Pop Culture Speech

Pop Culture Speech

Most of us have heard of the concept “imperialism,” defined as the practice of one country extending its powers over the territory, political system or economic life of another country. Yet, we would never imagine that imperialism could affect us in this lucky country, especially in the form of popular culture. Never would we even conjecture the overall harmful motives of the dominating superpower, after all it assumedly is the вЂ?protector of democracy and human rights.’ But really, we have gradually become accustomed to living within the safe precincts of a bubble of oblivion. Let us assess the foundations of popular culture and the significant role it plays in society. The usual place to start is in our living rooms where the whirring television voices its ideologies and opinions. I’m sure Orwell would agree.

Being one of the most influential tools of popular culture, the television blares out advertisements, TV series, films and whatnot. Over the years I have seen it as a mere entertainment source for convenience, but now my perception of the TV box has altered to a censored money-making machine. Let’s take a look at tonight’s TV agenda, shall we? Prime time to late night shows from various channels involve Grey’s Anatomy, Women’s Murder Club, NCIS, Home and Away and The 7:30 Report. As you can see, the majority of our shows are American. Why?

TV channels are not merely there to strive for sky-rocketing ratings. Nor are they there to increase profits for multi-national corporations where millions of dollars are poured into advertisements during prime-time, but they are there to indoctrinate society with a government’s values and false dreams. Thus, advertisements which seem to harmlessly persuade us into buying goods are in fact a pre-text to successfully divert our attention away from “reality,” such as governmental corruption or gratuitous coups. Television shows attempt to thrill and relax us where we are then more lenient towards attaining the idealised lifestyle by becoming consumers in the capitalist market. In this case, most of our TV shows promote the American dream and sells U.S values which include the obsession of the material world with its dramatic and exotic fantasies. Hollywood lifestyle is today’s main focus with celebrities parading the latest fashion trends and their privileges. With the aid of mendacious propaganda as well as a billion dollars worth Hollywood film industry, America has laid the building blocks for soft imperialism. That is, as the burgeoning number of people emulate American mass culture and buy the “false dream”, the U.S will have gradually owned the hearts and minds of the people вЂ"the key to the soul of the nation. When this act is rendered fruitful, more American corporations root themselves within the subject country, globalising in order to maximise growth and profitability. To name a few of these American firms within Australia are Arnotts, Panadol and Coca-Cola. This act of soft imperialism will solely benefit the corporate elite as well as highlighting the mounting power and authoritarian rule which the U.S hopes to achieve globally.

Yet, pop culture has now become an addiction where the “American way of life” lures many to yearn for the upper-class couture and prestige вЂ"a detriment to society. Look at the colossal billboards like those by Eye, and the glossy magazines which flaunt revealing clothing worn by ultra-slim models who gasp at the sight of cellulite. You only need to observe while waiting in the check-out queue the public exhibits of Madison, OK! Vogue, Zoo and Harper’s Bazaar to realise we must in some mysterious way live up to the American expectation of attaining the “perfect image.”

Fulfilling this ideology eventually becomes a custom whilst dividing society. This is typical in schools where at times there exists a social hierarchy comprised of various cliques from wannabe blonde bombshells to thuggish gangster rappers. The clichÐ"© slogan, “too cool for school” attitude is now adopted