Pop Culture Every Day I

Pop Culture

Every day I come into contact with the emblems and elements of American popular culture, whether I like it or not. Walking down the street, I see the golden arches that signify a McDonald's is nearby. I shudder to think of what garbage people are putting into their mouths. Then I see KFC, Burger King, Wendy's, and the list of American fast food chains metasticizes. There is no way to avoid the ubiquitous fast food signs, logos, and advertisements on billboards, bus benches, and store windows. Then there are the retail stores selling clothes that are made in China but bearing an American label such as the Gap, Banana Republic, and larger stores like Macy's. Then there are the hideous culprits such as Wal*Mart and Target, which seduce consumers by their low, low prices on junk. The popular culture of America is shopping and rampant consumerism. Even the arts have been packaged as the lowest common denominator, no longer creative expressions but solely means of propelling the consumer engine. So horrible has American popular music become that I cannot even listen to MTV anymore unless there is a special show or concert. Otherwise, I have lost touch with American popular music because my ear drums cannot handle the bombardment of badness. Movies have, however, retained some of their entertainment value although much of what comes out of Hollywood is not worth wasting ninety minutes of my time on. Finally, American popular culture is disseminated and propagated by the American media. American popular culture has an impact on my decision making in that I am more aware of the difference between what I really want and what marketing departments tell me.

When it comes to food and drink-related decisions, American popular culture has encouraged me to think more critically about what I put into my body. American popular culture has until fairly recently dominated the discourse on eating. The poor suffer the most because fast food is marketed as a means to load up on the maximum amount of calories for the least amount of money. Having seen one too many obese people and watched people die of heart disease and diabetes, I have sworn off all American fast food. I cringe to think that people still eat McDonald's, especially knowing how much sodium and artificial flavorings are in the fake sandwiches. The mass consumption of meat is destroying the environment too. Knowing what I do about fast food has turned me off completely, which is why American popular culture has impacted my decision-making. The impact on my decision-making is the opposite of what the corporate marketing departments would like. Rather than sell me on the latest bun-free chicken burger that uses slabs of pre-fabricated reconstituted chicken, KFC has effectively ensured that I will never patronize one of their "restaurants" ever again. American popular culture in the guise of fast food has driven me to make healthy choices regarding what I eat. Now I make sure to cook my own food so I do not get stuck being hungry and only having McDonald's or KFC as options.

In the same way that American fast food culture has influenced my decision-making, American retail culture has also turned me off to shopping entirely. The American shopping model is heartless, as I have seen consumer zombies swarm into stores like Wal*Mart and shop for things they imagine they need. Sure, consumers use Wal*Mart because of the perceived convenience. Lured by saving a few pennies, consumers sacrifice quality of life. I have made a decision to improve my quality of life by purchasing fewer consumer goods. Again, the marketing departments must hate people like me.

American popular culture does not promote imagery of happiness or altruism. Rather, American popular culture is about instant gratification and the fulfillment of selfish desires. The values propagated by American popular culture are sordid and unabashedly materialistic. American popular culture is about numbing the mind and senses, and deferring responsibility for problems like depression, anxiety, and ill health. For these core reasons, I have become media conscious and aware of the effect that American popular culture has on sheep-like consumers.

Because I can no longer tolerate American popular music, I have been increasingly drawn towards truly good and creative artists from all genres. I have a great appreciation for rap and hip-hop but not the drivel being played on MTV. Instead, I have become aware of underground labels and artists such as Cannibal Ox. I have been listening to good classic rock and not the types that Clear Channel-owned radio stations play over and over to the masses. American popular music is, like American fast food, commercialized drivel that has no soul. People with taste have to work harder to find what is good and worth listening to, and the effort expended is well worth it. With movies, I find that much of what Hollywood produces is bad but easy to avoid. Moreover, many small production companies are producing well-made films or documentaries. Similarly, there is some quality television shows even as mindless entertainment also fills the airwaves.

American popular culture is carried on the shoulders of American media. From CNN to MSNBC and Fox, the 24-hour news cycle drives into the minds of viewers political perspectives and points-of-view that solidify American culture. While the news is important to watch for informational purposes, I have made a decision to also get my news from alternative sources on the Internet. This way, I have a more well-rounded perspective of the world.

Being increasingly distanced from American popular culture has allowed me the opportunity to see what impact globalization is having on homogenization. The world, exposed to American popular culture through the media and also through television and film, has embraced fast food, chain retailers, and even the American way of life. I have seen how Europeans and Asians are also starting to live a more suburban lifestyle by mimicking what they see in American popular culture. Choosing to live outside of this formula can be challenging. The values of endless pursuit of wealth are distasteful for many people like me, but it can be hard to find like-minded friends in a world filled with consumer followers.