Popular Culture Consumption in Youth

Shir-Ling Wong

《南方學院學報》 6期 (2010/12) Pp. 171-179

並列摘要

When we take a closer look of the youth today, we can easily find the testimonies of cultural evolution being explicitly reflected in their physical outlook and behavior. Despite the fact that there are various forms of stereotyping in the leading-edge culture, it is nonetheless ubiquitous, especially in societies that are enjoying postmodernist conditions. Theorists suggest that these widespread polarizing of materialistic indulgence stems from various needs of human; from self-identity development, refuge from the harsh realities of daily life, emotional balance to social acceptance (Giroux,1999; Kenway & Bullen,2001). In order to provide for diverse demands of human, in particular youth at the transition to adulthood, the commodity market construct itself as an enormous repository to allow access for the fulfillment of 'needs' and 'wants'.Among the many prevalent sites that fits the dynamic and pleasantry consumption of youth is through popular media interaction. While on one hand, the obsessive and consistent pursuit of the entertaining fads and fashions causes much anxiety over formation of self-concept (Murphy, 2000; Kelly, 2003; Fiske, 1989) there are others who see it as a natural formation of social norms (Duncan-Andrade & Morrell, 2000; Brooks, 2006).This article attempts to study the influence of popularized entertainment industry, chiefly on how it advocates values into the present youth culture. Following that, we look at how contemporary trends and lifestyle of youth affects adult's concern in respect to their academic repertoires. In this aspect, we discuss how parents and teachers view the implications of popular culture and the appropriate measures they undertake to guide the youth.