Exam question

EXAM QUESTION

I agree with the statement ‘popular culture is a vibrant and relevant response to contemporary life.’ I agree with this statement because I believe popular culture is a form of escapism which allows people to disconnect themselves from all the stress of everyday life. As well as this it gives people group membership if they are up to date with the latest season of a certain TV show or a certain boy band as it gives them something in common with everyone else, which may also boost their self-esteem if they can feel like they fit in. On the topic of self-esteem, makeup which is a big part of popular culture for both sexes helps boost people self-esteem as they believe they look better with makeup. Popular culture also moulds people’s identities as people take aspects of their identities from videos, pictures and films they’ve seen.

An example of escapism through popular culture would be the popular Saturday night show the X-factor. The show allows people to see every day normal people make a fool of themselves by trying to sing, and see everyday people expose their singing talent. People who watch the show also make personal relationships with some people on the show as sometimes the contestant will share his/hers upsetting backstory, which makes people empathetic towards that person or maybe even relate with their story. Many people also take aspects of their identity from the show, as many people when watching the x-factor act like the judges. As well as this they may also want to be good at singing like some of the contestants on the show. There is also a certain amount of surveillance in the x-factor as we realise we only reward hard work and talent, also our culture values people who look good.

While watching Game of thrones I felt part of a group. As game of thrones is very popular I felt connected with popular culture as I was watching what everyone else was watching. As well as game of thrones I started drinking Robinsons fruit and barley squash because Ed Sheeran tweeted about it.; These two examples show how I value culture as I want to watch and act how the majority or a celebrity I like acts.