Race and Popular Culture in the United States Essay

Introduction

Society had become increasingly concerned about violence. It has been found that far too many of youths and adults are killing and hurting others. At times, it almost seems to be an epidemic. Many believe that one of the major causes of racial violence is electronic media induced violence or hidden violence camouflaged as popular culture. Within the parameters of popular culture and electronic media rock music with its explicit lyrics about sex, drugs and violence is another risk factor and an even stronger indicator is a preference for heavy metal music, which shows a significant marker for alienation, substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, suicide, and risk taking behaviors during adolescences. Violent video games have an effect on children not unlike that of violent television and film. All these stereotypes White population to be the lead and thus makes other communities subjected to be the second string and eventually projected as the ‘others’ or presents a racist view that can turn violent in the long run. Video games like Rise of Nation stereotypes non-white nation. For example: special power of China is population explosion and that of Numidia is migration. In pop music, Johnny Rebe (Some Niggers Never Die) or Eminem (Foolish Pride) are very poplar and very racist at the same time which indicates the infusion of racism through popular culture. (Judt, 122)

Main body

Some experts suggest an even stronger destructive effect, concluding that the violent actions performed in playing video games like House of Dead, Hitman or Max Payne are more conducive to children’s aggression. Authorities believe that we are not only teaching kids to kill; we are teaching them to like it. In addition America’s youth are exposed to violent words, like that of David Bowie, music and images on the Internet, where there are more than thousand websites, like RougeArmy.com, espousing radical hate, bigotry and violence and race related stereotyped. Similarly, Hollywood movies nowadays are more violent and bloody than they used to be around thirty years ago. Other medium of popular culture like action movies, televised sports, men’s or women’s magazines, radio or TV talk shows has changed for the worse. It is important to evaluate and analyze the cause and the ultimate effects of this drive. However, to make the discussion simpler the focal point would be on Hollywood Action Movies. Hollywood Action Movies are always manufactured keeping in mind the need and likes of the audience moves have scored well at the box office. It is no surprise that with their ability to keep up with the popularity index of the mass. It can thus be stated that Hollywood Action Movies always provided the mass exactly what they intended to see and this became the reflection of the society in general or in other words, Hollywood Action Movies represented the popular culture or demand. These demands are always in favor of the white community and thus become racially biased in nature. One of the most compelling developments of our age is the recognition of multicultural of multiracial society and how they translate to each and every individual. The challenge is not just in recognizing other races but more importantly the culture and heritage of people must also be recognized. The emergence of African American Studies as an important field of study is a recognition of the struggle against racial discrimination and oppression. (Storey, 67-68)

There is a realization that though society has changed its perspectives, it has yet to deal with the social operations and dynamics that dampen the development of the African American sectors in the society. In effect, by not being able to take the opportunities that are supposed to alleviate them they are being further stressed by the censure of failure and personal responsibility for their lives. Peoples’ distrust or reservation of other races or cultures is to be expected: it is very natural to fear the unfamiliar. That is why there is a need for conscious and collective actions to change society. One of the most urgent concerns is the assurance of economic opportunities which should be considered an integral component of any social program to address the issue. The development of various alliance among groups within the community that have shown better success in eliciting response from the most distressed among African Americans: the youth and women. These efforts have efforts have achieved success because they have taken into consideration similar trends among other social that suffer marginalization. (Moore, 155)

For example, one of the major issues that have to deal with is the prevalence of crimes against and attributed to African Americans. This state of affairs which has become a cliché in effect is not only a civil problem but also has become detrimental to all African Americans within and outside their communities. The consensus is that there very few opportunities left to offenders who fit the cliché that it is easy to be caught in a downward spiral. Thus, programs dealing with offenders need the creation of support and prevention groups that consider the social context of African Americans. The critical course of action is to consider the realities that African Americans face today. Though in theory, regulations and legislations have already addressed their emancipation, the reality is that society has not been unable to effectively meet the effects of years of oppression. The very foundation of the US capitalist society deters many and has effective limited the number of individuals who have had been unable to make good of the programs that have been established. (Judt, 35)

At the end of the beat movement and the Vietnam War during the mid 70s, it was found that the society was moving through a transitional period and the generation of the post-beat culture period started believing in the capitalist or market economy dominated society. Careerist approach began to take the predominant option for the generation next and they found it to be fruitful soon enough. These generations started devoting more time to suit, blend within the mainstream of the society, and pursue career therefore curbing valued time for relaxation. In the process, the period of entertainment became limited and thus its value began to rise. Entertainment was being evaluated in terms of money and thus everyone wanted value for his or her money. Hollywood Action Movies provided exactly that. The new movies were more action packed, more violent and bloodier than ever. No wonder the Hollywood Action Movies of the last thirty years have grown to be more bloody and violent than before. The society is actually changing. The public medium of entertainment is keeping pace with the society. With restlessness and eagerness to earn and burn, more is on the rise in the society so is the different aspects of race related stereotyped, crime and violence. The Hollywood Action Movies are cashing these aspects, becoming more race related stereotyped, violent, bloody, and action oriented than ever before. (Storey, 134)

Conclusion

In conclusion, it would be very relevant to state that in our all-utilitarian materialistic market economy driven needs of urban life the electronic media play a vital role. In this whole world of ‘earn to burn’ philosophy it is all but evident that we should be living in a virtual make believe world of utopia more like Aldus Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’. Down the ages of history, all the human clans ever came to existence created utopia in accordance to their own culture and taste. This is our culture and our taste is creating today’s utopia. However, it should be mentioned that had these advertisement would have been fine if they had stayed in their ‘all feel good’ place. Nevertheless, they are not confining themselves to that part only. They are asking the viewers to become a ‘go getter’ and they are asking the viewers to become aggressive with a blend of racism. It is, thus, no wonder the children are becoming influenced by this and getting aggressive all the time as they feel it is the best thing to be and racism is playing a big part in it. Stereotyping White and black communities is no help in the context of controlling racism in the society and the popular culture is doing enough to spread this illness. (Moore, 45)

Works Cited

Judt, Tony. Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945. London: Penguin books, 2006.

Moore, John. Encyclopedia of race and racism, Volume 1. LA: Macmillan Reference USA/Thomson Gale, 2008.

Storey, John. Cultural theory and popular culture: an introduction. London: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.