It is absurd that linguist think movies and television don’t affect language. Media is one of the most power tools in transmitting cultural change. Nearly everyone within the United States has a television, and even those who do not are still affected by the influences of popular culture.
These days especially, information can be transmitted instantly. I think that’s why the westward shift of information might be changing. The direction in which information spreads is not as relevant in contemporary age because information goes everywhere! The limitations to communications have become fewer as we find increasing sophisticated ways of living. So whether it is movies, television, music or anything other cultural creation, it cannot be contained- it will inevitably become accessible for anyone who wishes to have it.
I remember when I watched Clueless for the first time. I was twelve when I watched it with my girlfriends. We completely idealized movies like Clueless and many other forms of entertainment directed towards teenage girls. I remember how much we loved groups like the Spice Girls. And although it makes me cringe slightly when I think of myself at this time, (I know there are other of you girls out there...admit it!) it is interesting to think of it as a sort of cultural transmission that I’m sure affected nearly every young girl in America at the time.
So whether it be Spice Girls or some other fad, the mixture of popular culture and limitless/ instant accessibility, ensures that the trends and fads we adopt will never stop changing, it will continue with the same principles it always has; it is the rate in which change occurs that has already, and will continue change.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I have to agree that I totally was in love with anything that was based on pop culture when I was younger. I remember being 10 and i was in love with the New Kids on the block. Not so much because I liked there music or the guys in the band. But that's what I thought was cool and I wanted to be cool, so I liked the band. In high school i didn't like any of the pop bands because I thought listening to alternative music was where it was at. But the high school years can be so awkward that you watch these teenage dramas on TV and you use them by copying them to try and be with the cool crowd.
Post a Comment