I just need a quick paragraph posting to my colleague’s answer.

colleague’s posting: I watch television programs, movies, and play video games all from my X-box. I use Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime to access these avenues of taking in pop culture. This requires an internet connection and a paid subscription. If someone did not have access to the internet or the financial resources to pay for the subscriptions, they would not have access to pop culture through these avenues. Juliana Rotich (2013) indicates in her TEDGlobal talk that in many parts of Africa, and Kenya in particular, getting access to the internet or even electricity are challenges they face. She indicates that blackouts are quite common and will shut down not just the internet but all electricity and she indicates that the cost to connect to other people is prohibitive to connecting to people and internet sources (Rotich, 2013). Netflix is worldwide but if you do not have access to the internet it is going to be hard to watch it and if you can’t afford a subscription you wouldn’t have access either. If you are struggling to buy food for your family, a subscription to Amazon Prime is going to be the last thing you are trying to access. Mobile phones do offer access to pop culture in ways we didn’t have before and as Rotich (2013) indicates, improving internet and connectivity issues will allow people to access internet through their mobile phones and will increase access to pop culture’s various avenues.

I do think that access to pop culture effects the community is some of the following ways. Many people view America a certain way because of things they see in films, televisions show, and read in books. Many people in my community, the whole country, and globally, are influenced by the fashions they see in Movies and Television shows. I have mentioned before but probably 80% of the girls at the local community college dressed like certain pop culture icons, it was like seeing a flock of sheep, everyone dressing the same, using the same slang and phrases. I would say in this instance, pop culture took away people’s originality. Watching reality stars be rude to people has translated to people in everyday life being rude to people but it also can swing the other way. Pop icons being generous or supporting a good cause can influence people to donate as well or be generous in turn. The Ice Bucket Challenge is one thing that springs to mind, it generated millions in donations and brought awareness to ALS and while many people did it just to follow the crowd the challenge itself is said to have increased annual funding for research around the world by 187% according to the ALS Association. I had many friends and there are many people in my community that participated in this Ice Bucket Challenge. So, I think pop culture can influence my community in many ways, good and bad.