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Reminds me of the late 80s after the wave of cool music died out and songs like Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin hit the airwaves. There were still good things happening and my memory of being in my early 20s was that there were many emerging viewpoints artistically and socially that one could be a part of. That started to change a little in the mid 90s with the rise of Oprah and shows like Friends: entertainment became all about capturing a mass audience and appealing on the widest possible level. If you didn't participate you were a hater. The culture has changed so radically since the late 80s to a mass commercialization of everything that I can't even remember what life was like back then. Nowadays I don't go to most films and find TV is the only medium that really offers anything since the music industry is dead also. Fashion is still relatively interesting since that it is constantly changing and evolving, but I notice so many of the younger kids wearing nothing but Abercrombie and Fitch labels, hoodies with Uggs, etc and not really expressing themselves at all. It is very worrisome indeed.
I say what we need is the KLF, the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu!!
Reminds me of the late 80s after the wave of cool music died out and songs like Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin hit the airwaves. There were still good things happening and my memory of being in my early 20s was that there were many emerging viewpoints artistically and socially that one could be a part of. That started to change a little in the mid 90s with the rise of Oprah and shows like Friends: entertainment became all about capturing a mass audience and appealing on the widest possible level. If you didn't participate you were a hater. The culture has changed so radically since the late 80s to a mass commercialization of everything that I can't even remember what life was like back then. Nowadays I don't go to most films and find TV is the only medium that really offers anything since the music industry is dead also. Fashion is still relatively interesting since that it is constantly changing and evolving, but I notice so many of the younger kids wearing nothing but Abercrombie and Fitch labels, hoodies with Uggs, etc and not really expressing themselves at all. It is very worrisome indeed.
I say what we need is the KLF, the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu!!
The scarier thought for me with a dumbed down America, is a large and looming, ever encompassing socialist government ready to fill the void for us.
Do you mean the current with-us-or-against us present administration?
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Originally Posted by catrinac
Reminds me of the late 80s after the wave of cool music died out and songs like Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin hit the airwaves. There were still good things happening and my memory of being in my early 20s was that there were many emerging viewpoints artistically and socially that one could be a part of. That started to change a little in the mid 90s with the rise of Oprah and shows like Friends: entertainment became all about capturing a mass audience and appealing on the widest possible level. If you didn't participate you were a hater. The culture has changed so radically since the late 80s to a mass commercialization of everything
Yes. That's when much of my generation sold out, and profit began taking the place of taste.
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Nowadays I don't go to most films and find TV is the only medium that really offers anything since the music industry is dead also. Fashion is still relatively interesting since that it is constantly changing and evolving, but I notice so many of the younger kids wearing nothing but Abercrombie and Fitch labels, hoodies with Uggs, etc and not really expressing themselves at all. It is very worrisome indeed.
The culture today is based almost entirely on conformity. It is so goddanged boring!!!
heh
Unlike the nonconformist late 60's-early 70's, when everyone in my high school rejected the mainstream and expressed their *unique individuality* by all wearing the same exact bell bottom jeans and Vibram sole hiking boots.
If you didn't participate, you were a loser.
I actually have been encouraged by both film and the music business this past year. There has been some good stuff out there, artists taking real chances, and those diverse emerging viewpoints you mention--I'm seeing them.
I certainly agree with TKramar that good comedy does not have to be highbrow drawingroom stuff (though I do enjoy that.)
Good comedy, be it the Stooges,Oscar Wilde or screwball, just has to be funny.
My 2¢.
Curly was very entertaining, but had to withdraw for health reasons. I think Shemp filled the gap very well, it would have been sad for the Stooges to stop making films after Curly withdrew.
The music of the 1970s started the slide downhill. "Chewy, chewy". Some groups/individuals still wrote interesting lyrics, but much music was very superficial. Currently, there are still music performances that contain extraordinary lyrics. These songs, by bands will remain obscure, will not be played on commercial stations, but are aired on various college stations.
My bias is that Hollywood movies suck. I have little interest in watching macho men and busty blonde babes in various missions. The last Hollywood movie I've seen was Oliver Stone's "The Doors". I usually go to a theater when they show French movies or rent DVDs.
It has been years since I've had a TV and don't feel as though I'm missing anything.
I loved the bubble gum music when I was growing up! What's wrong with light, fun, superficial with a good beat?? Have never been into the heavy metal or downer type music, the band members heavily into drugs, etc. What's so great about that?
I know this will sound terribly elitist, but honestly, I don't expect any intellectual or aesthetic content from any form or "popular culture". I consider the term "popular culture" to be an oxymoron.
Popular culture, whether it's music, literature, or visual or performing arts, is the art of the masses. It is specifically created to appeal to those of average intelligence and tastes, not to those with high intelligence or developed aesthetic sensibilities.
Of course time has a way of adding value, and what was the art and entertainment of the common man of one age becomes the folk art of the next age to be studied and revered by the very same intellectuals who, had they been alive when the art was produced, would have considered it junk.
I think that is the only comment I will ever agree with you about, Fat Freddy. Not sure it is especially elitist, just common sense and shows good taste.
I know this will sound terribly elitist, but honestly, I don't expect any intellectual or aesthetic content from any form or "popular culture". I consider the term "popular culture" to be an oxymoron.
Popular culture, whether it's music, literature, or visual or performing arts, is the art of the masses. It is specifically created to appeal to those of average intelligence and tastes, not to those with high intelligence or developed aesthetic sensibilities.
Of course time has a way of adding value, and what was the art and entertainment of the common man of one age becomes the folk art of the next age to be studied and revered by the very same intellectuals who, had they been alive when the art was produced, would have considered it junk.
As one of the unwashed masses, I don't think this is at all elitist, Freddy.
I cheerfully concur, especially with the last sentence.
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Not sure it is especially elitist, just common sense and shows good taste.
