In order to define “popular culture” the two words must be defined separately first. The first term culture is defined by Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary as “acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspect of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills” (2010). The term popular usually is used to define a state of being that is generally well liked by the majority. Therefore, popular culture is an art form or aspect of society that is commonly held to high regard by the masses or in other words the majority approves.
In a business environment you will encounter people from many different backgrounds and generations. In order to be able to relate to your customer's and co-workers as well as understanding their perspectives and needs, it is important to understand pop culture. Once a person understands the culture of a customer or co-worker, they can offer services and products that meet their needs. As younger generations enter the workforce it is important to understand the newer pop culture’s so you can create an environment where they feel part of the work unit.
There are billions of examples of popular culture all around us. An excellent example of popular culture is the television series The Simpsons. The series has been such a hit that it is a household name. The series The Simpsons has action figures, movies, and games to complement the show. The series was the pioneer in the animated shows for adults. As a result of the show’s success other animated shows for adults have been created such as Futurama and Family Guy. The series The Simpsons is an excellent example of popular culture because it has had a significant impact of American society but it is not considered a classic art such as Shakespeare. The impact on American society is evident from the fact that The Simpsons are household names and their impact on their area of entertainment. The series is not considered high class art but has made a significant impact on society thus proving that The Simpsons (About the Show, 2010). Resources
About the Show. 2010. The Simpsons. Retrieved on September 28, 2010, from http://www.thesimpsons.com/
Culture. 2010. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved on September 27, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture.
Amanda McGraw-
ReplyDeleteI agree that the simpsons would be considered an artifact of popular culture. Many of the situations that the characters experience can be traced back to situations that every day americans go through, which is one of the reasons the show was such a hit with the general public. Americans can identify with this how.
I also agree that in business situations it is important to understand your customers and co-workers. Understanding their culture and what they consider popular culture is a key way to understand where they are coming from and why they behaive the way they do.