LOSING ENTHUSIASM

Popular culture was first widely used on a mass scale around the 19th century. It is now defined as the entirety of ideas, perspectives, and attitudes that exist within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture. The definition, when it was first used, had a somewhat different but similar meaning. It used to be associated with lower levels of education and the lower classes, as opposed to official culture and the education of the upper classes.

This definition of pop culture must be given due attention because, though it is now described with different words, the actual meaning has not changed much. Culture itself is related to society’s way of thinking, acting, moving, and behaving. When it comes to pop culture, these areas of social life are largely shaped by mass thinking. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as culture is also formed by society. However, the problem with pop culture is that, though it is not explicitly stated, it often aims at influencing individuals—mainly the youth—into a less creative state in which the mind ends up in a limited space where questioning societal problems and seeking solutions becomes difficult.

It creates an atmosphere where standing out, having opinions, and developing one’s own style is no longer encouraged, and where blindly following a pop singer or celebrity is seen as a better way to gain attention and popularity.

Movies, songs, and other forms of media often suggest that the minimum is enough, meaning that a short-lived and narrow view of life is considered satisfactory. There is little encouragement to step outside the comfort of mass acceptance and to reflect on personal abilities and interests. Honestly speaking, the signs of creativity found in pop culture are not entirely new; rather, they are more like an upgrade or a different expression of the same pattern.

There is no clear development of personality, and one’s passion for deep personal interests is often clouded by the ever-changing nature of this culture. At first glance, it may appear to represent growth and advancement in various sectors of life. However, the reality is that it often creates unrest in individuals’ minds by fostering an obsession with keeping up with the pace of so-called “advancement,” which causes people to forget the environment in which they are meant to contribute.

In conclusion, although pop culture may not appear to be an entangling web of activities and information, it effectively contributes to the suppression of creativity.