- 14/04/2016
- Category: Commentaries
Pop culture has always been dynamic. It is always changing, shifting to a new trend over and over again in a relatively short span of time. But if I have to mention one constant element in all those changes, it would be controversy. Madonna, the so-called Queen of Pop, has been leeching off of the press by crafting gimmicks after gimmicks. Nicki Minaj’s notorious music video ‘Anaconda’ previously snatched the record for most views in 24 hours on Vevo with 19.6 million views – an overwhelming number for a highly suggestive video. But then again, that’s where the controversy is. People were rushing to find out what’s the fuss is all about. Definitely a prime example of how controversy sells.
However, it has not always been so easy to be famous. Controversy has always been created, but the impact has never been this strong. Before the new millennium, pop stars and celebrities alike needed extra effort to make their name known globally. They had to consistently release well-received products and creatively push the boundary. Beyoncé will never be where she is now without her perfectly honed stage mastery. Michael Jackson will never be known as the King of Pop without his abundant hit singles. Mariah Carey will never be known as the greatest vocalist in history without her melisma and five-octave range. They did not merely create controversy, they also produced acclaimed entertainment.
The meteoric rise of the internet becomes the root of what we perceive as the status quo of pop culture. Celebrities have been gaining fame much easier without having to provide quality entertainment. The Internet becomes a catalyst for these individuals to climb the popularity ladder. On another side, it also provides access for people to enjoy such entertainment—regardless of how inane it might be. As an open space, the internet rarely regulates its content. With minimum quality control, the internet becomes the perfect breeding ground for controversy – and thus it defines the current state of pop culture.
And this is where some people draw the line.
Pop culture has been dominating the public airwaves since forever, and it is boundless in its nature. It offers a multitude of entertainment, from the comforting, breeze-of-fresh-air fun to the sexually-charged, mind-boggling content. The latter has become the epitome of pop culture in the past few years, and it is problematic to most of the Eastern civilization. Several countries have tried to limit content in this nature by tight censorship or even straight-out ban. China, for instance, has been taking down online copies of a gay web series as it is considered to be unsuitable for public consumption. Lady Gaga’s third album, “Born This Way,” was also banned from being distributed in Lebanon over an allegation of religious blasphemy. And as we all know, North Korea takes it to the extreme by shutting down access to all kinds of foreign entertainment.
However, the question to these state responses remains the same. Is it effective to impose censorship in this digital era?
International Telecommunication Union estimated that 3.2 billion people have internet access, which means that almost half of the global population are connected virtually. The vast space of the internet makes it difficult for the government—or anyone for that matter—to control the content of the internet. Blocking one website will not solve the problem as other sites will pop up shortly after. In addition, keeping tight control over the internet will require extensive resources as well as advanced technology—which by no means are cheap. This condition should become a precaution for the governments to make it less of a priority, as gatekeeping the internet will only be a losing game. Moreover, the increasing savviness of the current generation in terms of utilizing digital technology will only exhaust the government, as they can always use VPN and other technologies to overcome the regional blockade.
In the end, we need to remember that the internet is merely a medium, and an open one at that too. Artists will keep using it to distribute their works, while their fans will keep finding ways to access the newest content from their idols despite censorship from the government. Whether you like it or not, pop culture is here to stay, and it will continue to be a big part of the internet.
Author: Josia Paska Darmawan
