Comments on: Pop Culture http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/ The personal blog of Jim Tuttle, digital librarian and all around good guy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:14:52 +0000 hourly 1 By: Scott http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Scott Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:57:49 +0000 http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/#comment-487 Part of the point is that sometimes it can be fun. When I argued against its insipidity, I meant that sometimes, I've found that some examples of popular culture have qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge me. Subjective? Yes, absolutely. Do I have a problem with someone who doesn't care to pay attention to it? Not at all. Also, this may be the first time I've ever used the word "insipidity." Part of the point is that sometimes it can be fun.

When I argued against its insipidity, I meant that sometimes, I’ve found that some examples of popular culture have qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge me. Subjective? Yes, absolutely. Do I have a problem with someone who doesn’t care to pay attention to it? Not at all.

Also, this may be the first time I’ve ever used the word “insipidity.”

]]> By: Jim http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-486 Jim Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:53:26 +0000 http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/#comment-486 Is it popular culture more complex now? I haven't read the book so I'll have to take your word for it. Certainly I would guess there's more of it and more means to transmit it. I agree that the level of cognitive engagement it requires to parse has probably increased. I don't follow about how that proves pop culture isn't insipid. If you take insipid to mean bland, than you could make an argument about your subjective experience of it. I meant that it was uninteresting and insignificant. The fact is that I don't care to find it interesting. I try to consume as little of it as necessary to navigate this culture without seeming like an alien. Sometimes it relieves boredom, too, though I'm sure there are more useful things one could do with that time. I just can't see the point that pop culture is significant enough to intentionally devote time or cognitive energy to consume it. Is it popular culture more complex now? I haven’t read the book so I’ll have to take your word for it. Certainly I would guess there’s more of it and more means to transmit it. I agree that the level of cognitive engagement it requires to parse has probably increased. I don’t follow about how that proves pop culture isn’t insipid. If you take insipid to mean bland, than you could make an argument about your subjective experience of it. I meant that it was uninteresting and insignificant.

The fact is that I don’t care to find it interesting. I try to consume as little of it as necessary to navigate this culture without seeming like an alien. Sometimes it relieves boredom, too, though I’m sure there are more useful things one could do with that time. I just can’t see the point that pop culture is significant enough to intentionally devote time or cognitive energy to consume it.

]]> By: Scott http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-485 Scott Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:53:31 +0000 http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/#comment-485 Pop culture has a lot more going for it these days than it used to, as well, in terms of its complexity and in the level of cognitive engagement that it often requires. In many cases it's not really "insipid" after all. Have you read "Everything Bad is Good For You" ? It discusses this issue specifically. Good book. Pop culture has a lot more going for it these days than it used to, as well, in terms of its complexity and in the level of cognitive engagement that it often requires. In many cases it’s not really “insipid” after all. Have you read “Everything Bad is Good For You” ? It discusses this issue specifically. Good book.

]]> By: Brandi http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-483 Brandi Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:47:15 +0000 http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/#comment-483 I also include knowledge or interest in sports to be in this same category... Everyone has their thing. It's just not mine. I also include knowledge or interest in sports to be in this same category… Everyone has their thing. It’s just not mine.

]]> By: Jim http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-479 Jim Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:59:32 +0000 http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/#comment-479 Ok, you win. There is a legitimate reason for being embarrassingly well informed about trivial things. Perhaps either the people I know are too serious about it or I'm too sensitive about not knowing it. Either way, I'm not watching Lost or exploring 1960s comics. Ok, you win. There is a legitimate reason for being embarrassingly well informed about trivial things. Perhaps either the people I know are too serious about it or I’m too sensitive about not knowing it. Either way, I’m not watching Lost or exploring 1960s comics.

]]> By: Ranger Rick http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-478 Ranger Rick Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:34:25 +0000 http://www.braggtown.com/blog/play/pop-culture/#comment-478 You forgot a 3rd option, which I think is most likely; we pick it up by accident. ;) I have vast amounts of trivia knowledge about stuff I really don't care about, although there's plenty of whacky pop culture stuff I know because I think it's funny/weird/interesting/whatever. But it's absolutely trivial, that's what makes it trivia. Some people just collect it like others collect stamps. You forgot a 3rd option, which I think is most likely; we pick it up by accident. ;)

I have vast amounts of trivia knowledge about stuff I really don’t care about, although there’s plenty of whacky pop culture stuff I know because I think it’s funny/weird/interesting/whatever. But it’s absolutely trivial, that’s what makes it trivia. Some people just collect it like others collect stamps.

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