The Author, Walter Hixson has in this article discussed the effect popular culture has on the postindustrial society. This has however, been subject to discussion over the years as some critics argued that popular culture would have different effects on different people. The effects of popular culture, according to the author, played a great role in the shaping of history especially in the 1980s. Most politicians for example Ronald Reagan took to popular culture for themes relevant to the political scene (Wirls, 1992). This essentially resulted into increased scrutiny of the effects popular culture would have on the masses (Hixson, 1993).
Evidence to prove the argument
According to the author, the fact that chief executives of America’s history kept referring to popular culture would be translated to mean that it has major effects on the consciousness of individuals. It hence would be considered as an useful means to get to the masses (Strub, 2008). Popular culture capitalizes on the fact that it conveys ideas and symbols that the recipients already recognize (Gray, 1994; Hixson, 1993).
Another factor he has used to justify his argument is Tom Clancy’s novels, which sold over 30 million copies in the U.S. This would be deciphered as the effect the arguments in the book had on the readers. In his three books: Red Storm Rising, The Hunt for Red October and The Cardinal of the Kremlin, Clancy brought out what can be referred to as popular perceptions of various issues. Issues referred to in these books would include: Cold war values from the Reagan era and discernments of Soviet behavior (Wirls, 1992).
Strengths of the article
The author of this article has perfectly used the evidence there is as regards the impact of popular culture. With evidence from the works of various authors, he has created an article that would be described as ‘on point’. He has also managed to compare different genres of literature while explaining the effect they have had on the masses. Here, he offers blunt reviews of some novels without fear or favor. For instance, he describes vividly the moral ambiguity in novels by authors such as Graham Greene and Eric Ambler. It is from this review that he then comes up with this detailed article on the effects of popular culture (Hixson, 1993).
Another strong point would be the author’s ability to compare the reactions of the masses to the different forms of popular culture over the years. For instance, he states that at some point in history, many Americans were attracted to spy stories. More specifically, these novels originated from Britain but over the years, Americans started writing such.
The author has also effectively compared characters in specific works to real events in history. For example, He explains how through the character of Peter Henderson Clancy shows the dangers of democratic oversights. This is with regard to dealing with opponents with matters relating to national security (Hixson, 1993).
Weaknesses of the article
Despite the fact that the author has managed to bring out the effects popular culture has on the masses, he overlooked some issues. Of importance, for example, is the negative effect this popular culture would have on the individuals involved. For instance, should any author decide to discuss unacceptable issues in their work, they would manage to negatively influence the masses. The author focused greatly on the role that popular culture plays in influencing the consciousness of the masses. He however, does not consider the fact that their consciousness could be affected negatively (Gray, 1994).
Gray, C.H. (1994). There Will Be War!: Future War Fantasies and Militaristic Science
Fiction in the 1980s. Science Fiction Studies, 21, (3), 315-336.
Hixson W.L. (1993). 'Red storm rising': Tom Clancy novels and the cult of national
security. Diplomatic History, 17 (4), 599-613.
Strub, W. (2008). Further into the Right: The ever-expanding historiography of the U.S.
new right. Journal of Social History, 42 (1), 183-194.
Wirls, D. (1992). Buildup: the politics of defense in the Reagan era. New York: Cornell
University Press.
