Ayush Chaurasia - Week 3 - The Effects of Mass Media on American Culture and Identity
Friends. The Office. Star Wars. Avengers: Endgame.
Chances are, you’ve watched one of these shows or movies. If not, some of your friends probably have. Either way, you’ve likely seen at least one video from the trending charts on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram. These forms of media could all be considered a part of American pop culture.
Since the early 1920s, pop culture (the trending media amongst young people) has been slowly evolving, starting with Jazz music and nightclubs, changing as new generations and new technologies brought their own quirks to mainstream media. In the current decade, pop culture has grown to be focused on video—whether it be a multi-million dollar Hollywood production or a casual home video, Americans are growing to love a visual-media-based culture.
This love for video as the primary media for pop culture is the reason that recent movies like Oppenheimer and Barbie made millions in the box office (in America alone) and apps like Instagram have over a hundred million American users every month (see statistics about American digital media consumption here). With such a large amount of the American population consuming mass media, America’s identity must be reflective of the contemporary pop culture depicted in that media.
Think back to America in the 1960s—what comes to mind? Rock music, the Beatles, youth movements, and vibrant colors take over the young population (almost half the US population at the time, according to PBS), all while brand-new color TV sets become a must-have for households. The pop culture essentials of that time stand as memorabilia, the definition of that decade’s identity.
This pattern remains true in modern times. In America in 2020, BLM protests grew in popularity, largely because of activism on online platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, all while Covid-19 raged and people had more reasons than ever to spend time online. A quick look at media reflections on 2020 shows just this—a year full of Covid-19 and BLM protests (Business Insider). Those BLM protests would likely not have reached an audience large enough to be on national news without Instagram and TikTok using pop culture as a platform for social activism—these social media platforms defined some of the biggest events of the year.
Beyond defining the identity of certain time periods, mass media affects how the world views America. The country is known internationally for its Hollywood blockbusters. The identity of America within and outside the country is at least partially defined by the media it produces—after all, people who have never been in America would only know what it is like by watching movies and TV shows that take place here, and people inside America could also form new opinions about America based on what they see on screen.
The dynamic American culture is shifting with every new trending piece of mass media, and the identity of the country often changes to match the dynamicity of the culture it represents.
 |
| https://www.beutlerink.com/blog/heres-to-2013 |
Hi Ayush, I enjoyed reading your article and loved your inclusion of facts, statistics and evidence to back up your points. I agree that the media has had the biggest impact on American culture and has helped the country grow as a whole. Through platforms such as Instagram or Tik Tok, underrepresented minorities are able to come and talk about their experiences and opinions as these forms of media give everyone an equal standing. The BLM protests that you included as evidence is the perfect example of an issue and argument by minorities that has been heavily emphasized by social media. In doing so, other groups can be aware of the subject and help boost the cause even more. Movies that you included like Barbie have also raised awareness on the societal pressures of women to be perfect. It educates men on a topic that they probably have never even thought about or understood before but with the help of the media and including the message in an entertaining way, they are able to understand. Overall, the media raises awareness and allows people to understand or change their ways of thinking, which allows us to grow.
ReplyDeleteHi Ayush!! I really enjoyed your portrayal of how pop culture has transitioned over the decades, from Jazz to video-centric content today!! Your inclusion of examples, like the impact of BLM protests through platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, helps to underscore the profound influence of media on societal discourse and the framing of major events. Furthermore, your insight into how Hollywood and TV shows shape the world's perception of America is thought-provoking, as it highlights the significant role media plays in constructing a country's image. This reminds me of how interconnected our world has become through digital media, and leaves me curious about the potential shifts in American pop culture and their implications for our perception of the nation.
ReplyDelete