Presentation Type
Critical Analysis
Release Option
Event
Description
My topic is going to explore how and why pop culture seemingly hasn’t updated for Generation Z yet. Generation Z categorizes people born from the mid to late 1990s up until the early 2010s. It can be argued that previous generations had pieces of media that they could relate to and identify with, but with the media produced for this generation, it feels as if it is out of touch and unrelatable. Generation X had John Hughes movies and MTV that spoke to them. I would also like to explore the repercussions of media companies such as Disney, owning almost all of the popular media, and how this is an unprecedented phenomenon, and also how this occurred. I will also explore the emerging media giants that have managed to do a successful job of producing content that resonates with Generation Z, such as Hamilton, produced by Lin Manuel Miranda, and the television show, Euphoria. With the rapid explosion, growth, and popularity of the internet and Generation Z being raised during this time, this has resulted in subsequent consequences in how they absorb pop culture. There are people in Generation Z who idolize internet celebrities that older generations don’t even know who they are, such as TikTok stars, Youtube Celebrities, and Instagram Models. Instead of going through talent agencies that vet who will be the next “star”, people can become stars on their own through the internet. Media is consumed in a way that hasn’t been before, so it makes sense that “traditional” media, such as television and film, hasn’t caught up with their new audience. This presentation will primarily be an exploration of popular culture for the new generation.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Lisa Costello
Department of Primary Presenter's Major
Department of Literature
Primary Presenter's Major(s)
Writing & Linguistics
Location
Virtual Symposium
Symposium Year
2021
Media, Memes, and Mediocrity
Virtual Symposium
