What Is Pop?

Summary

This video script delves into the concept of 'pop' beyond its surface meaning of popularity. It explores pop culture's multifaceted nature, encompassing music, film, technology, and more, and its targeted appeal to younger audiences. The script challenges the traditional view of pop music as simple and mainstream, highlighting its evolution and the emergence of innovative subgenres. It also discusses the commercial aspect of pop, where musicians aim for widespread appeal, and the reality of the saturated music market, where only a few songs achieve mainstream success. Ultimately, pop is defined as music and culture that resonates with the masses, often pushing boundaries while maintaining a connection to the mainstream.

Takeaways

• 😀 The term 'pop' is often used to describe what is popular in culture, but it also has a deeper meaning related to societal practices and beliefs.
• 🎶 'Pop' originally referred to music designed to appeal to everyone, in contrast to rock music which aimed for authenticity and creativity.
• 📚 Pop culture encompasses a wide range of categories including music, film, video games, sports, technology, fashion, and slang.
• 📈 The purpose of creation is an integral part of the definition of pop culture, reflecting the tastes and interests of the general masses, particularly younger people.
• 🎵 Modern pop music can be innovative and experimental, challenging the traditional boundaries of what is considered pop.
• 👤 Musicians often do not set out to create 'pop music'; instead, their music may become popular and thus classified as pop if it enters the mainstream.
• 🎼 Characteristics of pop music include a steady rhythm, repetitive chord progressions, memorable melodies, and a predictable song structure.
• 🔢 The music industry is saturated with songs aiming to be pop, with Spotify adding 20,000 songs daily, but only a small fraction become mainstream hits.
• 🌐 There are numerous subgenres of pop, each with its own distinct style and fanbase, indicating the diversity within the pop category.
• 🔄 Pop music can push the boundaries of art and culture, but it is generally designed to be more palatable to the mainstream audience.
• 👦 A simple way to understand what pop is could be to consider it as whatever is liked or would be liked by a typical 14-year-old.

Q & A

What is the conventional definition of 'pop' according to the speaker's younger self?

The speaker's younger self defined 'pop' as short for 'popular', implying that if something becomes mainstream, it is automatically pop.

How has the speaker's understanding of 'pop' evolved over time?

The speaker now sees 'pop' as not just about mainstream popularity, but also as a reflection of the practices, beliefs, and dominant elements of a society, including various cultural mediums.

What does the speaker suggest is included in the definition of pop culture?

Pop culture includes music, film, video games, sports, politicians, technology, fashion, and slang, and is defined by its transmission via mass media, particularly targeting younger audiences.

Why are younger people often the focus of advertisers in pop culture?

Younger people are more open to new things and are likely to retain those preferences throughout their lives, making them a valuable demographic for advertisers.

What role does the purpose of creation play in defining pop culture according to the script?

The purpose of creation is emphasized as part of the definition of pop culture, indicating that it is not just about what is popular but also about what is intended to appeal to the masses.

How did music journalists initially differentiate pop from rock in the 1960s?

Music journalists classified pop as music designed to appeal to everyone, in contrast to rock, which aimed for authenticity and creativity, pushing the boundaries of music.

What is an example of a song that was popular but not conventionally considered pop?

The song 'Ghosts' by the English new wave band Japan is an example of a song that was unconventional yet became popular and technically pop.

What are the common elements that musicians aiming to create pop music often include?

Common elements include a steady rhythm, repetitive chord or note progression, a memorable and easy-to-sing-along melody, and a predictable verse-chorus-bridge structure with a strong, repeating chorus.

How many songs does Spotify add to its catalog each day, and what is the significance of this number in the context of pop music?

Spotify adds at least 20,000 songs daily, indicating a vast amount of content striving to be pop, but only a fraction of these songs are classified as 'pop' and even fewer enter mainstream culture.

What is the relationship between the number of pop subgenres and the definition of pop?

The existence of many pop subgenres, such as experimental pop, pop rock, and K-pop, shows that pop is a broad term encompassing a variety of styles and approaches to music that appeal to different segments of the mainstream.

How does the speaker suggest simplifying the understanding of what pop is?

The speaker humorously suggests that if one is still confused about what pop is, it can be simplified to whatever a 14-year-old cousin likes or would like.