what's this obsession with pop culture

[beatniksik]

i personally would love to just DROP OUT and give my t.v. away and just live in a hut for the rest of my life and not be around all the bull shit of pop culture. if you are eccentrice people will laugh and mock but if you are out of pop culture they wont see you, i just hate the fact that if i don't look or act like such and such then i'm ridiculed. i'm tired of racism, sexism, ageism, hypocrisy, hate, superficiality, materialism etc... i just want to live my bohemian lifestyle without shame, looks, stares, i'm sick of it it's BULLSHIT. aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!! !!!!!

[Sage-Phoenix]

Amen to that.

Although actually I've never felt the urge to drop out. I'm more than happy to be a freak in a normal world and just figure it would be better to be out there proud and strong, not letting them push people around, rather than hiding away feeling all persecuted and crap.

Perhaps it's diffrent where you are, but I've never really felt ridiculed and shamed or whatever. Then again it might just me. Maybe I've got a very high shame threshold.

Each to their own I guess.

TTFN

Sage

[bradofcentralpa]

high shame threshold...thanks. i plan to use that.
responding to the original post... yep. boohoo boho boohoo. I think we all get a little tired of being limited to conforming or being a part of a 'counter culture.' of course, we gotta keep in mind, some people like pop-culture...it's security, but there's just enough variety to keep people interested.

[earthy44]

My husband and I got rid of our TV and are glad we did. But I can't tell you how many people at work asked "Did you watch the last Friends episode? the last Frasier episode?" ect.ect. People's lives revolve around pop culture. Its amazing the crap that the media feeds people to distract them from the real issues. ACK!

[Duncan]

There was a long while from about 1985-1990 when I watched no television. I had a black and white television that was in the closet. But then again, during those years I also didn't have a computer.

In today's world I would feel isolated without my television. My cable fee is quite nominal and it is a tool that connects me with my outer world. I can watch the HISTORY Channel, or ANIMAL PLANET. I can run CNN and see world news or I can tune into the local PBS channel to learn a language or watch a particular feature.

I would also be hard pressed with my videocassette viewing without a television.

It's not the television that is evil... it's what you choose to view on it !

[FunkyPhreshMama]

we don't have cable so I watch PBS all the time since we only get about 4 channels. I do watch the simpsons when it comes on and King Of the Hill but for the most part PBS. I am watching the painting guy right now that talks about "happy trees".

I remember back in the day when MTV used to play some fairly decent stuff, WTF happend to it...........

[Fractual_]

i think duncan is right....


also if you really want to drop out and live in the wilderness, that is very possibly y'know? ever heard of a dude named tom brown? he can tell you how....

[kilted2000]

Poeple want to live in the comforting world of comformism. The best thing to do in my opinion is do what you wnat and fuck anybody who dosen't like it.

[TerminalMadness]

I feel the same way too. I'm not like everyone else. As a matter of fact I've only been accepted here and on my own messsage board.

I'd love to live in a commune or go hiking to other countries for a while. Just do everything over and take a long break. I'm hoping someday I can do such a thing, but until then, just live with it as best as you can.

[beachbum7]

Here in Japan, I've watched a lot less TV than I did back home (we don't have cable in our apartment and I don't understand the language), and I think I'm the better for it. I think I would feel isolated if I didn't have TV at all, and I don't want to feel isolated (I felt isolated when I didn't have easy access to the 'net). But spending time on a commune does have its appeal to me. I think there is an obsession with pop culture because people want to feel some sort of comfort.

[Andy73]

"The best thing to do in my opinion is do what you wnat and fuck anybody who dosen't like it."

Could'nt have said it better myself

[TerminalMadness]

I'd love to find a commune to lay down at for a while. It'd be a welcome change from this life.

[MichaelByrd1967]

Most people who obsess about celebrities, lack 2 things...

1. The energy to build up talents.
2. A life and individuality of their own.

Which is why most of us (countercultural peoples) are here.

It's all about a certain "status quo" that does not, can not, and is not possible exist. If there was a so-called "status quo", where would individuality be? NOWHERE! In a being as imperfect as humans, animals, and plants; there is no such thing as a perfection, a normality, or a "status quo". Nothing can stay the same, ever! Change is what makes the universe function.

Anyway...
When it comes to celebrities and such, mass media is controlling the minds of most people today, but we have the power to resist. The power being our talents, whether it be music, art, tie-dying, meditation, etc.; it helps us resist the controlling sublimination of mass media. In music, there are no more talented and artful musicians, because it's all about the money, and not the pure thrill of creating a piece of music that can represent something that you believe in. In movies, there are no more talented actors, interesting plotlines, or revolutionary ideas (with the exception of the films of Quentin Tarantino, which I think are definitely brilliant and revolutionary). In television, TV shows and commercials have gotten duller and duller and duller and duller and duller and duller and duller............................................ .................................................. ..............

where was I? Ohh!

Anyway, we should protest the control that mass media has on the human race. It's our God-given right to protest whatever we want. We should make a stand. It could begin with a flood of talent from our counterculture, to vividly outshine the dullness of today's mass media.

Who's With Me?!?!?!?!

[TerminalMadness]

Most people who obsess about celebrities, lack 2 things...

1. The energy to build up talents.
2. A life and individuality of their own.

Which is why most of us (countercultural peoples) are here.

It's all about a certain "status quo" that does not, can not, and is not possible exist. If there was a so-called "status quo", where would individuality be? NOWHERE! In a being as imperfect as humans, animals, and plants; there is no such thing as a perfection, a normality, or a "status quo". Nothing can stay the same, ever! Change is what makes the universe function.

Anyway...
When it comes to celebrities and such, mass media is controlling the minds of most people today, but we have the power to resist. The power being our talents, whether it be music, art, tie-dying, meditation, etc.; it helps us resist the controlling sublimination of mass media. In music, there are no more talented and artful musicians, because it's all about the money, and not the pure thrill of creating a piece of music that can represent something that you believe in. In movies, there are no more talented actors, interesting plotlines, or revolutionary ideas (with the exception of the films of Quentin Tarantino, which I think are definitely brilliant and revolutionary). In television, TV shows and commercials have gotten duller and duller and duller and duller and duller and duller and duller............................................ .................................................. ..............

where was I? Ohh!

Anyway, we should protest the control that mass media has on the human race. It's our God-given right to protest whatever we want. We should make a stand. It could begin with a flood of talent from our counterculture, to vividly outshine the dullness of today's mass media.

Who's With Me?!?!?!?!
Whoa! You had me until the whole thing about Quentin Tarantino. I mean his last movie "Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2" weren't exactly revolutionary. Even he admits the plot and all aspects of characters and costumes are taken from old movies he loves. I mean look at Uma Thurman's outfit; straight up bruce lee in game of death.

And there are some good directors out there, but they just don't get the attention they deserve:

Sam Raimi
Robert Rodriguez
christopher nolan
Danny boyle
Richard Linklater
Danny Kaufman

I agree otherwise. Good points made.

[SoundStepper]

I wish i could throw away my televison but there is sometimes some good stuff on it, like i spend most of my time watching the news just to know whats going on, or watching something thats going to help me grow like possibly the history or discovery channels, see televison is a fine object just people should spend time trying to learn something everytime they turn it on, instead i guess, being numb feels a whole lot better.

Someday the country will be in trouble and we can blame it staright on the media. Its no longer about art or getting new information about our world, its about making money and promoting pointless trite ideas.

Well, maybe things will change but until then television will remain in the way from totaly getting inside who we are.

[SvgGrdnBeauty]

Its no longer about art or getting new information about our world, its about making money and promoting pointless trite ideas.

...and it is so unfortunate...

...where did art go in this world? Where did the appriciation of inner beauty go in this world...in the electric box that is full of violence and gossip...

...hmm...there are very few things I watch on TV...and most of them are on PBS or the History Channel, old movies, or episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus

[BlackBillBlake]

tv is bad - is the internet (largely a public sewer) any better?

do you mean 'pop' culture or modern "culture" - I thought pop was warhol/beatles etc.

[SvgGrdnBeauty]

modern...pop culture as in the popular of now...

...now...I could def. do with some Andy Warhol and Beatles...

[MichaelByrd1967]

I think his movies are brilliant, true they contain a lot of violence, but it exposes the truths about society, and corruption of society. And his whole, plot-revealing technique was genius in 'Pulp Fiction'. Maybe I went a little overboard with 'revolutionary', but still I think credit is due where credit is deserved.

[TerminalMadness]

I think his movies are brilliant, true they contain a lot of violence, but it exposes the truths about society, and corruption of society. And his whole, plot-revealing technique was genius in 'Pulp Fiction'. Maybe I went a little overboard with 'revolutionary', but still I think credit is due where credit is deserved.
Whoa! Once again, I never said he sucked, but I just think he's overrated.

Reservoir Dogs is one of my favorite movies of all time. Hey, a spade is a spade, I gotta give him credit for changing the way movies are made.

[MichaelByrd1967]

But what do you mean by overrated? He has only a cult following mostly, and he's not really respected in hollywood. He is much of a rebel.

[TerminalMadness]

Have you read the reviews for his films? People love him, but I think personally he's overrated. He makes too much references to pop culture. I mean it's fine in little doses IMO, but tell the damn story!

[olhippie54]

we don't have cable so I watch PBS all the time since we only get about 4 channels. I do watch the simpsons when it comes on and King Of the Hill but for the most part PBS. I am watching the painting guy right now that talks about "happy trees".





I remember back in the day when MTV used to play some fairly decent stuff, WTF happend to it...........
Bob Ross is the painter.

[WhatIs]

>>i personally would love to just DROP OUT and give my t.v. away and just live in a hut for the rest of my life <<

Do it. You'll never regret it. You may change, but you'll never regret trying it.


Peace.

[tiki_god7]

I would absolutly love the idea of dropping out! I've recently been reading a lot of Alaska magazine and that sonuds like an ideal place to drop out...easy to live off the land....and it seems generally accepted in small alaskan towns.......it is bizarre how frowned upon it is to want to live off the land on your own like that and how pressured we are to do the 'norm' go to college, get a good paying job(one that puts you in the upper class or towards upper middle), get married, have a anice big wedding, have some kids, and spend the rest of your life working to pay for it.......what the hell is that? working the rest of your life? thats ridiculous if you can get by without working why do it....everybody bitches about having to work but the idea of not working is too far out to get a grip on.....
Which brings me to the point that if one actually does get out live on his own....decides to grow garden in his backyard thats and when you ingest some of the plants....ooops it makes you feel good and a little giggly...and you get arrested....

[DharmaBum]

Bring This Savage Back Home.......

[white ginger]

right on you definitely should do it.
I've been planning on doing it soon. BC rainforests... so beautiful. I just have to find some defense for bears... any ideas?

[SvgGrdnBeauty]

>>i personally would love to just DROP OUT and give my t.v. away and just live in a hut for the rest of my life <<

Do it. You'll never regret it. You may change, but you'll never regret trying it.


Peace.
I agree. Read Walden by David Henry Thoreau...he did sort of the same thing (except he had no TV to sell)

[cerridwen]

I've done that, kinda... spent a whole month without any tv or radio... no media stuff whatsoever. Quite enlightening... spent much more time outdoors, talking to friends... rekindled a lot of forgotten relationships... it was much healthier! It's good to flush the media out of your sistem a bit once in a while.

[alphacolor]

I don't really give a shit what is popular and what is not, and I never did.
When I was little (in elementary school) everyone wore certain kind of clothes depending on what was in and what was out. I wore whatever I found confortable.
A lot of the times I was laughed for clothes, attitude, habits, not liking sports.
but I was proud to be the one person not to buy all their shit that made you "popular".
I continued this attitude through high school, and even today. Only today it is more evident in the way I think. Most people "grew up" by accepting the common "standard" ways of looking at life. I spit on that, I have my own perception and my own mind. I will not be taught how to THINK.

Anyway , about TV. I wouldn't throw it, I like watching movies, specially old movies, and sci-fi.

[deadhead716]

without technology, i would probably keel over. computer is a huge part of my life, but sometimes i like to just stay outdoors for a few days, meditating and stuff like that.


as far as standing against the mainstream, i just go with the flow so that i don't get plowed (there are a lot of really violent anti-hippie people at my school). but really, thats only at school. everywhere else, i do and live how i want, as long as it goes over ok from my parents.

[spooner]

right on you definitely should do it.
I've been planning on doing it soon. BC rainforests... so beautiful. I just have to find some defense for bears... any ideas?
I grew up in norhtern BC... and i'll give you a hint. Black bears are essentially big dogs, they won't do shit unless you are a complete idiot (getting between a mom and her cubs, getting really close to them on purpose). I did a fair bit of hiking/fishing/hunting when i was younger, and one time we were climbing Copper Mountain. All we had was a buck knife and a bear came down the trail (we weren't making much noise, which was dumb) reared up. I picked up a rock, hit the bear on the side and he ran away. Unless bears are used to humans, they aren't particularly dangerous.

[soulrebel51]

hmm....what the fuck is pop culture exactly? :p

[purplesage]

I believe being a hippie is also subscribing to popular culture, to a degree. It might not be popular these days but back in the late 60s many people lived their lives the way you describe. It was the counter-culture but on the other hand it was a popular way for a young person to live their life.

As for me, I'm not against popular culture. I'm just against TODAY's popular culture. I'm interested in the hippie culture, but also how Joe Average, his wife and teenaged son and daughter lived in the late 60s - early 70s. The products they bought, the way they liked to spend their leisure time, the clothes they wore, the music they listened to, the TV shows they watched, etc.

[white ginger]

Cool thanks Spooner. yeah... I'll just have to sing a lot :)

[spooner]

if anybody is seriously thinking about living on their own, out of society, for a while... make sure you check out the queen charlotte islands. Its a set of islands off the coast of bc with beautiful scenery, no predators except black bears, a plentiful species of dwarf deer, magic mushrooms that grow in the wild... the whole islands have only two towns with a population of about 500 people combined, and its possible to walk the circumference of the top island in about a week i'd say.

[Spacer]

I work in a bank with some of the most shallow people you'll ever meet. They are all major victims of "pop culture". The vast majority of them listen to terrible music and watch all those pop idols shows and other equally as bad reality tv shows. I think the main problem these days is that so much advertising goes into all this crap and people buy into it all. They aren't exposed to other more underground stuff. I was exposed to good music by my Dad when I was much younger and ever since then could never listen to pop and have always dug through all the shit that's released to find the far-better less well known stuff. As for people ridiculing you for being different, I find that quite sad and the fact that they feel the need to do it doesn't say much about them. I think people have become afraid of the "different". But as Bob Dylan said and it still rings thrue today "Don't criticise what you can't understand". I don't think the people I work with are bad people they're just what I would class as dullards. They've been consumed by modern day advertising and have no sense of taste or proper culture left in them. Pop culture has been Americas gift to the world, don't accept it, do your own thing and be your own person. Even if you are ridiculed which would you prefer a little bit of slagging or to be the bitch of pop culture and a dullard?? I know which I'd choose!

[prism]

You know what really sucks....having to be around young people who worship the concept of pop culture. :-(
Oh, the perks of being in the 16-21 age group...
:-(

[Nathan11]

Prism, I love you.
:)
Wanna have sex?

[prism]

OK. I'll be at the brothel in a minute.
:D

[Nathan11]

WHOO HOO!
Wait, which one?

[prism]

You know... that one down the street. Prostitute Patty & Dirty Daisy are always hanging out there.

[MichaelByrd1967]

People obsessed with Pop culture have no independent identity. They latch onto the thing it's in, to make it look like they have an identity.

That's about it. :&

[miami musician]

i can't say that i am obsessed with pop culture, but sadly i have to keep an eye on it. in the music business field, the industry is constantly fueled by pop music and the culture itself. i don't listen to pop, i don't watch MTV, but my professor constantly tells us that we should, even if we don't like it. i guess because it shows the "trends" or whatever...

^^hey michaelbyrd, where in philly you from? :)

[Lotus Butterfly]

Here in Japan, I've watched a lot less TV than I did back home (we don't have cable in our apartment and I don't understand the language), and I think I'm the better for it. I think I would feel isolated if I didn't have TV at all, and I don't want to feel isolated (I felt isolated when I didn't have easy access to the 'net). But spending time on a commune does have its appeal to me. I think there is an obsession with pop culture because people want to feel some sort of comfort.

Hey Beachbum, I hear ya on that last part. In a world where people are afraid of being alone or out of the norm, T.V. does seem to bring some comfort. Maybe people should just face their fears instead. By the way, where did you get the pic of Ani? I love her!!!! :)