Popular American Culture

Running Head:   Popular American Culture Paper

Popular American Culture Paper
University of Phoenix
SOC/105
June 30, 2008

Popular American Culture is woven into just about every aspect of our society.   We can see it in media sources such as television, movies, magazines and newspapers.   We also see it in the stores we shop in and on the sides of streets that we drive down.   Popular American Culture is mass produced for mass consumption.   American culture contains a mixture of patterns and forms that have been created by diverse people.   This diversity influences our taste in music, the clothes we wear, the entertainment we partake in and the food we eat.   Most Americans have a positive view of popular American culture.   However, a large amount of the public has a negative outlook towards the quality of movies and television.   It could be said that America is divided when it comes to the spread of American culture.
Throughout the course of the last 3 days I gathered many artifacts that relate to popular culture.   One of the patterns that were the most prevalent was that of convenience.   Our society thrives on convenience and we are always looking for the fastest solution.   As I drove around town, everywhere I looked I saw numerous restaurants, banks, stores, gas stations, etc.   With such an abundance of these locations it makes it quick and easy to find exactly what you are looking for.
When speaking of convenience, one prime example that comes to mind is fast food restaurants.   Fast food restaurants are everywhere and it is rare that you see any of them go out of business.   This shows how popular they are in our society.   Part of the popularity is based upon the face paced lives we live.   Most Americans days are filled with multiple activities.   An example of this can be found in the family unit.   Parents are working and children are involved in sports, clubs and other various extracurricular activities.   It becomes a convenience to swing through the...