American Pop Culture and The Idea Of "Celebrity Parenting"

Learning about media ownership and control in my Sociology lessons at college has really made me dwell on a few things I have never really thought about in such large detail. Recently, I've been thinking a lot about pop culture and the media's portrayal of certain figureheads in society.

A little disclaimer: This post is in no way to insult America. I actually love travelling to America because of all it's vibrancy, colour and life and it is an incredible place to be.

I relistened to one of the all time classic Green Day songs "American Idiot" which I can distinctly remember gaining massive media attention due to the slamming of American culture from the Canadian band. Being young(ish) and new to the world of broader music than compilation pop albums, I never really understood what the song was trying to address. After more analysis, and a broader knowledge of the issue discussed in the song, I've learnt that the song got such great media attention for one reason - it was right. 

The opening line of the song is enough of a reveal - "Don't wanna be an American idiot" - it practically states that Green Day and many other Canadians have had enough of the way of American culture. In 2004, times were very different and maybe this song was a brand new idea to America. But 10 years on to the present day and this song has gained a whole new kind of relevance.

We live in a world where it is far easier to find out about what colour Lamborghini Justin Bieber was driving during his DUI charge back in January this year (it was yellow by the way) than any of his new music releases. It both amazes and disgusts me how America, the land of opportunity, showbiz and the birth place of celebrity, spend so long building a celebrity up just so they can bring them down again. How they turn a person with talent into a ridiculous joke to society all because of a few mistakes caught from bad angles and with a play of words in the media. If you're a child celebrity in particular, you are a main target. 

Wherever you stand when it comes to Justin Bieber's music, the kid has talent. A man of 20 years and already has five number one albums all of which he has written, composed and produced himself, completed two world tours and has the largest fanbase in the world - I'd say this guy has talent. Whether you find inspiration and comfort from Justin's own lyrics written about personal situations or think that his music is a bunch of pop shit, the dedication he puts into his craft is second to none. So much so that for the last few days, Bieber has slept on the floor of his studio in Toronto, Canada to prepare for the release of his next album in the last quarter of 2014. 

The same goes for Miley Cyrus. Her recent Bangerz tour has caused large scale complaints from angry, slightly naive (or stupid) parents in the US regarding her stage presence. You think following the mass reporting of Miley Cyrus' twerking last year would make parents think twice before agreeing to take their young kids to the concert in the first place. It makes me wonder if these parents who filed complaints simply wanted to make a scene and create even more bad press for Miley or whether these parents have simply been living under a rock for the last few months.

This brings me on nicely to the point of a "role model". Quite frankly, I hate the term. It assumes that you have put someone in charge of being the example role for your child, yet you tell your child to be different. Yeah I don't get it either. I'm pretty sure that nobody in society does that to their children so why act like that is the case. It is neither Justin's nor Miley's fault that your child takes drugs or acts deviantly. This is an idea that I like to call "Celebrity Parenting" As much as the world is dominated by the media and celebrities, they are not in charge of looking after your children and teaching them the norms and values within society. Maybe it's your lack of good parenting that has lead your kids to be the way they are.

What I find even more sickening is that more people in America signed the petition to deport Justin following his DUI arrest than any other petition written to the American constitution. This means that not even half as many people who signed the deport petition signed petitions to conquer real American society issues such as the exceedingly high rate of gun crime. That fact was a real eye opener to me. 

I do find the overpowering of the "Tall Poppy Syndrome" (the process in which a celebrity is brought up to it's peak before being cut down by the media) rather annoying, unnecessary and also, it must be extremely upsetting for the celebrity suffering from it. It may be funny and entertaining for some people to see them suffer but before the fame you pushed them into, they were just normal human beings like the rest of us who could take a trip to Walmart without a scandal about their love life leaking from it.

Music should be about what you enjoy as an individual and I feel like people have forgotten the difference between talent and personal taste. Just because you don't like a certain type of music, it doesn't mean that other people don't as well. We all have our own minds and preferences and I feel that some people really need to be reminded of that fact.