Mtv's Influence on Popular Culture
Meghan Balmer
10/20/10
Popular Culture Critical Survey Project
It would be hard for one to dispute the fact that MTV has influenced every pop culture trend since its birth in 1981. One could even say that MTV is pop culture. No other media network holds in the palm of its hand the power to control popular cultural evolution the way MTV does. What other media network has influenced and help shape public opinion, filmmaking, newsgathering techniques, presidential politics, and world politics like MTV has? In addition to that, MTV can take credit for reconstructing the music industry (Rushkoss 126). One would be hard pressed to find a person who does not enjoy some type of music. MTV chose popular music as its beating heart, instead of classical music or jazz. Young people around the country could now see their favorite music icons 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, the young people of America were given an international platform to share their common voice, a voice that to this day wants to be heard. Since MTV has such a large hand in shaping the young minds of today, it is important that both parents and children are aware of the impact MTV has in their daily lives. One of the good things MTV has done is serve as the voice of young in today’s society. Demographic groups such as young African Americans had been socially silenced prior to MTV’s ability to market urban music. Thus, MTV’s ability to bring the unheard minority’s voice to an international level has helped break down some of the cultural barriers that have stood in humanity’s way for centuries. Rappers such as Ice T and Public Enemy raised eyebrows around the world with their lyrics protesting Government hypocrisy and other social issues. In turn, these artists’ contributions help make rap/urban music an important and influential cultural movement, and also emerged the young African American voice into political issues. Such an accomplishment deserves worldly praise and
10/20/10
Popular Culture Critical Survey Project
It would be hard for one to dispute the fact that MTV has influenced every pop culture trend since its birth in 1981. One could even say that MTV is pop culture. No other media network holds in the palm of its hand the power to control popular cultural evolution the way MTV does. What other media network has influenced and help shape public opinion, filmmaking, newsgathering techniques, presidential politics, and world politics like MTV has? In addition to that, MTV can take credit for reconstructing the music industry (Rushkoss 126). One would be hard pressed to find a person who does not enjoy some type of music. MTV chose popular music as its beating heart, instead of classical music or jazz. Young people around the country could now see their favorite music icons 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, the young people of America were given an international platform to share their common voice, a voice that to this day wants to be heard. Since MTV has such a large hand in shaping the young minds of today, it is important that both parents and children are aware of the impact MTV has in their daily lives. One of the good things MTV has done is serve as the voice of young in today’s society. Demographic groups such as young African Americans had been socially silenced prior to MTV’s ability to market urban music. Thus, MTV’s ability to bring the unheard minority’s voice to an international level has helped break down some of the cultural barriers that have stood in humanity’s way for centuries. Rappers such as Ice T and Public Enemy raised eyebrows around the world with their lyrics protesting Government hypocrisy and other social issues. In turn, these artists’ contributions help make rap/urban music an important and influential cultural movement, and also emerged the young African American voice into political issues. Such an accomplishment deserves worldly praise and
Cited: Barros, Laura, ed. “MTV - Around The World.” http://www.jmk.su.se/global00/laura/projects/mtvworld.htm. Philo, Simon. "Getting Dumber and Dumber: MTV 's Global Footprint." Cultural Studies Study Group 16 Sept. 1999. Accessed 19 July 2000. Rushkoff, Douglas. Media Virus: Hidden Agendas in Popular Culture. New York: Ballantine, 1994. Williams, Rosalind, "The Dream World of Mass Consumption," Rethinking Popular Culture, Mukerji, C; Schudson, M; ed. Berkeley, California, University of California Press, 1991: (198-235).