Politics Continues to Follow
Adulting isn't easy. We have to go to work, pay bills on time, deal with daily nonsense, and even go to school.
Oftentimes, we find ourselves seeking comfort in a short, sweet escape from the real world. This comfort can come from movies, shows, music, etc. But is it really an escape?
Left, right, straight, backward, no matter where you go, political issues seem to follow. Now, I work in politics - my whole life seems to revolve around current events - but even when I exit my work atmosphere, politics follows. So, my question for you is, do you find yourself escaping the real world? Or does politics continue to follow?
Sellnow explains that popular culture communicates to us and for us through signs and artifacts. There is no denying pop culture has become an integral part of our daily lives. But with America's increasing popularity of social media/other related media channels, and the division among politics, politics seems to be everywhere.
Mediated pop culture influences our daily lives, and it's nearly impossible to escape. Experiencing this culture through a media channel has the ability to influence what we believe or how we behave. Oxford University Press explains, "In some cases, images and sounds from pop culture are relevant to the way we see and think about government and politics."
Look at Saturday Night Live or late-night talk shows, for example. While their political skits and jargon are nothing new, analyzing their scripts and messaging has made it clear that the lines between pop culture and politics are blurred.
Is this a problem? That question isn't for me to answer. But to say it's nonexistent would be a submissive answer.
The old saying used to be that politics stays in Washington, D.C. But nowadays, it seems like everyone has an opinion about everything. Whether it be climate, immigration, or even net neutrality, people have an opinion without - probably - knowing factual information.
Why is this? Is it applicable in your job? Are you being taught this in school? Or is it because your favorite celebrity said the world will end in 12 years if we don't address global warming?
Step number three/four of Sellnow's three-step process of examining a popular culture text is arguably the most important. Evaluating the potential implications of the message's impact is significant. What is the impact of political messages in pop culture? How will the message shape public opinion?
It's an interesting concept, and I'll be curious to see how politics continues to influence pop culture in the coming years. Needless to say, I don't think we will be getting a sweet escape anytime soon.
The lines are blurred between politics and pop culture as you stated. I do think it is a problem. I was tempted to discuss some of the very things that you bring up for my post, but glad that you actually did this subject.
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered if the lines being blurred has led to an increase in political divisions. That those who are conservative are now interested in different streaming shows vs. those who are more liberal. There is a great book that I read last semester called "Post-Broadcast Democracy" by Markus Prior. It was published in 2007 and he talks about the political knowledge being better among the US voting population when few channels existed on TV and were broadcast via antenna. His book showed how that political knowledge diminished with more people purchasing cable and have more choices channels and entertainment.
Does that seem to be exacerbated now that we have streaming services where even the entertainment options have become more splintered? Do we see certain ideologies, per Sellnow definition, congregating together and convincing their group that they are correct?
Blurring lines or blurred lines between what is fiction and what is real can be necessary when associating oneself with popular culture especially if you want a specific media source to remain available. For the professionals who create nonfiction media meant to pander to our sensitivities I believe they tread on thin ice more often than not which could prove to be dangerous for non-professionals who take television and news outlets literally. Obviously, when you watch SNL you know it's going to make popular culture the Butt of a joke. But when the content on the show is so close to the real thing that people almost forget to laugh and become upset well then there could be an issue for extremists who have already stormed the white house.
ReplyDeleteI believe the media is meant to stir the pot and as long as the content being generated can stir emotion well then, what's good for ratings is all that matters. TV, movies, our phones, etc, are designed to keep popular culture streaming through our thoughts. Filters that existed for professionals and civilians rarely exist these days and the amount of information a layman knows about random stuff is impressive, to say the least.