The Culture of the People

In today's post industrial society, the basic needs for sustaining life are easily met. This leaves plenty of time for education, music, and art. Many people instead use this time watching television, playing video games, or trying to stay fashionable. There are those among the cultural elite who view this as a waste of time. The common people, however, find their entertainment here rather than staring at obscure paintings or listening to music they do not understand. The culture of high class or highly educated people fits their interests, as the culture of mainstream society fits mainstream interests.

Popular culture encompasses everything that the majority of the people find appealing. There are many fads which come and go, from the Beatles, to acid, to evening gowns. The general life cycle of a popular culture item starts with a new trend or idea, which develops a large following. The idea continues, affecting consumer and business practices, until it has become widely accepted. The trend ends as people move on to another idea, all but forgetting about their previous delights. The inherent waste in discarding yesterday's hot products disheartens me. I am disinterested in most of popular culture, but I recognize the importance of understanding it.

Good business practices require attention to customers. Consumer buying trends vary, dictating as they do the nature of products. Product lines have a life cycle equal to that of the trends they target. Signs of change, vitally important to business, must be detected prior to the inevitable shift in public opinion. An understanding of the philosophy, thought process, and culture of the people is imperative to predicting market fluctuations.

Many parts of popular culture affect our daily lives. The food we eat, the water we drink, and all the products we buy are influenced by and marketed for popularity. One example is the show Wicked. It was attended by millions worldwide, gaining fans with every showing. There are many references to Wicked in other media, making it even more well known. While there are many examples of popular culture, I selected Wicked for it's refinement. Anyone can appreciate sophisticated culture, but popular culture often lacks this quality. This is an example of popular culture that elevates the audience to higher thought, improving the overall quality of the world.