Movies in the 60s

I recently watched short clips from 3 movies from the 1960s including, Planet of the Apes, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Pink Panther. My favorite of the 3 was The Pink Panther. Although the movie contained slapstick comedy, of which I normally dislike, this humor was not as ridiculous as some movies today, making the situations in The Pink Panther seem more believable. The movie that I did not like was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid because I found it to be incredibly boring. There were some scenes that were slightly amusing, such as a fight scene between two men, but the acting seemed a little dry. I believe that Planet of the Apes reflects the 1960s the most because it demonstrates the desire to go to another land and not be involved in the everyday world. This is a result of all of the terrible assassinations during this period of time, so this movie allowed the people to escape their realities. 

60s Interesting Topics

1)Assassinations

2) Toys

3)Batman!

Music from the '60s

The music from the 60s varies from peppy and upbeat to depressing and slow. Many songs send a message about love or heartbreak, while others send messages about absolutely nothing. The first boy band came out and became a major hit. I personally love the Beach Boys and I admire their upbeat dancing music, although there messages aren't too serious. In the 60s, the music is heavy with vocals and guitars. Drums began to be used more, which created a catchy beat. Then the Beatles began a major hit. Drugs became more involved in music, and then the lyrics of the songs began going downhill.

Sci-Fi in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Sci-Fi became a popular genre. Two of the shows that I watched were Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. Beginning with Star Trek, I hated it and found it incredibly boring. I found this show so boring that I couldn't even last the first ten minutes of it. When I was forced  to watch more episodes with some cheesy fighting scenes, I could not help but laugh at the awful effects and acting. I understand that back in the '60s they did not have the technology that we do today, but the show would have been better off without the cheesy fight scenes. However, I do admire that Star Trek was the first television show to reveal a interracial kiss, and I admire the show for taking the risks in filming that situation. Another show that I watched, and actually enjoyed, was the Twilight Zone. This creepy twisted show really appealed to me and I love how at the end of each episode, it is never the expected. The show takes the viewer into different dimensions, and overall, the show is creative and amusing. As much as I liked the Twilight Zone, I do believe that there are better Sci-Fi shows as of today. For example, there is Doctor Who, which I have never actually seen before, but I have heard that it is quite entertaining. Even though Star Trek back in the '60s bored me to death, the movies of today had great action effects and much better acting.

What is the definition of "pop culture"?

In my eyes, pop culture is a source of entertainment that appeals to the majority of a society, focusing mainly on the "trendsetters", which include teenagers and young adults. For example, Lady Gaga is one of the most popularly music artists of today. She has millions of fans around the world for her outrageous fashion statements and original songs. On television, the show, Breaking Bad, has become a new hit sensation throughout the country. In addition, the movie industry recently released, Iron Man 3, which had one of the highest grossing rates this year. These popular forms of entertainment tend to appeal more to a younger crowd, however, they are the most talked about hit sensations. Pop culture is definitely seen through trends of the younger generations and will continue to be seen like that.

Pop Culture's Reflection of Society

Pop culture strongly reflects society. Throughout the music and movie industries, desires of the people are clearly reflected. For example, popular music of today, for the most part, is up-beat and peppy. Many songs describe the glory of partying and having a good time, which expresses the hopes and dreams of the American society today. People do not wish to be surrounded by clouds of stress and exhaustion. They want to be out having fun, which is clearly reflected through popular music today. Popular movies of today also reflect America's desire to escape reality. Some of the top movies of last year included the "hero" story or a story where good fights evil and wins. In today's world, good does not always conquer evil, and sometimes the "better man" never comes out on top. However, these hero movies being the top movies clearly reflects the desire for good to win. Our society enjoys watching these action movies because it makes us feel good that there are good people in the world and there is hope for all. Pop culture has definitely reflected the desires for our American society, and it will continue to do so in the future.