Why Study Pop Culture?

In order to explain this, we first need to make it clear what pop culture is. Pop culture, according to Sellnow, is comprised of the everyday objects, actions, and events that influence people to believe and behave in certain ways. TV shows, movies, news, publications, video games, instant messaging, and the internet are just a few of the many examples that could be classified as pop culture.

So why study it? The reason why is because pop culture has a direct impact on our lives. They make us who we are. The TV shows and movies that we watch, the video games and sports that we play, the books and news publications that we read, all of these things make up our own self identity. In a more broader sense, they don't just define us, they can define an entire generation as well.

When you look back through time at the history of pop culture, we learn about the dominant and most popular lifestyles that defined the era. We learn of the movies that were most popular, the news anchors that were most watched and respected, the books and authors that were the most read and cherished, fashion statements and trends that existed from time to time, the music and musicians that we listened to, and the sports stars and teams that we watched and idolized. Through the years millions of people in America and around the world became fascinated and inspired by these trends. They influenced the way people thought, acted, and lived their lives.

Pop culture has defined generations in many different ways throughout history. The lives it impacts and the generations it has defined remind us of what the United States and the world used to be like. In return it also has a direct impact on the pop culture of the future, such as the ones mentioned above that are currently defining our generation. We study these trends over the years to understand why things are like what they are now, and what they may be like in the future.