Popular culture can be defined as anything that our society as a whole can readily identify because of their exposure to it through the media. Everything from musical acts to video games to social networking sites could be considered a part of popular culture. The information age, especially the internet and television, has led to an increase in the public's awareness of these pop culture icons. An understanding of popular culture can be very beneficial in the business world. It can allow a business to "hop on the bandwagon" with a current fad or trend in their marketing campaigns, which if done properly can help increase sales and reach consumers that may have previously been unaware of a company's products and services. My own company bought the rights to use Garfield in our marketing campaigns last year (never mind the fact that Garfield's cultural relevancy ended roughly 25 years ago, which may have something to do with the fact that the marketing campaign didn't fare so well either).
"Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is: never try" - Homer Simpson
The Simpsons is an example of a pop culture artifact. I think you would find it very difficult to find an American who has not seen an episode of The Simpsons or is at least aware of the show's existence. It is the longest running animated series in history, and is also one of the longest running television programs in the history of the medium. The recent release of a feature length film has also raised awareness of the show. The show uses satire and stereotypes to poke fun at everyday life in America and around the world (a few years ago they actually created quite a stir when they insinuated that Brazil was overrun with monkeys, which the Brazilian government denies...I don't know, I've never been to Brazil.) From the incompetent accident prone safety inspector at the local nuclear power plant (who doesn't even have a high school diploma, and whose response to a blaring danger alarm is to pour water on the control console to short it out) to the corrupt adulterous mayor, who is obviously based on any number of the Kennedy clan, the cast is filled with hilarious caricatures of people we all can relate to in our own lives. The show is also filled with cultural references to other television shows, movies and books. In fact, one could probably get a pretty good education on popular culture just by watching The Simpsons.
Jason I think that your definition of popular culture is very accurate. I did not think of describing it as icons that anyone could easily identify. I also agree what an impact it can have on marketing and it was very interesting to hear about your real world experience with Garfield. I think that the Simpsons are an excellent example of a popular culture artifact. Though I am not an avid watcher myself I have seen few episodes and agree with your description. Your analysis that the show in itself illustrates the generally accepted popular culture at the time is great. This seems very accurate and I also think you could add that popular show such as this also influence the general population’s opinion of other popular culture artifacts.
ReplyDeleteJustin,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog about the Simpson's. The Simpsons have become quite iconic of the 1990-2000's period. Their use of of sarcastic comedy and stupid humor have drawn quite a crowd, making them relevent not only to our generation but to the next, as well. In fact, the Simpson's brand of comedy has become so popular that many animated comedy shows have copied their brand of humor (ie. Family Guy). Truely, the Simpson's will live on for many years to come!
Keah