by Georgia Lange
I was watching an episode of Mad Men the other day (for those of you who have never seen the AMC television series, the plot follows the somewhat disturbing cultural aspects of the 1960’s and the advertising that both reflected and reinforced the principles of the generation). Watching the show got me thinking about the influence that pop culture has over the creation of art. This is most obvious when it comes to fashion. I have noticed that as Mad Men has grown in its popularity, styles such as the pencil skirt and the skinny tie have made a come back in the fashion industry. I have also noticed a kind of minimalism reminiscent of the 1960’s making a comeback in graphic design since the show first aired in 2007. Although I cannot say with any certainty that one causes the other, it is certainly always interesting to observe what could be influencing our tastes as a cultural society.
Since it was first announced that Tim Burton had tackled Alice in Wonderland, I have observed a ridiculous amount of art that is reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s original fairy tale. White rabbits, top hats, and tea parties abound in all kinds of art, fashion, photography, and design. As beautiful as much of this art is, the trend can fall out of fashion just as quickly as it rose. One of the best examples a pop culture phenomena beginning to develop a sour aftertaste is the vampire genre. Between the Twilight Saga and HBO’s True Blood, the vampire genre has been an explosive force on the cultural stage for the past few years. It has had a tremendous influence on the art scene as well, particularly in the area of design. However, the popularity of the genre has begun to lose its momentum for many. Clearly, because both the films and the television series are long, drawn out affairs that will be around for a few more years, the genre has not completely run its course. These kinds of stories revolve around keeping the audience on their toes and thus yearning to see what happens next, so the Vamps are here to stay for the time being as is the art that is inspired by them. However, like all pop culture movements that start such a frenzy (particularly among the young), it gets really old really fast for those who are just not into the idea.
Ultimately, my question is this: is it a good thing to follow a pop culture movement and create art that celebrates it? To be honest, I have mixed feelings on the matter. It is a good thing in a way, because the work does sell when the movement is in the spotlight. The problem that arises is when the movement has run its course and people are over it. When this happens, the artwork created under its influence becomes cliche and the sales plummet. Pop culture is a lot like a current or a tide; it is constantly shifting and changing its course, and anticipating its direction is an art form in itself. My advice is to just be yourself; create what you want to create. If it happens to fall into a pop culture movement that arises at some point, good for you! Being true to yourself and having your own artistic voice is far more important than fitting in with whatever happens to be the focus of the moment.