Radio is a significant part of modern culture. It has also evolved over time. This paper will discuss what the radio meant to people in the past and what it means to people now. It will also look at the role radio plays in influencing the modern day pop culture. The radio is and has always been an essential part of the society since time immemorial. The use of licensed broadcasting radio stations can be dated back to 1920 in the United States of America. Since radio has been in use for so long, its use and meaning to people is bound to change over time to meet the needs of different people.
In the past, there were not as many licensed radio stations as there are now. The commercial licenses granted were few and hence the radio stations that existed in the past and its broadcasters were really prestigious. Radio broadcasters were a sign of authority since radio stations were so few back then as it was rare and the prestige was exaggerated. This is not the case now, there are many radio stations and licenses are not as hard to get as it was in the past. Licenses were mainly granted by the government and radio stations were mainly under the control of the government. There was not as much media freedom as there is now. Nowadays, radio stations have more freedom and in most countries measures have been put in place to protect the freedom of the media.
In the past, since radio stations were very few it passed as a sign of prestige and class to people who owned a radio. Most people in the past worked hard to purchase their radios. Moreover, most people who owned radios and listened to them were the educated elite and hence it was a symbol of prestige and class to own one. Radios gave people a sense of belonging to their community and even their country. This is because most radio stations reported on politics and the revolutions that were going on at that time. Through the radio, many people would be informed on what was going on and hence they would have a sense of the currency of national affairs. For example, updates on the world wars were being broadcasted by many radio stations in many countries hence the people would know what was going on. Therefore, radio was a source of information for many people. It passed as one of the essential sources of information for people in the past.
There are differences between what radio meant to people in the past and what it means to people now. In the past, radio was one of the few sources of information hence it was really essential. The radio is still very significant but it is not as prestigious because there are very many other sources of information that are available to the people other than the radio. Another difference is that, unlike in the past where the radio was a symbol of class, it is not the case now. This is because the radio can be afforded by many people hence it is not a sign of class or a sign that a person is educated. The accessibility of radios to people is more now than it was in the past. Nowadays, people can listen to the radio using their phones, through the internet and a radio station can be accessed by people from all over the world because of the internet. This was not the case in the past.
In conclusion in the past, owning a radio was a sign of class and also it gave people a sense of belonging since they could keep up with what was going on in their community and in their country. The differences that have been brought forth show that the radio has evolved over time. It is easier for many people to access the radio, the granting of licenses is done more freely and that the media has more freedom now in most countries than it had in the past. In previous times, the range of information transmitted through the radio was not diverse. The essential information being relayed was that concerning politics and the government. There was also lack of uniformity in the news that was transmitted through the radio. This is not the case currently. There is diverse information relayed through the radio and there is some form of uniformity between the information relayed by different radio stations because of the pop culture influence.
The paper has thus far looked at what radio meant to people in the past. In the ensuing discussion, it would to look at what radio means to people now and the influence radio has on contemporary pop culture. The radio is one of the numerous sources of information that is available to people. The other sources of information include the television, print media and also the internet. Radio is almost a way of life for most people. It is a culture and a norm in most countries. Many steps have been made and the radio has been more advanced hence it is easily available to many people. It is available through the phones and also through the internet. It is amazing that a person who is in Africa is able to listen to a European radio station and vice versa.
Pop culture is a concept that can be explained in so many ways. The radio has played a significant role in influencing pop culture. There have been many social and cultural changes that have taken place in the world. Due to urbanization, dominant groups have managed to influence the other groups. With the internet and the radio and other media sources including social media, there has been a lot of westernization. Pop culture can be described as something that is of mass appeal. With the social changes and urbanization that has occurred in the world, there has been a standard that has been set for what is attractive and what our lives should be like. Pop culture is about setting standards for the identity of a human being. Many celebrities especially musicians and actors use the radio to influence the school of thought of their fans. The radio has been a significant force behind pop culture influence because through the radio standards have been set by people who are of influence on what is in fashion.
Many people feel like they want to belong to the society hence they strive to meet the societal standards through the information that is for example provide for through the radio. The radio has, therefore, been used to relay information that is aimed at influencing people. There is a lot of information that is relayed through the radio. This information ranges from entertainment which mainly comprises of music and movies, sports, health and fitness, information on food, information on fashion, information on the lives of celebrities, religion and even political information. This shows that since the world is a global village, the radio is used to relay information on all aspects of life hence influencing people and creating something that is of mass appeal. Pop culture, in essence, seeks to influence the society’s attitude, perceptions and way of life.
The role played by the radio in pop culture influence has, however, been criticized by the non mainstream people like religions. The essential criticism is that it has made people lose their identity hence dehumanizing them. This is because through pop culture, people are influenced by other people`s cultural practices. This leads to lack of authenticity and diversity. Some people see pop culture as influenced by the mass media like radio as superficial and not beneficial in the end. Pop culture has led to lack of focus on the essential things in life. Instead, the focus has been on the superficial standards that have been set by the people who are in a position of influence in the society like celebrities. However, the pop culture has had some benefits. It has for example brought people of all walks of life together and made them, among others, champion for worthy causes.
In conclusion, the paper has discussed what radio meant to people in the past, what it means to people now and the influence it has on pop culture.
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