Popular culture has not always been regarded as a topic worthy of
scholarly study, as conveyed in LeRoy Ashby's article “The Rise of
Popular Culture: A Historiographical Sketch.” In fact, for an
extensive period of time, many felt culture could not and should not
be influenced by the general masses, otherwise trivial and inane
culture would disseminate throughout society. Furthermore, many
believed culture should consist of sophisticated and classical
elements, thus creating the concept of high culture. This elitist
outlook would become progressively obsolete with the advent of the
1960s and 70s. During this period of history, the rights revolution
transpired. Interest in the people as opposed to elitist social
groups, institutions, and corporations became prevalent. For the
first time in a long time, individuality and independent thinking
were reaffirmed. American society was changing drastically as the
nation struggled with racial conflict. The general masses could not
be contained any longer. People with no authority whatsoever came
together to stand up for what they believed in to make a difference,
to solidify their entitlement on their societal culture. They were
the ones living within society, so why shouldn't they have the right
to determine its conditions? As a result, an eruption of popular
culture took place that forever altered the fiber of American
society.
Over the last few weeks, my conception of popular culture
has changed immensely, or rather, has bolstered immensely. I have
realized how significant popular culture is to society. Now, whenever
I contemplate the concept of popular culture, I imagine a network
that every member of society is connected to. This network is
fast-paced and always thriving. News and information are accessible
in a mere second within this network. Consequently, we are all
affected and influenced by even the slightest change within the
network that is popular culture. We constitute popular culture, thus
we are popular culture.
