Influencing Pop Culture Clint A Wilson. Huntington University             Author Note Clint A. Wilson, Huntington University Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Clint Wilson, Contact: clint@clintawilson.com     Abstract By examining the positive and negative effects that pop culture has on today’s society. We attempt to make a direct correlation that not only does pop culture effect society as a whole, but society effects pop culture.         Influencing Pop Culture Pop culture, the positive effects on society, or is it the negative effects of it on society? Like it or not, but it is hard to argue that pop culture has no effect on society. This can be affirmed by Audrey Tramel in her essay The Effects of Pop Culture on Teenagers where she stated “While the research on the effects of pop culture on teenagers is not yet conclusive, the predominance of pop culture in today’s society definitely has some effect.” (Tramel, 2013) The problem is there are two sides of the effects, the positive and the negative and even more opinions on the subject. Today’s youth are so engaged in pop culture, maybe more so than ever in history. Pop culture has always been under attack for negative influences. “In the 1940s and 50s, comic books were blamed for corrupting our children. In the 90s, rap music was blamed for everything from school shootings, violence towards women, to the promotion of gang culture.” (Lewis, 2013) Now everything from music to video games are said to promote and contribute to the violence that seems to be ever increasing in our society. Then there those who advocate that as a whole pop culture does not lead down this path. I personally listen to Gangster Rap am I a gangster? I also listen to Country music, but am I a cowboy? No I am neither of those two. I do not disagree that there are some negative influences in pop culture, but to classify everything that is happening in society on pop culture is a stretch. Tramel sums this up very appropriately. “If we believe that we can inspire with our music and films and other forms of entertainment, then we must concede that when used improperly, our creative works can have negative implications as well.” (Tramel, 2013) Improper use can be found in the lyrics of many songs fonm varying genres, in film, in TV and all forms of media. Let us take a look at one tv show that aired in the UK originally called “Skins”. In the short 61 episodes that the show aired you could see teens partaking in using multiple types of drugs, smoking weed, drinking, violent behavior, and having sex not only with peers but with adults and teachers. This type of pop culture which is rated TV-MA is purely aimed at teens. If our teens are seeing these actions glorified on the TV and we adults are telling them no it is bad, who are they going to listen to? In an interesting piece written about Family Guy and the use of crude and lewd dialogue, you find this gem of a quote. “Thus, while Family Guy can provide a sort of relief by breaking down taboos, we must still wonder whether or not these taboos exist for a reason.” (Peacocke, 2010) Let’s think about this for a moment in the 1950’s adults slept in different beds in sitcoms, just a few short years later they are in the same bed, and today that same bed we are seeing some nudity. If we look at the evolution of what was originally only married couples in the bedroom together to what we have now, we can only speculate that another decade and we will have full out sex on Monday night sitcoms. I do agree in part with Peacocke some taboos are dated and need to be broken down, but there are still some that need to be left untouched. So what about the rare people who state that pop culture doesn’t affect people’s actions? I personally find this thought process to be a bit ridiculous, cause when you look at pop culture by definition it is meat to influence our culture. “By making the argument that pop culture doesn’t affect people’s actions, you belittle the very thing you’re trying to protect. The problem is you can’t have it both ways.” (Lewis, 2013) Take the very popular game Pokemon Go. When this game came out it influenced our entire society. Not only amongst youth, but adults as well. I admit I play it as well. Pokemon Go, did what it was intended to do, change pop culture just enough to make the game a success.                 So in summary, it is my personal belief that pop culture does shape our culture, both in a positive way as well as in many instances a very negative way. Without the influence of pop culture on society I wonder how boring our society would actually become. I also take a firm stance and think that majority of the stuff on TV and on the Radio which would have been taboo just a few years ago, should still be considered taboo. However, pop culture just follows the trends of society, so in one-way society influences pop culture just as much as pop culture influences society.