From our class readings and my individual research studies, I agree that popular culture is “merely entertainment” because it is comprised of a number of agreed elements or principles that are crucial aspects of our contemporary lives (Cullen, 2013). Hence, depending on people who are defining popular culture and then contexts where they are defined, the concept could be used to differently. Besides that, it is also imperatively convenient to note that popular culture is an important tool that people use to identify themselves collectively. Therefore, it is logical to state that popular culture is primarily the aspects of human minds that can be described as forms of expressions or identity that are widely encountered or consequently accepted by specific groups of people at a given time (Cullen, 2013).
It is imperatively evident that the aspect of American culture has been subjected to immense transitions regarding the role and duties of women in the society (Cullen, 2013). More specifically, the author highlights that an American woman has evolved from being essentially a housewife to a career woman (Amy, 2010). Further transitions have seen the empowerment of women to a level where they can have or rather access everything that they desire including the maintenance of their underlying youthful experiences through beauty exposures and fashion designs. Consequently, the author further elaborates that women have gained a remarkable platform for understanding the significance of their sexuality and are no longer regarded sexual figures. For that reason, I find popular culture as “merely entertainment because it goes beyond satisfying the entertainment needs of the American people to even empower them to understand their significance and purpose in life. The fact that women have been provided with opportunities where they can balance between their lives, careers, families and other life necessities justifies everything. Besides that, the improvements that have been realized so far in terms of love, duty, goodness, independence, and other contemporary issues in Disney animated films can also be used to support the essence of popular culture in the community (Amy, 2010).
Far from that, I also have every reason to believe that popular culture is “merely entertainment” basing on my individual experience on the role of popular culture in the American society. In Disney’s “The Princess and The Frog” it is imperatively evident that there are various issues that affect millions of American people ranging from children who go to school to adults who take part in various social, economic and political issues in the nation (Stephenson, 2010). The text has also been used to express the sense of identity in people alongside the significances that they hold in the transitions and transformations that are experienced today. In addition to that, it is also imperatively evident that popular culture is “merely entertainment” when adult viewers of Disney films are provided with healthy platforms for analyzing the political developments and progress that the United States has gone through so far as a country. In fact, prominent leaders such as Wilson are compared to President Barack Obama based on their leadership techniques (Stephenson, 2010).
In Disney’s “The Princess and The Frog” audiences are also enabled to understand that historical transition the underlying American culture has been subjected through lately (Stephenson, 2010). For instance, unlike in the past where racial discrimination was the order of the day, the current American society is characterized by significant improvements that can be celebrated. More specifically, Disney makes it clear that society transformation has been the corner post of necessitating the presence of African American girls in the White House lately. Nonetheless, despite the racial transitions that have been experienced, history remains paramount because at some point in the text, Tiana is compelled to base her decisions on the African American contentious history (Stephenson, 2010).
- Amy, Davis. “Good Girls and Wicked Witches.” Women on Disney’s feature Animation: Bloomington John Libbey. (2006): 169-189
- Cullen, Jim. “The Worldwide Web of Popular Culture.” Blackwell publishing limited. (2013).
- Stephenson, Rebecca, H. Notes on Disney’s “The Princess and The Frog.” Marcia Dawkins. (2010). Available at http://www.marciadawkins.com
