Pop Culture Synthesis (Contemporary Era)

Popular culture, also known as “pop culture”, is the “cultural activities or commercial products reflecting, the tastes of the general masses of people.”  In other words, pop culture is what is popular socially in a given era or place. It is often affiliated with what is generally considered mainstream and is closely related to   “mass culture” since pop culture itself is known for have the backings of the masses. It is also characterized by the “mass production and mass consumption, by mass media”.  Reflecting this custom, many pop artists use this aspect of pop culture in their artwork. Andy Warhol, a famous pop artist, is known for his use of popular subject matters in his work. For instance, he used icons like Marilyn Monroe and images of the well-known labels like Campbell’s soup in his pop art. By taking these aspects of what was trendy in pop culture and incorporating in his artwork, Warhol exhibits the sentiment on pop art which is taking what is popular in a culture and showing the triteness of it. Pop music, like the boy bands of the 90’s and those that are currently resurfacing now, is also often criticized for its banal concepts and beats. Although, pop music doesn’t have much substance to it, it gains the support of the masses and reflects the heavy influence of the media. In many ways, pop music reflects pop culture because of its tendency to be artificial and heavily produced for the masses. Although pop culture is formed by what the masses believe is mainstream, critics of pop culture believe that there is no individuality in such a lifestyle. The fact that pop culture is known for being so heavily manufactured to fit the popular mold, causes the sensibility of pop culture to be lacking. Pop culture itself is known for producing cookie cutter customs, which are heavily frowned upon by people. Pop culture may be enjoyed by the majority, but to those who deviate from the mainstream believe pop culture is superficial.