Cognizance - The reason why you should study Popular Culture

 Cognizance is having knowledge of, or being aware of any particular thing. In this case, I'll discuss why having cognizance of popular culture is necessary to being a positive contribution to society. After all, knowing is only half the battle. 

Popular Culture, as outlined in much of the literature concerning the study of popular culture, shapes our beliefs and behaviors. Our Nation is more divided than ever. One potential reason for this great division are diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. I must reiterate, this is only one potential issue in the "Grand Canyon" sized division in our Nation. Now, these DEI initiatives have not only made their way into popular culture today, but, in some cases, have taken the stage. South Park, anybody?

For anyone unfamiliar with South Park, the creators typically make their episodes satirical; often making fun of current, past, and potential future issues, as well as nouns (people, places, and things). The South Park special, "Joining the Panderverse" attacks the concept of DEI as a whole; satirically pointing out issues seen within DEI. 

One of the more memorable lines within the special comes from their rendition of Kathleen Kennedy. Now, Kathleen Kennedy is the head of Lucasfilm (the creators of Star Wars) and has influenced the creation of many notable shows within that realm. Such as, Rogue One and The Acolyte. Now, back to the rendition of Kathleen Kennedy. Throughout the special, the character often states, "put a chick in it and make her lame and gay!" or a version or two of the same concept. 

Please don't misunderstand me or assume I'm "anti" anything. I'm not. However, I pose this question to you. Does the Star Wars universe need to have characters, in nearly every show, that are struggling with sexual orientation or sexual identity issues? Why can't superb story-telling be the focus? These are often questions at the helm of rhetorical criticism as it pertains to Disney's creations. 

So, what about the other half of the battle? Remember, the metaphorical battle here is having cognizance of popular culture and the intentional and unintentional rhetoric within. So, what do you do with that knowledge? What do you do with the skills that allow you to criticize and evaluate popular culture and the intentional and unintentional rhetoric within? Be the positive influence. Be the person that can step back and say, "hey, hold on a second. That doesn't sound like the intended message". 

I have a major man-crush on Keenu Reeves. This is due to my evaluations of him as a man. Yeah, his role in the John Wick universe certainly elevated him to "god-tier" (common video game reference for those of you that are gamers). However, I've always had an affinity for him as a person. Keeanu Reeves has been a great man, consistently. He's shown up to random weddings because of a fan's request and expected nothing in return. He's been seen hanging out with homeless people. All of these factors (and more) have made me evaluate him as a good role model. Now, if I were a teen these days with this same affection, could you better understand how I may struggle with sexual identity? 

This is where the real battle is. Being able to navigate through popular culture and positively influence those around you. Yes, some will be genuinely fighting battles of sexual orientation, identity, and even gender identity. However, having cognizance of popular culture (in general) and what kind of popular culture others are consuming, will greatly assist you in helping others (and even yourself) in navigating through these culturally-divisive issues. 

So, why should you study popular culture? Cognizance.