As mentioned in the about the "Author" section I started this blog for my class, Youth Media and Popular Culture. With a brief introduction to the course I thought my first post should share my initial (perhaps naive and misinformed) thoughts on the topic.
My definition of popular culture:
The current ideas, attitudes, interests that shape a group of people at a given time. These are influenced by what is popular at the time and includes commercial brands, iconic figures and artists, popular entertainment and more recently technology and social media just to name a few.
Since this course investigates pop culture as it pertains to youth here are my ideas of the top things that influence youth today
Commercial Brands:
Iconic Figures and Artists:
Popular Entertainment:
Technology and Social Media:
The Importance of Investigating Youth Media and Pop Culture
Through my masters career their has been a focus on technology in education perhaps because my schools is a technological institution, but also because technology plays such a important role in the lives of youth today. Referring to my lists above, I was able to narrow in on just two things in every other category except for Technology and Social Media. There is such a predominant and pervasive impression Technology and Social Media it is having on youth. It has in many ways consumed their interests, activities, conversations and free time. For this reason, it seems clear that educators can easily engage students by incorporating pop culture, media and technology into the classroom. Whether it is used as a vehicle for other lessons, or it is being investigated in and of itself, it can be a very powerful tool. However, there are undeniably many harmful consequences of media and pop culture on youth, in particular to their self identity and perceptions. So in order for educators to utilize this tool in the most beneficial way they must be well informed about pedagogies and theories in the field. And this is why we are here. I look forward to doing just this. And if it is of any proof, I too am guilty for being deeply engaged in this course already. There is an added element of interest to understanding concepts through modes that are familiar and relatable to you. Guilty as charged it seems to be working!
My definition of popular culture:
The current ideas, attitudes, interests that shape a group of people at a given time. These are influenced by what is popular at the time and includes commercial brands, iconic figures and artists, popular entertainment and more recently technology and social media just to name a few.
Since this course investigates pop culture as it pertains to youth here are my ideas of the top things that influence youth today
Commercial Brands:
- Apple
- Forever21
Iconic Figures and Artists:
- Taylor Swift
- Youtube stars: Superwoman, Bethany Mota, Ryan Higga
Popular Entertainment:
- Video/Computer Games: Minecraft
- Reality Television: The Voice
Technology and Social Media:
- IPhone
- Hashtags
- Snapchat
- Skype/FaceTime
The Importance of Investigating Youth Media and Pop Culture
Through my masters career their has been a focus on technology in education perhaps because my schools is a technological institution, but also because technology plays such a important role in the lives of youth today. Referring to my lists above, I was able to narrow in on just two things in every other category except for Technology and Social Media. There is such a predominant and pervasive impression Technology and Social Media it is having on youth. It has in many ways consumed their interests, activities, conversations and free time. For this reason, it seems clear that educators can easily engage students by incorporating pop culture, media and technology into the classroom. Whether it is used as a vehicle for other lessons, or it is being investigated in and of itself, it can be a very powerful tool. However, there are undeniably many harmful consequences of media and pop culture on youth, in particular to their self identity and perceptions. So in order for educators to utilize this tool in the most beneficial way they must be well informed about pedagogies and theories in the field. And this is why we are here. I look forward to doing just this. And if it is of any proof, I too am guilty for being deeply engaged in this course already. There is an added element of interest to understanding concepts through modes that are familiar and relatable to you. Guilty as charged it seems to be working!