Popular culture is a collection of ideas, perspectives, attitudes and images that are within the mainstream of culture. The term popular culture was created during the 19th century. Traditionally, this kind of culture was associated with poor education in lower classes.  This perception changed by the end of the World War 2; popular culture began to be associated with mass culture and culture for mass consumption. Popular culture covers multiple categories as entertainment (movie, music), sports, news, politics, fashion/clothes and technologies. Those things are seen as popular mostly by youth; they are the target audience. Therefore, companies are advertising things that can be interesting for young people.

 

Popular culture is constantly changing; there is a new trend every month. The internet is a great platform to spread popular culture. The new trends are likely to be found online. Social Medias spread the new buzz and it’s a good way to reach youth. The more you see something the more you want it. If a product pops up in your Facebook feed every time you logged in, you are more likely to want to buy it or watch the latest performance of a pop icon.

 

Some of the things that are popular now emerged from subculture. The subculture is "a cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture" (Oxford dictionary). That means that everything can become the new trend.  For example, an underground band that was unknown by a larger public for years becomes popular because of one video showed in a television show or in the news. It wasn’t popular for a long time; only a few people knew about it, but now the band is the new Backstreet Boys.

 

Moreover, companies are targeting youth to buy their new products. In order to reach them, they are asking the biggest blogger or the YouTuber with the most view to advertise their product. In exchange, the companies are giving them money. We don’t even have the conscience of all of this, but it becomes popular if you like it or not. Because the more people do it, the more it becomes popular. Just think about Starbucks with their pumpkins spice latte; Starbucks are doing so much advertising for this drink that everyone wants to try it even if they don’t like pumpkins.

 

Popular culture is everywhere in the news, on television, in the magazines, in the streets on advertised posters and even in our own houses. It all starts with what we decided to watch, which music we are listening to, what we are wearing and even what we are eating. We are creating the new trends with the choices we are making, therefore, we are pop culture.