Popular culture, or pop culture, if you prefer, is anything but trivial. It brings positive societal change by promoting diversity, raising awareness and understanding about important issues, and inspiring people to pursue their passions and dreams. Culture has always been our way of understanding the world. That’s why we’re compelled to keep up. Every day, there’s a new song of the year, a new perfectly OK Netflix series, or a new micro trend. Keeping up with all these facets requires dedication and time that very few of us can afford.

The News Media Gives Credit to Professor Browne for Having Coined the Term

It’s believed Professor Ray Browne came up with the term “popular culture.” Still, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the expression dates back to 1854, first recorded in print by the Defiance Democrat in Ohio. It referred to the cultural traditions observed by most people in society, separate from the “official culture” of the state or governing classes. Ray Browne founded the academic discipline of popular culture studies, revolutionizing the studies of humanities and social sciences in the United States. After World War II’s end, mass media innovations generated significant cultural and societal changes in the West.

There’s Truth in Saying What Goes Up Must Come Down

Pop culture changes over time, although not at the same degree or speed, to support the transformation of society. We’re always impressed by how quickly popular culture changes, especially as we age and lose track of what’s happening; it feels as if the ground is shifting underneath our feet. Organic evolution isn’t as slow as what Charles Darwin thought. Evolution can occur really, really fast. You have this entirely new world to explore, so plug yourself into as much as you can to grapple with society’s mentality these days.

What goes up must come down – we’re sure you’re familiar with the expression. In plain English, something with a meteoric rise to fame will experience a fall from grace at one point or another. What stands at the top of pop culture today could fall down by tomorrow. To stay in the loop, you can use trending hashtags on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram Stories, and TikTok For You page to know what’s buzzing and why. Popular culture moves at a rapid pace, meaning what’s hot today is out tomorrow – it doesn’t require any thinking or serious introspection.

What Are the Most Common Forms of Pop Culture?

Pop culture is a form of art that’s celebrated by and accessible to the masses. It comes in many shapes and forms, such as:

  • Movies and TV shows: Films like Black Panther or Avengers: Endgame are not only commercial successes but also cultural milestones, as they spark discussions, influence fashion, and teach moral lessons. Wednesday has brought the gothic subculture back to life.

  • Collectibles: People collect everything from action figures, comics, VHS tapes, and more. Funko Pop figures broke into the cultural zeitgeist not long ago, available in a seemingly endless variety. You, too, can become a Funko Pop figure and stand alongside your favorite heroes, characters, and celebs.

  • Sports: Sports extend beyond the playing field and into various aspects of our lives. Within football, the Premier League enjoys mainstream status due to the quality of its players, the intensity of rivalries, and global accessibility.

  • K-pop: Music originating in South Korea supplies a form of escapism for fans, flexible enough to incorporate all tastes, which keeps it growing. It’s marked by catchy hooks, polished choreography, and impeccably produced music.

  • Slang and jargon: Millennials and Gen Z have developed slang and jargon to include and exclude members. For example, to be extra means to be overly dramatic and over the top. Don’t @ me means don’t respond directly because the person doesn’t care what you have to say.

It goes without saying that this list isn’t all-encompassing, but it does provide a basic understanding of popular subculture. Shakespearean plays were considered pop culture when they were written, even if they were primarily staged outside the city walls. The point is that the labels of popular culture vary with time.

If You’re Not a Producer, You’re A Consumer of Pop Culture

The ever-changing landscape of pop culture influences business trends in various sectors, notably in fashion, which is sensitive to societal shifts and celebrities’ choices. One notable impact is the growing emphasis on sustainability and inclusivity. A great many influencers use their platforms to speak up about ethical fashion practices and promote body positivity. Brands have done many things to become more relevant, including leveraging the success of pop culture. Nike, for instance, won the cultural marathon. Producers need consumers to be successful – what side are you on?

Who Has the Power to Change Pop Culture? Fans, Of Course

Popular culture is established to a large extent by niche users, which means it’s as popular as people make it out to be. The presence of social media translates into the fact that you can reach out directly to producers to let them know what you like or dislike. Since it’s the sum of societal behaviors and norms found in society, pop culture is dependent upon the interactions between people in their everyday activities. Put simply, you make the meaning. Popular culture doesn’t belong to the social elite, as it’s meant for mass consumption.

And lastly, if you want to know about a given time period or even the present cultural moment, don’t bother reading the news or looking into more serious sources, so to speak. The best you can do is open your eyes and take a look at what’s happening around you. Literature, movies, TV shows, music, and so on echo the prevailing attitudes and beliefs of society at any given time. Pop culture has room for improvement, so you need to communicate more to get your voice heard – you contribute to the culture and ultimately own it.

How do you think pop culture will change in the future?


This article appears in Jul 25-31, 2024.