Surviving a private, liberal arts college and obtaining a masters degree in humanities while holding onto pop culture is a sash I proudly wear. I vividly remember Dr. Johnston’s sociology course with some of my college’s famed NPR-listening, Birkenstock–wearing, academic purists who scoffed at Britney Spears and rolled their eyes at anything pop culture.
When I compared Ani DiFranco as a liberal Britney Spears, they about served my head on a platter to Dr. Johnston and I—well, I learned to keep my pop culture fascination at bay. I learned that if I wanted to be taken seriously as an academic, I had to listen to jazz music, read the works of tortured souls, and drink organic, non-forested coffee at midnight.
Several years have passed and the greatest learning I’ve cultured is the confidence to embrace the value of indie artists while maintaining a respect for pop icons.
So excuse me and my soapbox for a hot minute. 🙂 As a God-fearing, Jesus-loving woman, I’m stunned at the backlash of highbrow elitist who scoff the new documentary about the life of Justin Bieber, pop icon and music artist. Whether you listen to Casting Crowns, Florence + The Machine, or Justin Bieber, there is a beauty in interrelating the value [and necessity] of each genre.
We speak about influence, power, and determination of a business CEO and applaud. But we easily negate the strategy of social media, musical talent, dedication, and charm of a teen who had a fairytale-esque meteoric rise to fame.
Bieber is the undisputed social media star of all time. He has 4.5 million Twitter followers and conscientiously utilizes media to engage with those who love him. The point is raised that it took N*Sync and Backstreet Boys years to make it; it literally took Bieber months because of his—and his fans use of social media. You think The Beatles set the pace? This country boy’s way out in front.
So why is my Twitter feed and facebook homepage wrangled with people who insist on erudite quotes from brilliant dead theologians and superfluous thoughts of religion, life, or church? Though I value and see the necessity of revering our past, it is crucial for our next generation of leaders to be in the present; in the now; in posture of learning. Even if it is from the life of a 16 year-old popstar.
I’m open for discussion or debate. These thoughts are malleable and I would love to discuss your thoughts… even if you’re in Birkenstocks and listening to Tori Amos in the background.
Break it down girl! As a Sociology major, you make some very great points. I am beyond fascinated with how music reflects the times in which they were produced. For example, many people dog rap music that came out during the 80's in such groups like NWA. However, it completely reflected what was going during that time of those rapper's lives. So yes, we must relive the past, but we also must understand the future. Because one day, our future generation will be looking to our time for advice therefore I believe it is beyond important that we are well rounded in all aspects of society, from Marxists theory to some good ol' fashion POP music 🙂
WORRRRRRD!
I'll study German, read a novel, and then watch the Bravo channel. It's all about balance 😉
You study German? You are in my will! 🙂
I just got back from a Presbyterian women's retreat titled "Your Baptism Is Showing" and the speaker utilized the old 80s movie "Overboard" – Goldie Hawn's character – to illustrate the change that comes after baptism/through baptism (full immersion in this case!), initiated by it – and that it is not really OUR choice, our response but God tapping us for himself, etc. She also referenced the movie "Dan In Real Life". I am 36 and I was the youngest in the audience of 40 gray-haired, sweet women. I am a pastor's wife and I am always a little sad when I see no one else from generation interested (or too busy) for things like that retreat. It's a shame because that event would have been more geared towards them than the older generation who have no computer or pop culture reference but took it all in just the same. I'm currently teaching a kids club (4 weekly meetings) using "The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe" movie because our town's librarian mentioned to me that the Christ allegory is "lost on today's kids". In my mind I was like, and you're not about to do anything about it either, it seems? I'm so glad to see a kindred spirit in you – it takes strength and an open mind to connect dots across genres, and you're doing it creatively and to the blessing of many.
I revere our past…as in the 80s. I've woken up to Taylor Dane every morning this week.
Oh, wait…that probably wasn't what you were referring to. {smirk}
I loved the video blog you did a little while back where you talked about the need to embrace culture and stay tuned to the world so we can relate to 'non-Christians' – when it comes to music I am VERY passionate about the division between Christian and secular music being erased. Music is art – art is freedom. If it speaks to you, embrace it!
I love you Bianca, I really do – but I can't ignore one thing about this post: it's 'N Sync…..and they rocked…..and should reform 🙂 That is all 😉
Thank you! I was going to comment about 'N Sync as well. I would totally support an 'N Sync reunion!
Thanks for correcting that. I felt my heart break a little when I read "In Sync".
And I'm all for THAT reunion! I saw them in concert 5 times and would love to see them if only once more!
Just to let y'all know, me, my twin sister, and two college roommates camped out all night at Tower Records to buy N*Sync. I should really be embarrassed for myself but I'm not.
I never saw them live but by the dvd's it's clear they put on an awesome show! They should utterly do a reunion!
I really like this post. Sometimes it gets exhausting trying to keep up with the crunchy granola intellectual theologians I know… and while I LOVE (LOVE) the discourse and conversation I share with them, sometimes it feels good to just break it down to Pink or Eminem in the car with my kids 🙂
Wow! I love you girl and your views are fresh and deep, but for a simple mind as mine, I need a dictionary to understand this! Nevertheless, I appreciate you and love your blog… even if it takes me half an hour to understand. lol I just take it from an educational perspective! 😉
Awesome! I'm glad you can enjoy it 🙂
A big AMEN to that! As a college student and an aspiring novelist I feel the tension every time my professors down on blog writing and commercial writing. According to my professors, unless a writer is starving and no one is buying their work, then they are no good. My opinion: If no one reads it, was it ever really written?
Way to go!
Yes! Bloggers are viewed as the "lesser" and I'm so tired of it. What we are doing are taking away power from the ones who own it and they are bothered. Academia and those who refuse to learn and add to the conversation will have to share the power at some point soon.
I have referenced http://www.dictionary.com 4-5 times while reading this post! Thank you so much for challenging me in many ways… from my thinking to vocabulary. I admire you, and your enthusiasm… Christ in you!
Hahaha! I'm so sorry!!!!!!! As a lover of words, I totally feel connected to finding the right word. Ugh, but it's annoying when I see words I don't understand. xoxo
love the post. and that we DON'T have to be people who insist on erudite quotes from brilliant dead theologians and superfluous thoughts of religion, life, or church to be a feel loved and welcomed to your blog and conversations….and since i love fairytale stories along with his talent i can admit that i want to see the movie, but no one will watch it with me…haha!
Quite the opposite, I take classes on using social media and film…so I try to balance THAT out with some classic literature and good old NPR (ughhh for boring factor). But a girl's gotta admit when she's got the FEVER. And that I do! Is now a bad time to admit that I also saw the Jonas Brothers movie? Err…I was taking my high school small group 🙂
So true – we who inhabit Social Media should give the boy some due. My nieces say he sings like a girl and has bad hair – and they’re 10 and 8 – so the backlash goes further than one might think. Maybe we’re jealous.
And I like Tori Amos (◠‿◠)
I’m really glad I read you today Bianca
God Bless and Keep you and yours
Don't get me wrong, I love all kinds of music. I can enjoy almost anything from classical to screamo. But I do have a problem with Justin Beiber.
No, I don't hate the kid, and I don't hate all those screaming girls who are in love with him, but have you heard the things he sings about?
He's a child singing about mature subjects to other children, and I don't like the message he puts out to kids.
I suppose its just something that strikes my heart because I live in England, where there is nothing shocking or disturbing to us natives about seeing a 12 year old girl pushing a stroller, or hearing a group of 8 year old boys shouting profanities at passers-by and talking to each other about a cute girl they'd like to ****.
It hurts my heart like nothing else to see "childhood" occuring only between the ages of 0-6.
And the world does everything it can to help this along. Instead of teaching kids not to have sex before they're married or even adults, schools teach them how to use a condom or where to get the morning-after pill.
Justin is a very talented kid, and I wish him well, but my heart breaks at the ways I've seen him influence other kids. He should be hanging out at the skate park or the youth group, not singing about his love life. His fans should be playing jum rope or learning to braid each others hair, not screaming histerically at their "idol".
Can I just say I adore you simply because you used the word erudite?
I love that word.
I've often thought about my parents reaction to my own style of pop music when I was younger….and just attribute my dislike of Bieber to my age. 😉
Great post! Great thoughts!
Love!
deb
Long live the Beebs.
Your essential point about pop culture being relevant is absolutely correct but Justin Beiber is nothing but a puppet – a pretty one at that I will grant you, he sings songs that other people write, wears clothes that people choose for him, turns up when he is told to and probably like so many other child performers before him has a contract that makes sure he doesn't get much of what he earns. Do you really think that Justin Beiber himself harnessed the power of social media or someone at whichever music company he is owned by did it for him??
The point about the Beatles is that they are still important musically – they still set the tone for what a pop song should do…not sure we will say the same about Beiber, in fact not sure we will even remember him in 5 years time – unless he goes crazy and shave his head…
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