Shaping our Culture, One Kid At A Time

How Do Young People Help Shape Popular Culture?

            A commercial here, an advertisement there, or a few magazine covers, may not seem like they are influencing the incoming students of our society. Well, I believe that young people today are definitely one of the largest factors in shaping our culture. Growing children pay close attention to what is on the television, what is taught in school settings, and what is talked about everyday when they get home from school. Therefore, due to the strong influences of our visual culture, the admiration of young people can make or break societies future interests.

         After analyzing the article, Looking At, Engaging More: Approaches for Investigating Material Culture, written by Doug Blandy and Paul E. Bolin, it can be understood that the idea of using everyday objects in meaningful ways is known as “material culture” and that it is ever-changing. Authors specifically state, “Material culture is that segment of humankind’s biosocial environment that has been purposely shaped by people according to culturally dictated plans”. Brandy and Bolin believed that this “material culture” is simply just tangible reminders that help relate our work to our own lives. So, with our changing culture, young people are the ones making the decisions to use their meaningful everyday objects in ways that express themselves. I can certainly agree with the idea that whatever our younger generations have taken interest in will eventually dictate what will be popular during their lifetime.

It has also become clear that the more visual culture that is offered, the more useful it may be as a resource for new art curriculum. After reading the article for Art Ed. 211, What is Manga? The Influence of Pop Culture in Adolescent Art, by Masami Toku, I have learned that young people are influenced by their surrounding culture much more than I would have predicted. Manga has become so popular in Japan because of its opportunities for exchanging creative ideas. The kids that grow up with this Manga culture are proven to be less likely to lose an interest in art because they get to communicate their own stories in their own way. This form of self-expression causes students to continue expanding their artistic abilities even after graduating high school. I believe that art educators will need to adapt popular culture that expresses students’ interests if they want to maintain a focused, motivated, and interesting classroom environment.

Whatever visual culture appeals to young people helps to shape what our culture manufactures and publishes, showing a strong influence on our popular culture by the newer generations. After reading these articles I have come to the conclusion that in order for our students to maintain an interest in art, they must be able to express themselves through the exploration of self. By exploring who they are, in their own creative way with a little guidance from the teacher, they are going to be more likely to take interest in art. Teachers must introduce diverse ways of creating art as self-expression, using popular culture to help kids connect with their identities, values, and thus causing enthusiasm in the art classroom.