When most people use Instagram they view pictures of their friends, post personal pictures from their everyday life, or view friends’ or celebrities’ posts, but can Instagram be used as a medium to explore different concepts embedded in images we encounter every day? As I have used Instagram more and more the past few months, I have found that there are ways to use it that go beyond the surface of just viewing and taking pictures. I have chosen to focus on how culture reflects what is seen on television and how pop culture influences our society.
I am a huge television watcher and love to know about things in pop culture, but I never really took the time to dig deep into how these two things are reflected in our culture. I began to realize that television reflects our current society today, such as the trends we follow and what we are influenced by. One picture that I posted was of an old magazine of mine about High School Musical. I loved High School Musical when it first came out, which made me wonder how current trends in pop culture affect us. I decided to pursue this idea further and see in what other instances I could find how our culture reflects popular trends and is influenced by television.
I am a huge television watcher and love to know about things in pop culture, but I never really took the time to dig deep into how these two things are reflected in our culture. I began to realize that television reflects our current society today, such as the trends we follow and what we are influenced by. One picture that I posted was of an old magazine of mine about High School Musical. I loved High School Musical when it first came out, which made me wonder how current trends in pop culture affect us. I decided to pursue this idea further and see in what other instances I could find how our culture reflects popular trends and is influenced by television.
Another picture that I posted was about the Oscars because I noted how fashion is one way in which our culture reflects trends in pop culture. After
posting a picture with Lindsay Lohan and Oprah where they are talking about
Lindsay’s new show, I noted how people are so interested in certain celebrities’
lives. Some appear in the media more than others, and certain celebrities are portrayed more in the media than others. I think it is interesting
how we idolize different celebrities, which I think has a lot to do with our perceptions of them. Our perceptions change based on whether or not their actions align with what we view as acceptable.
posting a picture with Lindsay Lohan and Oprah where they are talking about
Lindsay’s new show, I noted how people are so interested in certain celebrities’
lives. Some appear in the media more than others, and certain celebrities are portrayed more in the media than others. I think it is interesting
how we idolize different celebrities, which I think has a lot to do with our perceptions of them. Our perceptions change based on whether or not their actions align with what we view as acceptable.
I also began to wonder why we choose to watch certain shows. I posted about the show, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, because I wondered if what was on television is a reflection of the things some people in our culture desire, such as fame and wealth and is that why people tune into certain shows like this.
Maybe they are just entertaining or are people trying to live vicariously
through these shows? Are shows like these giving us false perceptions of the world around us? When young girls, or even boys, see shows like these, I think in some cases they feel like this is what should be valued, so they try to become like them, which is a way that culture begins to reflect television and pop culture.
Maybe they are just entertaining or are people trying to live vicariously
through these shows? Are shows like these giving us false perceptions of the world around us? When young girls, or even boys, see shows like these, I think in some cases they feel like this is what should be valued, so they try to become like them, which is a way that culture begins to reflect television and pop culture.
Then there are the shows like Glee and Modern Family, which I posted
about, because I also think that they reflect our culture in different ways. I think that Glee reflects our culture because it shows characters that are relatable to kids today and shows the characters going through ups and downs that may be similar to those that many kids are facing. A show like Modern Family
reflects the different types of families that are present in our culture today. It redefines the definition of a family, while also showing people that different family structures are acceptable.
about, because I also think that they reflect our culture in different ways. I think that Glee reflects our culture because it shows characters that are relatable to kids today and shows the characters going through ups and downs that may be similar to those that many kids are facing. A show like Modern Family
reflects the different types of families that are present in our culture today. It redefines the definition of a family, while also showing people that different family structures are acceptable.
As I was researching what other people were posting using the hashtags, television and pop culture, I found out a few common things. People either post about celebrities or fashion trends. Some post about clothing or accessories that reflect current trends in pop culture. Others even post items, such as collectibles, that reflect and are influenced by current, and even in some cases past, pop culture trends. It is interesting to see the community of people that are formed through these hashtags and how everyone’s posts are different, but in most cases all come back to the idea that our culture reflects popular trends that we see on television or in pop culture.
Our world is constantly bombarded with images, but we never seem to do much with them. By analyzing what they mean, we can discover connections and how our culture is influenced and reflected in certain ideas and concepts.
I think that the idea that our culture reflects television and pop culture and can be influenced by them is a trend that is present in many different ways in our society. I am learning to explore this interesting concept that will hopefully evolve into a project that will allow others to see the power of images, hashtags, and Instagram in a new way.
Our world is constantly bombarded with images, but we never seem to do much with them. By analyzing what they mean, we can discover connections and how our culture is influenced and reflected in certain ideas and concepts.
I think that the idea that our culture reflects television and pop culture and can be influenced by them is a trend that is present in many different ways in our society. I am learning to explore this interesting concept that will hopefully evolve into a project that will allow others to see the power of images, hashtags, and Instagram in a new way.