Pop culture is an expression that was coined in the 1950s. We will examine the definition of pop culture, where the term came from, and some examples of its use in sentences.
Pop culture is the body of cultural products of a society or folk culture that appeal to the majority of people, or at least are recognized by the majority of people. The term pop culture is an abbreviation of the phrase popular culture, a term that has been in use since the 1800s. At that time, the expression popular culture was a pejorative, referring to lowbrow entertainment and concerns that appealed to the poorer and less educated people. By the 1950s, the term morphed into pop culture, meaning the ideas, concerns and entertainment that is most well-known, and usually enjoyed, by a population. Today, pop culture in the West is often dominated by American culture, though not always. Most pop culture and mass culture is delivered through mass media, including literature and film, popular music or pop music, television programs, pop culture news, social media news, celebrity news, and culture events. Comic book conventions such as the San Diego Comic-con are major sources of pop culture, with superheroes such as Black Panther, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel in films produced by Marvel Studios. Music awards shows such as the Billboard Music Awards are sources of pop culture, as are book series such as American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Game of Thrones written by George R. R. Martin, both of which were turned into television series. While the entertainment industry is a major shaper of contemporary culture, mass consumption of goods and consumerism also plays a part. Funko Pop is an example of pop culture merchandise, as are branded t-shirts and the Barbie doll. Cultural events such as Burning Man are pop culture. While many decry pop culture as without merit, the phenomenon of pop culture can be a way for people to connect, especially in a diverse society where individuals often have little in common.
Examples
Stranger Things 3 is certainly not breaking that mold — if anything, the new season leans even harder into the pop culture references game with some more overt references that even have a commercial effect at times (we meet again, New Coke). (TV Guide)
The class, which finished its second year in May, is the latest example of the surprising pop culture longevity of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia. (The Press Herald)
So whether it’s a mermaid lagoon or Mother of Dragons look you’re hoping to achieve, read on to peruse some of our favorite pop culture makeup collections available to purchase. (Houstonia Magazine)
“The whole concept of Otaquest is to let the people outside of Japan know about the pop culture of Japan,” Takahashi says during a recent visit to Los Angeles. (The Los Angeles Daily News)