. This can be seen in the ad above for cologne. Walking through the mall, reading a magazine, or even turning on the television have become nothing more than an opportunity for people to showcase sex. This sexual exposure is affecting our morals, our children, and families. You can see the ripple effects of this through infidelity occurring not only in the home but through the public eye. Such celebrities as Tiger Woods, Brad Pitt or even politician John Edwards have all become victims to our sexual society.
Class is something that I think is also very important to our society. Even though much of our culture is full of exaggerated stereotypes, there is also a large chunk of those stereotypes that hold true. Americans are represented as overweight, "redneck, lazy or ungrateful.
Clarkson on Americans
The link above is from a show on the History Channel that i have viewed for years, the show is all about autos and is a British production aired on American television. The video I posted is only one example of their views on America, and there are plenty more of the same types of clips. It is easy to say that Americans have no class but it is even easier to prove it, the fact that something such as sex can be commercialized further proves my points.
As far as personal popular culture getting one where he/she wants to be in their life, I feel that it is up to the individual to distinguish the culture that will influence his behavior, decision making, and all around professionalism. If one does not hold the ability to not act like his favorite rap music artist in a job interview, then of course changing that persons popular culture can change where he ends up. On the other hand, people who have that ability to not act like an idol from their popular culture have the ability to go anywhere they want. That person can follow any popular culture and have the maturity to leave it in he appropriate places.
