An online space for our community to extend our engagement w/ education and popculture
Sunday, August 17, 2025
August 26…Popculture
Was Delaney’s definition of popculture new to you? Comment on your relationship with popculture. Have you been able to find ways to bring any popculture interests into your studies?
I would say that Delaney's definition was anything but new to me. I think most people including me would say that it is the baseline of what popculture is at the very core of it. My own personal relationship with pop culture is one that is both steady and constantly changing or being adapted to. Steady because a lot of past pop cultural things still stay relevant with me today such as a once popular movie, now has become one of my favorites that I rewatch often. But on that same note, it is also constantly changing because just like popculture, new things are arising or are becoming "more popular" within me - so therefore I add new things both to my likes and dislikes. I would also say that I have for sure included pop culture into my studies, whether that's through references, comparisons or just the topic of pop culture itself. It's something I find myself being both passionate and curious about all the time.
I like how you describe your relationship with pop culture as both steady and constantly changing that feels really honest and relatable. The way you connect older favorites with new interests shows how pop culture isn’t something we just move on from, but something we keep reshaping. It also makes sense that it shows up in your studies, since it’s clearly something you’re genuinely curious and engaged with.
Delaney’s definition didn’t surprise me, but it clarified something I’d only felt loosely: that pop culture isn’t just entertainment, it’s a shared current of identity. His framing of it as “the culture of the people” clicked with me; it made me see how memes, music, sports, or shows aren’t just filler, but the ways we signal to each other that we belong. That part deepened my understanding.
We live inside pop culture in a strange way. We absorb it constantly, but we also watch it from the outside, studying its rhythms. I love how it reveals what people value in a given moment. Sometimes I’m skeptical of how commercial it is, but I can’t deny the joy people get from quoting lines, sharing songs, or hyping the same team. To me, pop culture feels like a living pulse of connection - powerful, though also susceptible to manipulation through political and capitalistic propaganda.
Working as a professional cook for 15 years has put me front and center in food culture, and I’ve seen firsthand the messages we share and absorb through what we eat (or don’t eat). Culture interacts and informs itself: if someone orders a beer and chicken wings, what might they be doing while they eat? Probably watching popular sports like football or baseball? Could you guess their age, gender, socioeconomic class? We can often infer a lot about someone through food choices and how they connect to pop, folk, or even high culture.
I’m also excited to see how becoming an educator, in addition to being a cook, will impact my understanding and use of popular culture. My goal is to guide future generations in recognizing how culture shapes their world—and how to navigate their place within it.
Before reading Delaney's definition of pop culture, I thought the term related to popular music and tv shows that had a significant impact on society; things with cult followings like Star Wars or Lady Gaga. Though after reading, Lady Gaga and Stars Wars are absolutely considered pop culture but I now understand why that fall under the term. I learned that pop culture is a way for society to find common ground despite having different ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, or even religious back grounds. It is different forms of expression that everyone indulges in just because it is widely liked and it happens to bring people together. I personally have a close relationship with pop culture, as does honestly everyone who uses social media does. I have favourite celebrities because of how they express theirselves artistically whom I sometimes get inspiration from. Just last month I found myself actively voting in the Love Island app amongst hundreds of thousands of others for my favourite islander to stay in Fiji. Pop culture is deeply embedded into how I live that sometimes I even reference some of my favourite artist or designers in my school work. - Jayla Alston
Delany's definition of pop culture was not new to be based on him defining it as I think most would while using their own words. Overall I would say my relationship with pop culture is that of a 22 year old girl that has TikTok, as well as a number of different streaming services. With this being said I would say that I am aware and majority of the time watching things based on what i see on my phone, or is recommended to me by a friend. Along with this I would say I am very aware of the music part of pop culture because I am constantly looking at my phone for new music to listen to. The way only I would say I have brought pop culture into my studies is the fact that I often am doing homework to music that I like in order to keep my focus at the assignment(s) I am doing. - Kailei Spencer
Delaney's explanation of pop culture roughly coincides with how I perceived my own personal definition. I'm not sure I've ever thought of pop-culture as extending so far as to include customs, but it makes sense. I liked his argument that pop culture exists to help break down barriers between individuals, and using the closeness we obtain from the internet to help unite the masses. I quite enjoy exposing myself to as many facets of pop culture as I can find, from all eras and locations. Movies and music have always held a special place in my heart, and the cultural identities of previous eras has always been fascinating to me. Several of my classes center around studying pop culture in some form, such as this class.
Delaney’s definition of popular culture was not new to me. Pop culture is mainly seen/known as entertainment but his point was that it is a part of our lives and how it helps shape it. Personally, I feel very connected to pop culture because it allows me to find other people who are like me. Sports, watching trending shows, or even having the same feed as others help me stay connected socially. I try to bring some of those interests into my studies. For example, due to all the misinformation and use of politics in pop culture, I have been inspired to get a minor in International Studies. Pop culture, in that way, has become involved in my personal interests and a way for me to explore and learn.
Elena Here: I would say that Delaney's definition of popular culture did not particularly surprise me and closely relates to how I personally defined pop culture. Popular culture is entertainment and these things that are being rapidly consumed but it also goes deeper then that and it is a way of connecting everyone. My relationship with pop culture is definitely facilitated though apps like TikTok and streaming services. Watching a trending show and then seeing so much content on it. It's a way to feel seen and connected to the whole. I think popular culture definitely influences my field of studies. Being a fashion major means you have to be aware of what's trending so that you are able to market it.
Delaney's definition of pop culture brought my base line definition to a more solidified and specific answer. I always understood pop culture as a form of media for the people by the people solely for the purpose of enjoyment and entertainment. After reading through the overview, I now understand that pop culture also influences aspects of our everyday social interaction and how it changes rapidly due to trends. I have a significantly strong relationship with pop culture. Maybe too strong. As people on the internet commonly say, "chronically online". I definitely fall under that category. I consume most pop culture media from social media, and I have found majority of my interests and hobbies through these outlets. One thing that is very interesting to me is how vastly different pop culture is around the world. One thing could be trending in one part of the world while in other places that very same trend could have been retired ages ago.
I found her definition of popculture to define the term perfectly. I think it's so important to talk about the way popculture constantly shapes society, even as it evolves and takes on different forms. It's integral to the way we connect, especially in the digital age. I think it's interesting to examine where folk and high culture intersect, and I've never thought to consider how folk culture contributes to popculture. Being a communications major, I feel that popculture connects heavily to my studies, and they have even before I came to college, whether that is through light references or whole essays written about pieces of popculture that are important to me. - Autumn Winston
I believe that her definition of pop culture was accurate and perfectly written out. This definition is not new to me. As someone who uses social media frequently, I believe this was just a baseline of what pop culture consist of. My relationship with pop culture is always changing and adapting to today's world. Of course, I still enjoy things from the past such as trends, videos, books, and so on. However, new things come out everyday and I find myself sticking with the trends. I also believe pop culture is a wonderful way to connect with new people and make new friends. You may adapt the same interest as someone and learn you guys are similar and get along well. I have for sure used pop culture in my studies. In the past, I have written essays on certain popular movies, films, and or music. Not only that, but in majority of the classes I have taken, the professor has made comparison to popular trends that are currently taking place. Often enough they use this to engage their audience and hook their attention to the topic of discussion by relating it to something everyone knows.
Delaney's definition of pop culture was not new to me and I think the way that she defined what pop culture is was perfect. She stated how different people have their own definitions of what pop culture is, which I think is true. To me, the closest definition to pop culture that I agree with the most from the article is that pop culture involves the aspects of social life most actively involved by the public. My relationship with pop culture is always changing and growing depending on the trends and what is happening in the world. I usually tend to stick with what is trending these days on social media, which is my main form of keeping in touch with different pop cultures because I feel like social media is such a good way of keeping in touch and learning more about different pop cultures and how different people interpret it. Even though pop culture does not directly influence my studies being a biology major, I still think that this is a very interesting topic to learn more about because even though it does not directly relate to what I am studying, it is still something that is apart of my daily life.
Delaney’s definition of pop culture is very familiar to me. I have been associated with pop culture my whole life and love exploring a lot of east asian pop culture as well. It is honestly challenging to not be involved with pop culture to at least some degree in this day and age. A popular example of this is social media, which allows pop culture to shift quickly with trends. I have noticed people who are not on social media navigate their life completely differently than those who are. It is almost as if they are in a different world. Those people don’t understand references, jokes or trends.
That being said, pop culture is quickly swayed and heavily influenced. This is not always positive. If not made aware, people could easily fall victim to propaganda or bias. What is popular to you may not be popular to others and most media can have algorithms that fit your personal bias without you realizing it.
That being said, I appreciate Delaney highlighting the influence of race, class, and other factors in pop culture. You can typically guess the age or background of people based on the culture they participate in. In my Race and Racism course at VCU (I believe it was removed from the curriculum) pop culture was frequently mentioned. As an African American our culture has influenced many others. Our culture is honestly one of the most integral pop cultures in the arts.
(Sawyer) Her definition of pop culture was not necessarily new to me however it did provide a more clarifying and all encompassing definition than the one I immediately think of. I like to think I have a deep understanding of pop culture but I would not exactly add the label of current pop culture. I have spent an extensive period of time consuming pop culture media from before my time and have a deep love for music and movies from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I was even using an IPod way after it was cool. With the internet today trends can come and go very quickly that I often find it difficult to stay entirely up to date. But as the given definition suggests, what gives pop culture it’s value is it’s hold it had on notable groups of society at different points in time which fascinates me. I am able to integrate pop culture into my studies in many ways, as a music major(trying to focus on film/media scoring) there is always some lingering aspect of pop culture media or even the occasional technological details put into my work/studies. I also get to take classes like this that focus on aspects of pop culture which I always look for.
Delaney's definition didn’t read as unfamiliar, rather it gave me a broader understanding as to what constitutes popculture. As expected, pop culture refers to the culture of the people that is influential and predominant within a society. Manifesting in various forms such as music, literature, film, and more, popculture demonstrates and represents commonly held beliefs, standards, and interests. Popculture allows for self identification and expression, ever-changing and evolving with every generation.
Pop culture has been present throughout all my life, and my relationship with it has also grown along with me. To me, popculture helps to build community in a world that is crippled by division. Whether it be a 2010’s box office film trilogy, or a hit 90’s album, finding those who appreciate the same media as you helps to build community- which is needed in our stratified society. Though some may say that pop culture media is mass produced or lacks depth, it would be false to say the cultural impact isn’t significant. The replays of songs on the radio or reruns of shows on cable channels are representative of the widely enjoyed and appreciated media within our society.
Popculture has undeniably had an influence on my writing throughout my academic career. Although it hasn't always been explicitly quoted or referenced, the media I consume most certainly influences the ways in which I express myself. Song lyrics, book quotes, and film monologues, all influence the way in which I articulate myself and perceive things.
Dalney’s definition of pop culture was not new to me. I have always been into ways of creating pop culture, whether it was through music, fashion, art, or entertainment. A lot of people don't even realize how everyday things are minor examples of pop culture. When Dalaney mentioned the many ways we experienced pop culture, it really opened my eyes to help me see that there really are no limits to it.
Dalaney’s definition wasn’t new at all but instead broadened my understanding of how much pop culture affects us. She described how we interact with it in our everyday lives perfectly. When I go on social media, I always see some type of trend, people fighting over who their favorite player or team is in whatever sport, and I see fashion trends, pop culture affects everyone's mindsets whether we realize it or not. Whatever we see in our everyday lives is usually what we agree with or eventually buy because you see it everywhere: from politics, technology, or fashion. My relationship with pop culture is ever changing with societies newest trends, while I still enjoy and look back on old video games, movies, shows, or fashion, I also look at what is popular at the moment. I usually use social media to keep in touch with the newest trends people come up with. While pop culture doesn’t influence what I study, I still frequently use it, from influencing my writing and essays on popular movies or problems in the world, to how I look at things.
Tim Delaney's definition of popculture isn't new to me, and if I were asked to define popculture it would be pretty similar to how he defined it. I think popculture could be considered a really broad term, and Delaney's article is a good source to understanding what it is. I use social media a lot to either catch up with friends, or to learn more about things that I'm interested in. It's great that we are able to express ourselves on platforms, and to be able to hear different opinions about a topic. I could say I use popculture to help me with my studies by listening to songs people have made online to help me memorize things for school.
matt here - I wouldn’t say Delaney’s definition was anything new to me, but it did make me stop and think a little deeper about what pop culture actually means.I mostly just thought of it as music, TV shows, and movies basically whatever everyone was talking about at the time. The way Delaney explained how it connects people and influences how we see the world made me realize it’s bigger than just entertainment.
My relationship with pop culture is pretty strong overall. I’m on my phone a lot, so I see the newest trends as they’re happening, which makes me feel like I’m always kind of present online. At the same time I still hold onto older stuff I liked years ago certain music I keep going back to while some other trends just fade out for me.
I’ve definitely found ways to bring pop culture into school. Sometimes I’ll reference a movie, a viral trend, or even a social media moment in assignments, and it usually makes my work more relatable. It also helps grab attention because people immediately recognize the reference. Honestly, I don’t think pop culture is something you can avoid it’s such a big part of how we connect and communicate now.
I do think that Delaney’s definition of pop culture is still fairly well agreed upon, though on the same front, I think it’s become less relevant in recent years. The article speaks to an idea of omnipresent media, of culture that everyone, collectively, experiences. But I’d argue that as technology has progressed, everyone’s perception of the cultural zeitgeist has shifted. With infinite access to information, and anything you might be interested in, all the time, the human experience has become much more individualistic. And with this, massive sweeping trends don’t hit the masses in the same way that they used to, as everyone now mostly only interfaces with the things they are directly engaged by. Paradoxically, the more interconnected we are, the less unified our culture is as a whole, as everyone can latch into their specific niches and groups more easily. Admittedly, though, my knowledge of this viewpoint is shaped by my own experience, as I grew up right when the earliest social media began to pop up. When’s the last time we had a Harlem Shake, for example? Something that felt like it truly took over the cultural talking points on every front. (The next closest connection I can make is something like the emergence of Fortnite, for example. That brought about a new wave of video game hysteria for the older masses as well as unifying people across all younger age ranges. So maybe it’s not as distant as I think…)
Of course, there *are* still events that affect the entire population, and do affect the ways that social interactions happen. You COULD NOT MISS COVID happening, or the subsequent lockdowns. Something like the 2024 election also permeated the social spheres, though notably, it didn’t seem to have the same levity of something like the 2016 election. (Once again, though, this could be filtered through my eyes, as I was a child during the 2016 election and less aware of the ramifications.) But all of these events were going to have long-term impacts on everyone, so it’s not surprising that the world was able to hone in on those. But I would still argue that these moments could be considered pop culture, as they altered the ways we speak, rituals we partake in, greetings, and so forth.
As an art student, my work tends to not directly involve pop culture. But it definitely revolves around the consequences of things that emerged from it, as any piece regarding society and one’s place in it would. I know that in ways, I am a culmination of everything I’ve experienced, and that includes the things that engaged me or that I took from my exposure to pop culture. My art tends to focus on certain niche situations that I’ve had in my own life, but I have used pop culture as a springboard to filter those ideas through, for example, using video games alongside sound design and video editing to convey a narrative. (Jake C)
Delaney's definition isn't new to me, if I were to have a conversation with someone about pop culture then I would explain it the exact same way she explained it. It also made me think deeper on how everyday media and trends shape the world. We constantly interact with pop culture when we are using social media. I listen to a variety of music and I also use social media to connect to pop culture. Pop culture often shapes how people see the medical field by watching Grey's Anatomy and things of that nature, and watching things like that connects me closer to my major. My connection to pop culture aren't to wide so I'm taking this course to understand more about it. -ziyen henderson
Amiya: Yes, Delaney’s definition of pop culture wasn’t exactly new to me, but it did make me think more deeply about how everything connects. I find it fascinating to hear how others see pop culture, especially since my studies in fashion merchandising make the connections so clear. Fashion is such a huge part of pop culture, and I’m just now realizing how much it reflects current trends and even social movements. For example, fashion shows are a little slice of pop culture in themselves!
Joaquin Spille: Delaney's definition of pop culture is right on the money. Pop culture is a form of identity through expressions like an art form that are accepted by the culture's community. Something I found interesting was that pop culture is liked or approved by society at a given time, but pop culture carries characteristics from past times. Furthermore, his stance on the industrialization era as the leading factor in blending pop culture with other cultures because it brought everyone together to blend everything. Westernization makes pop culture huge, as here in the West, multiculturalism works. Pop culture helps with my major or with what I want late in life because I want to understand what people are into in all forms.
Logan Greeneltch: I agree with Delaney's definition. I think a lot of people tend to associate things that are frequently mentioned or "fads" as part of popular culture because they are usually widely accepted due to the versatility of it. Something like streetwear, for example, has become extremely popular due to it's ability to be enjoyed by everybody. Multiple brands and celebrities endorse clothing and products designed to fit a certain style, and in most cases those products appeal to a broad audience in multiple communities. One complaint I have with popular culture right now is the fact that people sometimes have a mindset of hating things that are popular, purely for the fact that something is widely accepted, and instead focus on niche trends. At the end of the day, however, these niche communities become large enough that they are no longer even niche trends or items and essentially become a part of popular culture, defeating the whole purpose of the mindset.
Alana Walker: Delaney's definition of pop culture was not new to me, but it went depth about the things I didn't quite think of. I always understood that pop culture were things such as music, fashion and media, but it brought to my attentions that things like slang are included in this. It made me realize how pop culture is influential in daily life. With my relationship with pop culture, I have interacted with it constantly throughout my life especially music, it was a constant in my household. It connected me with friends and family, especially at gatherings that would last hours. It often influences how I express myself, not just music but also social media. As far as brining pop culture into my studies, I used my knowledge from trends and TV for my fashion class I had my previous semester, as well as educational classes, it makes it feel easier to discuss.
Delaney's definition of Pop Culture is simultaneously grounded and broad, and I belive does a good job at gesturing to the living, breathing thing that is pop culture. I noteabley agree with the idea that Pop Culture is largely informed by the past and that nostalgia has a huge part in the trends of any decade. I also believe that however "shallow" people might think Pop Culture is, it truly shapes not only how our world looks, but how we as people live and think. I come from one of those tree-hugging families that didn't grow up with any kind of social media, not even cable, and I have always felt more like an observer of Pop Culture rather than a participant. I often feel like I look to the past as much as I look at what people are doing currently, which is why I feel my style and interests generally hang in an awkward balance between the two. I think that diving deeper into the core of Pop Culture and gaining some more social media literacy will greatly aid me in my major, as I hope my future career will be creating something that in it's own way becomes Pop Culture. I major in Communication Arts (Narrative Design) and my dream is to be a comic book author/artist as well as a character designer and world builder for video games or movies, and I think studying what makes people gravitate towards certain medias and ideas will help me hone my skills to be more marketable!
Delaney's definition of pop culture was not new to me; I had heard similar things before. My relationship with pop culture is incredibly strong, I am constantly online and very active on social media. I interact with film and television and sports pop culture on the regular. My major is scenic design for theatre, so I am constantly interacting with art, plays, and film. I make references in my designs, and I take a lot of film classes as well, -Dakota C
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ReplyDeleteI would say that Delaney's definition was anything but new to me. I think most people including me would say that it is the baseline of what popculture is at the very core of it. My own personal relationship with pop culture is one that is both steady and constantly changing or being adapted to. Steady because a lot of past pop cultural things still stay relevant with me today such as a once popular movie, now has become one of my favorites that I rewatch often. But on that same note, it is also constantly changing because just like popculture, new things are arising or are becoming "more popular" within me - so therefore I add new things both to my likes and dislikes. I would also say that I have for sure included pop culture into my studies, whether that's through references, comparisons or just the topic of pop culture itself. It's something I find myself being both passionate and curious about all the time.
ReplyDeleteI like how you describe your relationship with pop culture as both steady and constantly changing that feels really honest and relatable. The way you connect older favorites with new interests shows how pop culture isn’t something we just move on from, but something we keep reshaping. It also makes sense that it shows up in your studies, since it’s clearly something you’re genuinely curious and engaged with.
DeleteDelaney’s definition didn’t surprise me, but it clarified something I’d only felt loosely: that pop culture isn’t just entertainment, it’s a shared current of identity. His framing of it as “the culture of the people” clicked with me; it made me see how memes, music, sports, or shows aren’t just filler, but the ways we signal to each other that we belong. That part deepened my understanding.
ReplyDeleteWe live inside pop culture in a strange way. We absorb it constantly, but we also watch it from the outside, studying its rhythms. I love how it reveals what people value in a given moment. Sometimes I’m skeptical of how commercial it is, but I can’t deny the joy people get from quoting lines, sharing songs, or hyping the same team. To me, pop culture feels like a living pulse of connection - powerful, though also susceptible to manipulation through political and capitalistic propaganda.
Working as a professional cook for 15 years has put me front and center in food culture, and I’ve seen firsthand the messages we share and absorb through what we eat (or don’t eat). Culture interacts and informs itself: if someone orders a beer and chicken wings, what might they be doing while they eat? Probably watching popular sports like football or baseball? Could you guess their age, gender, socioeconomic class? We can often infer a lot about someone through food choices and how they connect to pop, folk, or even high culture.
I’m also excited to see how becoming an educator, in addition to being a cook, will impact my understanding and use of popular culture. My goal is to guide future generations in recognizing how culture shapes their world—and how to navigate their place within it.
Before reading Delaney's definition of pop culture, I thought the term related to popular music and tv shows that had a significant impact on society; things with cult followings like Star Wars or Lady Gaga. Though after reading, Lady Gaga and Stars Wars are absolutely considered pop culture but I now understand why that fall under the term. I learned that pop culture is a way for society to find common ground despite having different ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, or even religious back grounds. It is different forms of expression that everyone indulges in just because it is widely liked and it happens to bring people together. I personally have a close relationship with pop culture, as does honestly everyone who uses social media does. I have favourite celebrities because of how they express theirselves artistically whom I sometimes get inspiration from. Just last month I found myself actively voting in the Love Island app amongst hundreds of thousands of others for my favourite islander to stay in Fiji. Pop culture is deeply embedded into how I live that sometimes I even reference some of my favourite artist or designers in my school work. - Jayla Alston
ReplyDeleteDelany's definition of pop culture was not new to be based on him defining it as I think most would while using their own words. Overall I would say my relationship with pop culture is that of a 22 year old girl that has TikTok, as well as a number of different streaming services. With this being said I would say that I am aware and majority of the time watching things based on what i see on my phone, or is recommended to me by a friend. Along with this I would say I am very aware of the music part of pop culture because I am constantly looking at my phone for new music to listen to. The way only I would say I have brought pop culture into my studies is the fact that I often am doing homework to music that I like in order to keep my focus at the assignment(s) I am doing. - Kailei Spencer
ReplyDeleteDelaney's explanation of pop culture roughly coincides with how I perceived my own personal definition. I'm not sure I've ever thought of pop-culture as extending so far as to include customs, but it makes sense. I liked his argument that pop culture exists to help break down barriers between individuals, and using the closeness we obtain from the internet to help unite the masses. I quite enjoy exposing myself to as many facets of pop culture as I can find, from all eras and locations. Movies and music have always held a special place in my heart, and the cultural identities of previous eras has always been fascinating to me. Several of my classes center around studying pop culture in some form, such as this class.
ReplyDelete-Thomas Krut
DeleteDelaney’s definition of popular culture was not new to me. Pop culture is mainly seen/known as entertainment but his point was that it is a part of our lives and how it helps shape it. Personally, I feel very connected to pop culture because it allows me to find other people who are like me. Sports, watching trending shows, or even having the same feed as others help me stay connected socially. I try to bring some of those interests into my studies. For example, due to all the misinformation and use of politics in pop culture, I have been inspired to get a minor in International Studies. Pop culture, in that way, has become involved in my personal interests and a way for me to explore and learn.
ReplyDeleteElena Here: I would say that Delaney's definition of popular culture did not particularly surprise me and closely relates to how I personally defined pop culture. Popular culture is entertainment and these things that are being rapidly consumed but it also goes deeper then that and it is a way of connecting everyone. My relationship with pop culture is definitely facilitated though apps like TikTok and streaming services. Watching a trending show and then seeing so much content on it. It's a way to feel seen and connected to the whole. I think popular culture definitely influences my field of studies. Being a fashion major means you have to be aware of what's trending so that you are able to market it.
ReplyDeleteDelaney's definition of pop culture brought my base line definition to a more solidified and specific answer. I always understood pop culture as a form of media for the people by the people solely for the purpose of enjoyment and entertainment. After reading through the overview, I now understand that pop culture also influences aspects of our everyday social interaction and how it changes rapidly due to trends. I have a significantly strong relationship with pop culture. Maybe too strong. As people on the internet commonly say, "chronically online". I definitely fall under that category. I consume most pop culture media from social media, and I have found majority of my interests and hobbies through these outlets. One thing that is very interesting to me is how vastly different pop culture is around the world. One thing could be trending in one part of the world while in other places that very same trend could have been retired ages ago.
ReplyDeleteI found her definition of popculture to define the term perfectly. I think it's so important to talk about the way popculture constantly shapes society, even as it evolves and takes on different forms. It's integral to the way we connect, especially in the digital age. I think it's interesting to examine where folk and high culture intersect, and I've never thought to consider how folk culture contributes to popculture. Being a communications major, I feel that popculture connects heavily to my studies, and they have even before I came to college, whether that is through light references or whole essays written about pieces of popculture that are important to me.
ReplyDelete- Autumn Winston
I believe that her definition of pop culture was accurate and perfectly written out. This definition is not new to me. As someone who uses social media frequently, I believe this was just a baseline of what pop culture consist of. My relationship with pop culture is always changing and adapting to today's world. Of course, I still enjoy things from the past such as trends, videos, books, and so on. However, new things come out everyday and I find myself sticking with the trends. I also believe pop culture is a wonderful way to connect with new people and make new friends. You may adapt the same interest as someone and learn you guys are similar and get along well. I have for sure used pop culture in my studies. In the past, I have written essays on certain popular movies, films, and or music. Not only that, but in majority of the classes I have taken, the professor has made comparison to popular trends that are currently taking place. Often enough they use this to engage their audience and hook their attention to the topic of discussion by relating it to something everyone knows.
ReplyDelete-Alyson
DeleteDelaney's definition of pop culture was not new to me and I think the way that she defined what pop culture is was perfect. She stated how different people have their own definitions of what pop culture is, which I think is true. To me, the closest definition to pop culture that I agree with the most from the article is that pop culture involves the aspects of social life most actively involved by the public. My relationship with pop culture is always changing and growing depending on the trends and what is happening in the world. I usually tend to stick with what is trending these days on social media, which is my main form of keeping in touch with different pop cultures because I feel like social media is such a good way of keeping in touch and learning more about different pop cultures and how different people interpret it. Even though pop culture does not directly influence my studies being a biology major, I still think that this is a very interesting topic to learn more about because even though it does not directly relate to what I am studying, it is still something that is apart of my daily life.
ReplyDeleteIreland
DeleteDelaney’s definition of pop culture is very familiar to me. I have been associated with pop culture my whole life and love exploring a lot of east asian pop culture as well. It is honestly challenging to not be involved with pop culture to at least some degree in this day and age. A popular example of this is social media, which allows pop culture to shift quickly with trends. I have noticed people who are not on social media navigate their life completely differently than those who are. It is almost as if they are in a different world. Those people don’t understand references, jokes or trends.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, pop culture is quickly swayed and heavily influenced. This is not always positive. If not made aware, people could easily fall victim to propaganda or bias. What is popular to you may not be popular to others and most media can have algorithms that fit your personal bias without you realizing it.
That being said, I appreciate Delaney highlighting the influence of race, class, and other factors in pop culture. You can typically guess the age or background of people based on the culture they participate in. In my Race and Racism course at VCU (I believe it was removed from the curriculum) pop culture was frequently mentioned. As an African American our culture has influenced many others. Our culture is honestly one of the most integral pop cultures in the arts.
(Sawyer) Her definition of pop culture was not necessarily new to me however it did provide a more clarifying and all encompassing definition than the one I immediately think of. I like to think I have a deep understanding of pop culture but I would not exactly add the label of current pop culture. I have spent an extensive period of time consuming pop culture media from before my time and have a deep love for music and movies from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I was even using an IPod way after it was cool. With the internet today trends can come and go very quickly that I often find it difficult to stay entirely up to date. But as the given definition suggests, what gives pop culture it’s value is it’s hold it had on notable groups of society at different points in time which fascinates me. I am able to integrate pop culture into my studies in many ways, as a music major(trying to focus on film/media scoring) there is always some lingering aspect of pop culture media or even the occasional technological details put into my work/studies. I also get to take classes like this that focus on aspects of pop culture which I always look for.
ReplyDeleteDelaney's definition didn’t read as unfamiliar, rather it gave me a broader understanding as to what constitutes popculture. As expected, pop culture refers to the culture of the people that is influential and predominant within a society. Manifesting in various forms such as music, literature, film, and more, popculture demonstrates and represents commonly held beliefs, standards, and interests. Popculture allows for self identification and expression, ever-changing and evolving with every generation.
ReplyDeletePop culture has been present throughout all my life, and my relationship with it has also grown along with me. To me, popculture helps to build community in a world that is crippled by division. Whether it be a 2010’s box office film trilogy, or a hit 90’s album, finding those who appreciate the same media as you helps to build community- which is needed in our stratified society. Though some may say that pop culture media is mass produced or lacks depth, it would be false to say the cultural impact isn’t significant. The replays of songs on the radio or reruns of shows on cable channels are representative of the widely enjoyed and appreciated media within our society.
Popculture has undeniably had an influence on my writing throughout my academic career. Although it hasn't always been explicitly quoted or referenced, the media I consume most certainly influences the ways in which I express myself. Song lyrics, book quotes, and film monologues, all influence the way in which I articulate myself and perceive things.
- Nina
DeleteDalney’s definition of pop culture was not new to me. I have always been into ways of creating pop culture, whether it was through music, fashion, art, or entertainment. A lot of people don't even realize how everyday things are minor examples of pop culture. When Dalaney mentioned the many ways we experienced pop culture, it really opened my eyes to help me see that there really are no limits to it.
ReplyDeleteDalaney’s definition wasn’t new at all but instead broadened my understanding of how much pop culture affects us. She described how we interact with it in our everyday lives perfectly. When I go on social media, I always see some type of trend, people fighting over who their favorite player or team is in whatever sport, and I see fashion trends, pop culture affects everyone's mindsets whether we realize it or not. Whatever we see in our everyday lives is usually what we agree with or eventually buy because you see it everywhere: from politics, technology, or fashion. My relationship with pop culture is ever changing with societies newest trends, while I still enjoy and look back on old video games, movies, shows, or fashion, I also look at what is popular at the moment. I usually use social media to keep in touch with the newest trends people come up with. While pop culture doesn’t influence what I study, I still frequently use it, from influencing my writing and essays on popular movies or problems in the world, to how I look at things.
ReplyDeleteTim Delaney's definition of popculture isn't new to me, and if I were asked to define popculture it would be pretty similar to how he defined it. I think popculture could be considered a really broad term, and Delaney's article is a good source to understanding what it is. I use social media a lot to either catch up with friends, or to learn more about things that I'm interested in. It's great that we are able to express ourselves on platforms, and to be able to hear different opinions about a topic. I could say I use popculture to help me with my studies by listening to songs people have made online to help me memorize things for school.
ReplyDeletematt here - I wouldn’t say Delaney’s definition was anything new to me, but it did make me stop and think a little deeper about what pop culture actually means.I mostly just thought of it as music, TV shows, and movies basically whatever everyone was talking about at the time. The way Delaney explained how it connects people and influences how we see the world made me realize it’s bigger than just entertainment.
ReplyDeleteMy relationship with pop culture is pretty strong overall. I’m on my phone a lot, so I see the newest trends as they’re happening, which makes me feel like I’m always kind of present online. At the same time I still hold onto older stuff I liked years ago certain music I keep going back to while some other trends just fade out for me.
I’ve definitely found ways to bring pop culture into school. Sometimes I’ll reference a movie, a viral trend, or even a social media moment in assignments, and it usually makes my work more relatable. It also helps grab attention because people immediately recognize the reference. Honestly, I don’t think pop culture is something you can avoid it’s such a big part of how we connect and communicate now.
I do think that Delaney’s definition of pop culture is still fairly well agreed upon, though on the same front, I think it’s become less relevant in recent years. The article speaks to an idea of omnipresent media, of culture that everyone, collectively, experiences. But I’d argue that as technology has progressed, everyone’s perception of the cultural zeitgeist has shifted. With infinite access to information, and anything you might be interested in, all the time, the human experience has become much more individualistic. And with this, massive sweeping trends don’t hit the masses in the same way that they used to, as everyone now mostly only interfaces with the things they are directly engaged by. Paradoxically, the more interconnected we are, the less unified our culture is as a whole, as everyone can latch into their specific niches and groups more easily. Admittedly, though, my knowledge of this viewpoint is shaped by my own experience, as I grew up right when the earliest social media began to pop up. When’s the last time we had a Harlem Shake, for example? Something that felt like it truly took over the cultural talking points on every front. (The next closest connection I can make is something like the emergence of Fortnite, for example. That brought about a new wave of video game hysteria for the older masses as well as unifying people across all younger age ranges. So maybe it’s not as distant as I think…)
ReplyDeleteOf course, there *are* still events that affect the entire population, and do affect the ways that social interactions happen. You COULD NOT MISS COVID happening, or the subsequent lockdowns. Something like the 2024 election also permeated the social spheres, though notably, it didn’t seem to have the same levity of something like the 2016 election. (Once again, though, this could be filtered through my eyes, as I was a child during the 2016 election and less aware of the ramifications.) But all of these events were going to have long-term impacts on everyone, so it’s not surprising that the world was able to hone in on those. But I would still argue that these moments could be considered pop culture, as they altered the ways we speak, rituals we partake in, greetings, and so forth.
As an art student, my work tends to not directly involve pop culture. But it definitely revolves around the consequences of things that emerged from it, as any piece regarding society and one’s place in it would. I know that in ways, I am a culmination of everything I’ve experienced, and that includes the things that engaged me or that I took from my exposure to pop culture. My art tends to focus on certain niche situations that I’ve had in my own life, but I have used pop culture as a springboard to filter those ideas through, for example, using video games alongside sound design and video editing to convey a narrative.
(Jake C)
Delaney's definition isn't new to me, if I were to have a conversation with someone about pop culture then I would explain it the exact same way she explained it. It also made me think deeper on how everyday media and trends shape the world. We constantly interact with pop culture when we are using social media. I listen to a variety of music and I also use social media to connect to pop culture. Pop culture often shapes how people see the medical field by watching Grey's Anatomy and things of that nature, and watching things like that connects me closer to my major. My connection to pop culture aren't to wide so I'm taking this course to understand more about it.
ReplyDelete-ziyen henderson
Amiya:
ReplyDeleteYes, Delaney’s definition of pop culture wasn’t exactly new to me, but it did make me think more deeply about how everything connects. I find it fascinating to hear how others see pop culture, especially since my studies in fashion merchandising make the connections so clear. Fashion is such a huge part of pop culture, and I’m just now realizing how much it reflects current trends and even social movements. For example, fashion shows are a little slice of pop culture in themselves!
Joaquin Spille:
ReplyDeleteDelaney's definition of pop culture is right on the money. Pop culture is a form of identity through expressions like an art form that are accepted by the culture's community. Something I found interesting was that pop culture is liked or approved by society at a given time, but pop culture carries characteristics from past times. Furthermore, his stance on the industrialization era as the leading factor in blending pop culture with other cultures because it brought everyone together to blend everything. Westernization makes pop culture huge, as here in the West, multiculturalism works. Pop culture helps with my major or with what I want late in life because I want to understand what people are into in all forms.
Logan Greeneltch:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Delaney's definition. I think a lot of people tend to associate things that are frequently mentioned or "fads" as part of popular culture because they are usually widely accepted due to the versatility of it. Something like streetwear, for example, has become extremely popular due to it's ability to be enjoyed by everybody. Multiple brands and celebrities endorse clothing and products designed to fit a certain style, and in most cases those products appeal to a broad audience in multiple communities. One complaint I have with popular culture right now is the fact that people sometimes have a mindset of hating things that are popular, purely for the fact that something is widely accepted, and instead focus on niche trends. At the end of the day, however, these niche communities become large enough that they are no longer even niche trends or items and essentially become a part of popular culture, defeating the whole purpose of the mindset.
Alana Walker:
ReplyDeleteDelaney's definition of pop culture was not new to me, but it went depth about the things I didn't quite think of. I always understood that pop culture were things such as music, fashion and media, but it brought to my attentions that things like slang are included in this. It made me realize how pop culture is influential in daily life.
With my relationship with pop culture, I have interacted with it constantly throughout my life especially music, it was a constant in my household. It connected me with friends and family, especially at gatherings that would last hours. It often influences how I express myself, not just music but also social media. As far as brining pop culture into my studies, I used my knowledge from trends and TV for my fashion class I had my previous semester, as well as educational classes, it makes it feel easier to discuss.
Delaney's definition of Pop Culture is simultaneously grounded and broad, and I belive does a good job at gesturing to the living, breathing thing that is pop culture. I noteabley agree with the idea that Pop Culture is largely informed by the past and that nostalgia has a huge part in the trends of any decade. I also believe that however "shallow" people might think Pop Culture is, it truly shapes not only how our world looks, but how we as people live and think.
ReplyDeleteI come from one of those tree-hugging families that didn't grow up with any kind of social media, not even cable, and I have always felt more like an observer of Pop Culture rather than a participant. I often feel like I look to the past as much as I look at what people are doing currently, which is why I feel my style and interests generally hang in an awkward balance between the two.
I think that diving deeper into the core of Pop Culture and gaining some more social media literacy will greatly aid me in my major, as I hope my future career will be creating something that in it's own way becomes Pop Culture. I major in Communication Arts (Narrative Design) and my dream is to be a comic book author/artist as well as a character designer and world builder for video games or movies, and I think studying what makes people gravitate towards certain medias and ideas will help me hone my skills to be more marketable!
- Akiko M
Delaney's definition of pop culture was not new to me; I had heard similar things before. My relationship with pop culture is incredibly strong, I am constantly online and very active on social media. I interact with film and television and sports pop culture on the regular. My major is scenic design for theatre, so I am constantly interacting with art, plays, and film. I make references in my designs, and I take a lot of film classes as well, -Dakota C
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