Pop Culture Traditions

Pop culture reflects the most current interests and trends in a society. I think that this is true because most everyone conforms with what everyone else is doing whether it comes to music, clothing, cars that are being driven, or the latest work out trend. It seems that within the last couple of decades, the people who are beginning these trends are celebrities. Our most popular hair cuts, colors, clothing styles, and favorite shoes stem from what these celebrities are wearing or doing at the time. Britney Spears, for instance, has become a huge icon over the past decade for young girls. She says she is "the girl who always claimed she'd never been packaged now says she wants to break free of her packaging" (Sternbergh 374). I find it sad that we look up to celebrities so much that all over the country you will begin to see women and men dressing just like the most popular girl or guy on the big screen. As the trends start spreading, everyone feels like this is how they must look to "fit in." This is how everyone will continue to dress, cut and style their hair, etc. until celebrities change the current trends once again. It is a vicious cycle that I don't see stopping anytime soon.

" It seems like everyone needs to have what is the new trend in our society. For instance, the Iphone. Even though it's expensive it's still popular nowadays and most people have it. If you don't have what's in today, then you are considered as an outcast in the Pop culture. But what if we are just an average person who doesn't have that much money to buy all these expensive things that's so popular right now? Then I think it's not fair for us to be looked down for not being "in" with the Pop Culture. What do you think is the main reason why people still buy these expensive things like Iphone even though we're facing a financial hardships? Is it just for the sake of conforming with the Pop culture to be "in" or they buy it because they really need it for their personal use like at work and at home?" (Corinna Dela-Cruz)

I think people think they need things like the iphone but does anyone really need anything besides water, food and clothing? No! People get ideas in their head that the need these things so it validates their buying them. It doesn't matter if they have to spend $400 on a cell phone that they will probably replace within one year anyway because they think that they need it. "I need the internet at all times for work." Nobody really needs to be working at all times, well most of us anyway. I for one have had the same cell phone for almost four years (I know, it's a miracle)! Of course there are times when I want to go buy the newest, hip phone on the market at the time. But I justify not buying it because mine works just fine and I don't need it. In this day and age, money is not floating around like it did even a few years back. I think people should be less worried about what is "in" and more worried about saving money and making ends meet.