Why Pop Culture?: Alexandre O. Philippe at TEDxMileHigh

Summary

In this engaging speech, the Swiss-French speaker shares a personal childhood story of Star Wars' profound impact, leading to a lifelong passion for pop culture. He argues that pop culture, often dismissed as trivial, is a universal language that unites people across divides and reflects our better nature. With humor and passion, he emphasizes the importance of preserving pop culture, citing examples like 'Gangnam Style' and the San Diego Comic Con, and ends with a call to cherish and respect the role of fun in society.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The speaker's childhood experience of watching 'The Empire Strikes Back' in French and the confusion it caused highlights the impact of pop culture on personal memories.
• 🚀 The anticipation for the next Star Wars movie as a child exemplifies the enduring fascination and influence of pop culture phenomena.
• 🧩 The toys and play inspired by Star Wars allowed children to engage with pop culture in a hands-on manner, fostering a sense of participation in a shared universe.
• 🌟 The speaker's personal journey from being a pop culture enthusiast to making it a career path illustrates the potential for passion to become professional.
• 🔍 The definition of pop culture is explored through humorous examples, emphasizing its pervasive presence in modern society.
• 😹 The transformation of ordinary elements into pop culture icons, such as a kitten becoming 'grumpy cat,' demonstrates the power of media and the internet in shaping cultural trends.
• 🎭 The speaker argues against the dismissal of pop culture as trivial, asserting its significance in shaping society, technology, and various industries.
• 🌐 Pop culture is presented as a universal language that connects people across racial, political, and social divides, highlighting its unifying potential.
• 🏛 The importance of preserving pop culture is underscored by the loss of a significant portion of cinematic heritage, calling for collective efforts to safeguard it.
• 🎉 The existence of events like the San Diego Comic Con and Denver Comic Con showcases the communal celebration of pop culture and its role in bringing people together.
• 🇺🇸 The speaker reflects on the unique role of America in embracing fun and pop culture as a vital part of its identity and global appeal.

Q & A

What significant event happened in the speaker's childhood that influenced their love for Star Wars?

The speaker's significant childhood event was watching 'The Empire Strikes Back' dubbed in French at a local theater in Geneva, which sparked their love for Star Wars despite not having seen the original film.

How did the speaker react to the climatic reveal in 'The Empire Strikes Back'?

The speaker stood up in the middle of the theater, completely confused by the reveal 'Luke, I am your father,' and turned to their mom for answers.

What did the speaker do after watching the movie, considering they had to wait three years for the next Star Wars installment?

The speaker went home, picked up their Star Wars toys, and started playing and speculating about the next movie, engaging in what George Lucas had created.

How did the speaker's childhood experience with Star Wars contribute to their adult life?

The childhood experience led the speaker to become a pop culture geek and eventually turn their passion for pop culture into a career, documenting it for the past decade.

What is the speaker's definition of pop culture?

The speaker defines pop culture as a universal language that connects people across racial, political, and social divides, and is part of our human fabric, reflecting our better nature.

Why does the speaker argue that pop culture is more than just trivial entertainment?

The speaker argues that pop culture, while seemingly trivial, has the power to bring people together, make them dream and smile, and is a significant part of our shared human experience.

What examples does the speaker give to illustrate the concept of pop culture?

Examples given include Stormtroopers, Zombie Stormtroopers, Grumpy Cat, Mitt Romney's 'binders full of women' comment, and Kim Jong-un paired with Dennis Rodman.

How does the speaker feel about the loss of a significant portion of American films made before 1950?

The speaker is horrified and saddened by the loss of over 90% of American films made before 1929 and over 50% of the cinematic heritage prior to 1950, emphasizing the importance of preserving pop culture.

What role does the speaker see for events like the San Diego Comic Con and Denver Comic Con in preserving pop culture?

The speaker sees these events as important gatherings that celebrate and preserve pop culture, bringing people together and fostering a community that values and cherishes popular arts.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of fun in American culture?

The speaker believes that America's emphasis on making fun important is one of the things that makes it great to the rest of the world and should never be lost.

What is the speaker's final message about pop culture?

The speaker's final message is that pop culture is not just a guilty pleasure but something that truly matters to us, and we should respect, cherish, and preserve it.