I really hope your arm feels better! That is some kinda crazy. 0_o And I know how getting burned on the oven is... I've got a couple of big scars from that, myself... >_>
As for Mass Culture, the alternative to NOT keeping up with what everybody else is into is that you become a hermit like me who can't relate socially to anybody... It's a trade off, I guess. I feel a little guilty for not having friends, but I don't really miss the hype of the things people enjoy (I just can't get into the drama of popular tv shows no matter how hard I try). I think there must be some kind of happy medium, though, where one can be aware of what those around them are interested in without having to run around all the time trying to be "into" all of the same things... Maybe. :)
I think the happy medium is subculture: finding people who like what you like, and spending time exclusively with them. That's infinitely easier thanks to things like the Internet, specialty stores and themed hangouts, the social freedom to mix without regard to race, class or gender....
Perhaps. But I can't seem to find a subculture that I fit in with, either... I tend to paddle in their shallows for awhile before I give up an move on to some other thing... Just haven't found my niche yet, I suppose. : )
So for me, so far the happy medium has been marriage: find ONE person I like and spend time exclusively with him. XD
You're right about the article being half-baked. It was like the guy had no clear idea of what he was ranting about. You know that bit about everybody watching the same stuff? Well, I don't believe I've ever seen an episode of Seinfeld straight through, and I never liked it much.
This is the time of the "long tail," as I've heard it called, when there are a great many more products that each attract a smaller number of people. There is nothing wrong with this. You're right: there's too much talent. But how is that different from a hundred years ago when the dissemination of "great talent" was far narrower just 'cause we didn't have the technology? Small talents flourished and brought artistry to the local level. This is similar: only the definition of "local" has changed. And what's wrong with that?
(Around here, you really only need to keep up with college football to have an all-purpose subject for small talk!)
But how is that different from a hundred years ago when the dissemination of "great talent" was far narrower just 'cause we didn't have the technology?
Hey, anyway! The first "national pop star" was essentially invented by P.T. Barnum in 1850. Where was your mass media before that, half-baked article writer?
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As for Mass Culture, the alternative to NOT keeping up with what everybody else is into is that you become a hermit like me who can't relate socially to anybody... It's a trade off, I guess. I feel a little guilty for not having friends, but I don't really miss the hype of the things people enjoy (I just can't get into the drama of popular tv shows no matter how hard I try). I think there must be some kind of happy medium, though, where one can be aware of what those around them are interested in without having to run around all the time trying to be "into" all of the same things... Maybe. :)
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So for me, so far the happy medium has been marriage: find ONE person I like and spend time exclusively with him. XD
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This is the time of the "long tail," as I've heard it called, when there are a great many more products that each attract a smaller number of people. There is nothing wrong with this. You're right: there's too much talent. But how is that different from a hundred years ago when the dissemination of "great talent" was far narrower just 'cause we didn't have the technology? Small talents flourished and brought artistry to the local level. This is similar: only the definition of "local" has changed. And what's wrong with that?
(Around here, you really only need to keep up with college football to have an all-purpose subject for small talk!)
Reply
Hey, anyway! The first "national pop star" was essentially invented by P.T. Barnum in 1850. Where was your mass media before that, half-baked article writer?
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