Contemporary Era Synthesis - Ash.p3.t8

            American pop culture can, for the most part, be referred to as ‘mass culture’. It is the music, dance, art, drama, literature, media, social institutions, etc. that large groups of the present public gravitate towards. Today, pop culture is greatly influenced by pop stars, and movie stars. These individuals are the epicenter of media attention. What these individuals focus on permeates the public, which is both aware in some cases and unaware in others.

            Today pop culture is rapidly evolving through social media. It would be carless not to mention the role of medial outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other sites such as these when referring to popular culture. This is because the driving force behind pop culture’s rapid evolution is the shortening of media’s exposure time, and the ability of advertising to be global. What this means for those people in the ‘eye of the public’ is instant fame or instant misery. The site YouTube has played its part in creating a star or two, for example Colbie Caillat, pop singer, was discovered from her videos she posted of her singing and song writing abilities. The ability of people to use sites like this to enter the difficult world of music is indicative of the contemporary era. What once took years of trial and rejection can happen instantly through the idea of rapid exposure. People want to get noticed. Just as fast as people become successful through this rapid media, they can be targeted. There have been several instances of inappropriate photographs of stars such as Scarlett Johansson circulate through social media. These instances can both damage some people’s careers and public appeal.

            However, the rich and famous are only a small fraction of individuals. Today people are gravitating towards self-promotion, just like famous people have television and movies; regular people (e.g., soccer moms, gym trainers, dads, personal chefs, teens) have the ability to promote their talents through the Internet and social media. Today pop culture is all about the gimmick, the hook, which is going to attract a following. Todays individual whether part of the pop culture troupe or even the counter culture want to attract people who will praise them, agree with them, or simply validate what they are doing.

            Todays pop culture revolves around increasing exposure through technology and attracting praise.

Contemporary Synthesis Wylie Period 1 Team 2


The contemporary era is one filled with much pop culture. Pop culture can be defined as

one that is new and coming and accurate to the appeals of the current society. Pop culture can

be viewed through artwork and music. Both of these mediums are largely influenced by many

discoveries and breakthroughs in technology. From the 1990s to the present there have been

dozens of new advancements in various fields. However in terms of aiding art and music there

have been developments in computer technology and editing programs. When one listens to pop

culture music he or she will be able to hear different electric instruments such as the electric

guitar, bass, synthesizer, and voice enhancements such as auto tuning. Even artwork is often

edited on programs such as Photoshop where photography or actual hand made artwork can be

adjusted. The availability of these technological tools is extraordinarily helpful; however it can

also lead to dishonest products. Sometimes these edits and enhancements tend to cover the real

and natural image or sound often leaving the audience confused and frustrated. Due to these

controversial outcomes people have questioned the integrity and talent of artists in the music and

art industry allowing for healthy debate and cautiousness within the artistic community. Overall,

pop culture has developed an electrifying and fresh sensibility as it does in fact use electronics

and is always changing in terms of approach and execution.

Contemporary Synthesis

ash.p3.t8

(Victoria Carlos, Taci Chin-Robinson, Grace Giberson, Joshua Roquemore, Katie Whitworth)

Define "pop culture" and explain how certain examples of art--you choose at least one example from dance, music, painting, drama (theater), and novel writing--help to define it. What is the sensibility of "pop culture"?

            American pop culture can, for the most part, be referred to as ‘mass culture’. It is the music, dance, art, drama, literature, media, social institutions, etc. that large groups of the present public gravitate towards. Today, pop culture is greatly influenced by pop stars, and movie stars. These individuals are the epicenter of media attention. What these individuals focus on permeates the public, which is both aware in some cases and unaware in others.

            Today pop culture is rapidly evolving through social media. It would be carless not to mention the role of medial outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other sites such as these when referring to popular culture. This is because the driving force behind pop culture’s rapid evolution is the shortening of media’s exposure time, and the ability of advertising to be global. What this means for those people in the ‘eye of the public’ is instant fame or instant misery. The site YouTube has played its part in creating a star or two, for example Colbie Caillat, pop singer, was discovered from her videos she posted of her singing and song writing abilities. The ability of people to use sites like this to enter the difficult world of music is indicative of the contemporary era. What once took years of trial and rejection can happen instantly through the idea of rapid exposure. People want to get noticed. Just as fast as people become successful through this rapid media, they can be targeted. There have been several instances of inappropriate photographs of stars such as Scarlett Johansson circulate through social media. These instances can both damage some people’s careers and public appeal.

            However, the rich and famous are only a small fraction of individuals. Today people are gravitating towards self-promotion, just like famous people have television and movies; regular people (e.g., soccer moms, gym trainers, dads, personal chefs, teens) have the ability to promote their talents through the Internet and social media. Today pop culture is all about the gimmick, the hook, which is going to attract a following. Todays individual whether part of the pop culture troupe or even the counter culture want to attract people who will praise them, agree with them, or simply validate what they are doing.

            Todays pop culture revolves around increasing exposure through technology and attracting praise.

Contemporary Synthesis - Asher P4 T5

“Pop culture” is that which is determined by the popular preference of the people living in the era.  During the contemporary era, “pop culture” can be defined by the dance, music, painting, drama, and novel writing of the current time.  With the aid of the media’s influence, “pop culture” has enveloped the lives of the majority living in the technological age of the 21st century, bringing a sensibility of competition in advancement and digital connections.
Hip hop dance has become popular during the contemporary era.  Although it was conceived during the 1970s, teenagers express themselves in this way by break dancing both when spending time together and at organized functions such as formal dances.  This type of dance goes hand in hand with the type of techno and dubstep music that has given rise during the contemporary era.  Instead of merely vocals and an instrumental accompaniment that dominated the culture in previous eras, digital sounds are incorporated in the vast majority of the contemporary era’s “pop culture” music.  For example, in Rihanna’s “Love in a Hopeless Place,” not only is her voice autotuned, but technology is utilized to create a beat in the background of the song and add an energized harmony to her singing.  Artists compete to be the most popular among those that are completely involved in the “pop culture” of the contemporary time period in order to be successful.  Through smart marketing in the media and the ability to key into the musical preference that is influenced by technology, these musicians have been able to move to the top of the charts.
The trend of writing that incorporates a teenage girl who saves the world while living in a dystopia has dominated the plots of popular books.  Suzanne Collins, the author of The Hunger Games, entranced the “pop culture” of today with the story of Katniss and her quest to survive the brutality of the Hunger Games.  The male dominant media emphasizes the importance of body weight, skin tone, the “right” clothes to wear, etc., and has shaped society’s mind about what “beauty” is.  Girls who feel like their value has diminished when they do not reach the media’s standards turn to characters like Katniss for the strength and motivation to break the limits they have been living with and become their own hero.  Books like this have appeared eBooks, both on the Internet and on handheld devices.  This portrays society’s preference to have information and entertainment literally in the palm of the people’s hands.  
The theatre in today’s era is very open to provoking thought about controversial issues.  For example, “The Book of Mormon” by Matt Stone and Trey Parker comically show thoughts about Mormonism in today’s context.  In terms of paintings, massurrealism rose in popularity, in which artists emphasize technology in combining pop art, mass media and surrealism.
Technology has played a large role in the zeitgeist of the contemporary era.  “Pop culture” has proven to adapt to the media’s influence, thus spreading society’s value of digitized forms of artistic expression to all those living in the contemporary era.

Wylie Period 1, Team 5

Popular culture (known by most as simply "pop culture") can be defined as the mainstream ideas, perspectives, attitudes and other aspects of culture that are prevalent in Western society. Pop culture is continuously changing and evolving, so it can be difficult to pin down the zeitgeist of an era whist it unfolds. However, taking a step back and examining a certain aspect of modern culture can help to clarify the sensibility of an era. 

Let's take a look at modern music. There's certainly a lot of it. Reading this, it may occur to some just how difficult it is to define this age with any particular genre or style. That, in itself, says much about contemporary music. Largely due to the music industry's evolution alongside the internet, music has grown to become more specialized and varied. Now more than ever, people are listening to more genres and types of music. Because anyone can walk around with days' and days' worth of music in their pocket, as opposed to keeping an expensive stack of vinyl records at home, people take advantage of the access that has been built to lots of varied music. As a result of this, modern artists do not have the control over a huge fan base, like some artists were able to accomplish in the past. Ask almost any Baby Boomer, and they will tell you how great Led Zeppelin was, or that they still have Thriller in a box somewhere, or that they definitely caught David Bowie's eye when they saw him perform. These artists were able to appeal to their respective generations on an almost universal level. Today, not everyone loves Lady Gaga. Some can't stand Kanye West. In modern pop culture, what people enjoy in music is extremely diverse. 

What this says about pop culture is that there is an emphasis on the desires of the individual. Often, homogeneity is discouraged, and people are motivated to explore their own passions and interests. Modern music also has an interesting feature. It's extremely rare that bands exhibit any singularly amazing musician. Where are the Jimmy Pages, or Jaco Pastoriuses, or David Gilmours? It's no longer necessary to be an incredibly talented musician to create successful, well-received music, as nearly anyone (Rebecca Black, for example) can rise to prominence if they can grasp a population's attention. Pop culture stresses the both the power and wishes of the individual, allowing anyone to define that culture for themselves. 

-Evelyn Ashleigh, Nick Hudson, Anne Kitchens, Bennett Kopperud (Teem Destinee, man)

P6 T3 Wylie Contemporary Synthesis

Contemporary Synthesis Question Pop culture is commercial culture based on popular taste. In order to capture the ability to appreciate and respond to the influences within popular culture, it does not require great effort. This is due to the easy accessibility for mainstream audiences. Pop culture is a “popular culture” because a person can easily access it and become involved with the lifestyle. In the present day, one can go on the Internet and search for what the most popular books, movies, songs, and fashions are, and become integrated with the newest movement within minutes. The search engine, Google, is an indirect pop culture icon for people throughout the world as a result. In today’s culture of easy accessibility and instant gratification with literature and art, Google has become a nearly living model of this philosophical tendency. Mainstream popular culture has created great controversy as a consequence, and many people state that it has led to negative impacts towards peoples’ imaginations, creativity, and (for writers, artists, and public figures) ability to gain popularity should they not adhere to the model of popular culture. The song “M.T.V. Get Off The Air” by the punk band Dead Kennedys states it cleverly. The song states how popular culture and the creation of music television is destroying our imagination and creativity with programming that is purely created for profit and for propaganda and sedation of the viewer. This is conflict; for pop culture’s easy accessibility and instant gratification sets barriers and obstacles for art and literature because they do not meet these prerequisites. (256 Words) Dylan Mulcahy James Jin Amber Austin Caleb Ong Amber Austin Robert Meza Period 6, Wylie

Contemporary

Rachel Yeo

Lorena Huang

Diana Huang

Per. 5

Synthesis

Pop Culture is the combination of ideas, perspectives, art, etc of Western culture, predominately the e21st century. It is heavily influenced by mass media and deemed by many to be the mainstream and, therefore, superficial and shallow. Al Yankovic or otherwise known as “Weird Al” has been a predominant musician of the Contemporary Era. His songs are all parodies of pre-existing songs. Many look down on this form of music because they claim that there is no art in simply taking what belongs to others and making a laughing stock out of it.  A form of dance that has risen with pop culture is break-dancing. This is also looked down upon by the older generation and is thought to have no aesthetic value, a dangerous activity that many teens seem to be taking part of.  It is hard for older generations to understand and appreciate much of pop culture because they are used to art forms that solely reflect beauty. Classical music, ballet, lyrical sonnets, and paintings all possess the same quality of a typical flowing beauty. Pop culture, on the other hand, does not. It possesses charm, rather than beauty and a sort of appealing value to certain people. The line of painting of Campbell’s Noodle Soup cans is a key example. This certain line of paintings is one that has been wildly claimed in pop culture. However, many be confused once they see it for they are all just basic plain paintings of soup cans. The beauty that pop culture possesses is not the aesthetic value of the art, but the knowledge that people are free to draw what they want, how they want, and people still finding it acceptable.