Pop Culture

Smart vs. Stupid in Today's Popular Culture

There are many different aspects of today's popular culture and each aspect promotes different ideas. Whether it is television, movies, the internet, fashion trends, magazines, or the media, each has its effect on the way people believe, think, and act. Many of them promote "stupidity," and, others promote "smartness" or even both. Either way society thrives off pop culture. Stupidity has become more apparent in today's society and television, today's popular icons, and the media are all major reasons for this. With the advancements in today's technology it has become easier for American's not to think.

Television is a prime example of how people do not have to think and can "veg" out. In a short thirty minutes the producers of the popular MTV television series The Real World display the ideals of sexual promiscuity, alcoholism, and irresponsibility to the extent that the chaotic world that the characters live in seems normal to viewers. The combination of casting for stereotypes rather than good people and setup of the house is designed to create a dramatic tension between cast mates. The irony in the title, "The Real World," is that the actions on the show are not real at all. Another example of a stupid television show is Jackass. Jackass is a show where a group of crazy guys do life threatening stunts as a form of entertainment. Throughout the series, the producers cast people from all different backgrounds and stereotypes. To name a few, there is "the gay," "the outcast," "the alcoholic," "the slut," "the jerk," and "the drama queen." When all brought together to live under the same roof, there is automatically tension, which the producers want because it appeals to the audience. They also, when searching for possible candidates, look for good-looking people who would attract the audience. These characters casted by the producers do not promote any sensible morals, but instead promote drama, sex violence, and alcohol as a form of entertainment. The idea of bringing people together on a television show for these reasons is not only unrealistic in the real world, it is also stupid.

Today's popular icons create havoc in today's society. Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Linsday Lohan are some of today's biggest stars. Paris Hilton was recently served 21 days in jail for driving under a suspended licence for DUIs. Britney Spears over a course of two year has had two children, divorced her husband, and is being threated to have the children taken out of her custody for poor parenting. The children have bad dental hygene, her friends contest that she yells and abuses them emotionally, and she has admitted to having a drug and alcohol problem. What kind of roll model is that? These women should be roll models. They are always in the spot light and everything they do is going to be critiqued. That is the lifestyle they chose. Lindsay Lohan was also recently put back into rehab, she has had eating disorders and is also had DUI. These so called "icons" are all influencing the children today. How stupid is that: pretty stupid.

Porn is another huge part of today's pop culture especially for men. It is so easy to get ahold of. It is degrading to women. Women who want to get on tape and flaunt their bodies in front of a camera in order to turn men on is disgusting.

The media is yet another major part of today's stupid part of pop culture. The media runs America as we know it today. Whatever they broadcast is what the viewers will take on a certain subject. The media decides what to broadcast and that is what is broadcasted.

However, not everything in popular culture promotes stupidity; there are some parts of pop culture that promote "smartness." Some video games, television shows, and books, are all parts of it that do indeed make people smarter. Video games are an example of something in pop culture which makes us smart. Whether it is strategy, hand eye coordination, or problem solving, every game helps people practice different skills in order to win the game. Guitar hero is a new popular game among kids, teenagers, and adults. The game's controller is a fake guitar that consists of five different colored buttons or "strings." There is a strummer which replicates the "pic." The object of the game is so match up the color notes on the screen with the buttons on the guitar and strum at the same time. This game forces the player to practice their memory and hand-eye coordination skills. When repeated, this will surely help make the player smarter. Another popular computer game is Tetris. Strategy is the name of this game. There are different geometric shapes which the player can twist around in order to fit together to make a line, which will then be deleted. The object of the game is to eliminate all of the blocks. In order to win, one has to strategically place all of the shapes. One more game that makes the player broaden their mind and actually think about how to beat the game is an online game called Hapland. It is a game which is frustrating to play, but so satisfying once it is beaten. Hapland is a unique point and click puzzle game where every object affects another. One must click on everything, and figure out how to solve the game. The object is to "save the princess." There are hints along the way, but every wrong move one makes; one has to start all over again. One can play this game for hours and hours. Problem solving is the name of this game. All of these games are examples of how video games make us smarter by practicing different brain empowering skills. Some television shows such as The Simpsons,