Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevemcgarrett]

tiger:

My admitted wisecrack was just an (evidently) unsuccessful and very indirect reference to the need on the part of many (certainly not all) Brits to reclaim the limelight of days of yore, actually predating the Beatles. I often watch CNN International, which is misnamed since it's really the British edition, and I often hear or sense a certain twinge of regret that Britain is no longer at the forefront on the world stage.

Having said this, I respect British leaders, who have more b-alls than most on the continent. I also respect the positive contributions of British colonialism to the world, including American jurisprudence and civil society.

But I digress...

[jinju]

Beckham is the epitomy of this vacuous society. Its all style over substance. That goes pretty much for every aspect of popular culture. Never has music, cinema, et al been at such a low low point. Today;s society is the stupidest it has been for a long, long time.

[ChimpumCallao]

I would disagree, jinju. Just because pop culture at its surface is, agreeably, quite vapid, lame, and overproduced, the internet and other modes of communication have allowed us to search and discover thousands of 'underground' music, art, movies, etc.

aside from that any one following a certain niche of culture can easily find other like minded people and form communities where they share and get more into whatever they like.

it has never been easier to be into 1750's opera, garage bands from Ohio, or Mongolian indies. i guess once most people are given a choice, that's not really their thing. but culture in itself is so much more accessible and diverse than ever before.

[stevemcgarrett]

jinju:

I agree. The icons of today are famous for being famous: does anyone think Timberlake is really gifted? The music has gone downhill since The Cars folded, with only occasional bright spots like Tracy Chapman, Anita Baker, early Gloria Estefan, early Mariah Carey, etc. The lyrics are mostly vacuous; it's all dance and sexuality and camp and hype. So much of the fiction is just formula writing nowadays, too. And far too many athletes and actors have one good season or film and suddenly everyone wants to pad their salaries, put their star on the walk of fame in Hollywood, and ballyhoo more baloney. Little is being truly earned.

It's a consumer on-demand society where instant gratification reigns.

[jinju]

[huffdaddy]