Intertextuality in Pop Culture

Intertextuality is everywhere in pop culture these days. Every time there is a best selling book, a movie is made. If the movie gets popular then comes clothing, posters, and other miscellaneous items. One example is Duck Dynasty. It is reality TV show of the family that created duck calls. This show is very popular among my family and friends. After a good first season, it became popular all over the United States and around the world. You can buy Duck Dynasty koozies, t-shirts, rugs, blankets, posters, anything. Another example of this kind of intertextuallity is the Fifty Shades of Grey Fad. Fifty Shades of Grey is a book trilogy of a dominant man and his submissive that fall in love. It is a kinky, yet classy book. This book became popular in the last year or two. Now you can buy all the sex toys online and they are going to make a movie.

Popular Culture

I have learned that popular culture defines our country. It brings our country together because of a common interest. Whether it be about sports like football, celebrities, brand names, advertising, porn, and so on. I have learned that people of all different colors, religions, and backgrounds can all associate with popular culture. There is no written rules to popular culture because it is the opinion of a large group of people. Once something or someone becomes popular, sometimes for no apparent reason, then everyone wants to have the same feeling. This feeling makes people feel like they are not alone. I have also learned that popular culture is a negative aspect of our culture. It is negative because people don’t want to be themselves because they want to fit in with the crowd. Mass media on popular culture is also negative. Advertising pictures of skinny, flawless woman effect average women causing them to be depressed and have eating disorders.

What is violence?

Violence is one of those words that is hard to define. There are so many forms and options to define violence. To some people violence is physical and to others it’s mental. Violence could be a dangerous drug deal or it could look harmless like two children playing in a park. It has become harder to define violence because of all the TV shows demonstrating violence. TV makes violence seem more dramatic than what it is or make it seem like it is nothing since we see it all the time. Controlling what is on TV won’t stop people from becoming violent because they will get access from another source. Violence on TV also scares people from the real world not give them ideas to pursue.

When we are little, we are told from the very beginning that if we are a boy we must be tough, strong, and brave. If we aren’t those things we are not a “real man.” We are told to fight to protect loved ones, our people, and ourselves. This fighting is technically violent or could be. Boys are told to get laborious jobs and play sports. I see this as being both positive and negative. I believe telling your children to be tough, strong, and brave in order for them to have good self esteem and motivation. If it is pushed too strongly than negativity sets in. For example, if your boy doesn’t want to do a laborious job or play sports and you keep pushing him. He will fight back. I believe that causes them to become violent. Anyone can become violent though. The APA’s idea about good mental health relates to mine. We must keep our children with positive forces in order to succeed. The ACLU relates to my idea of controlling TV violence. The ACLU doesn’t want the government to crack down on controlling what we watch.