Popular trends, an update
A little over a year ago, I posted an entry called Popular Trends that I hope will go away soon. I thought it might be interesting to see if anything had changed. So here is a status report:
Reality TV.
Status: the novelty seems to be wearing off, but its not waning fast enough for me.
Shouting news commentators.
Status: Fox is still at it, but CNN canceled Crossfire.
Breast implants
Status: there is a growing "natural beauty" movement. Websites such as DOMAI and Super Beauty honor the beauty of unenhanced natural nude women. A related picture book called Natural Beauties is a best seller on Amazon.com. Dove, the beauty bar people, have launched a Campaign for Real Beauty with the goal of showing women of all ages that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. They've teamed up with the Girl Scouts on a self esteem program.
Electronically enhanced vocals of female pop stars.
Status: Still there, but may be waning as singers like Norah Jones grow in popularity. When Beyonce used her spectacular real voice to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a baseball game, I said "I'd buy her records if she sang like that in her recordings."
Corporate control of local radio stations.
Status: ongoing, but at least we've got KPIG.
Neoconservatives.Status: still popular when it comes to political generalities, but when it comes to specific issues their political ineptitude and moral emptiness is showing. They aren't really getting anything done because Americans, particularly genuine conservatives, resent being told what to do.
Low carbs.
Status: The movement is toast.
Self-appointed food police.Status: they seem to come and go. There is still an obsession with obesity, but a recent report debunked the idea that most people are excessively overweight.
One-party control of both houses of Congress and the White House.
Status: nothing can change until the '06 elections.
Liberal bashing.
Status: going strong. Liberal bashers came out in force during the election last year, and the outcome only encouraged them to keep it up. A favorite tactic is to take an an extreme statement by a far left-winger, and associate it with anyone that leans even slightly liberal.
Conservative bashing.
Status: waning, as the GOP has increased its grip on Washington DC.
Imitation Rob Lowe hairstyles.
Status: I haven't seen any for quite awhile.
Overreaction to a bare breast on TV.
Status: mixed. ABC was afraid of getting fined so they pulled Saving Private Ryan from the schedule. But NBC showed bare breasted women dancing at the Olympic opening ceremonies and nobody cared.
"John 3:16" signs at football games.Status: unknown. I haven't paid attention.
The "liberal media" myth.
Status: still accepted as gospel, but a few weak voices have tried to point out that most news organizations are owned by big corporations which tend to lean conservative.
SUVs.
Status: as gas reaches $2.50 a gallon, they don't seem quite as cool anymore.
Reality TV.
Status: the novelty seems to be wearing off, but its not waning fast enough for me.
Shouting news commentators.
Status: Fox is still at it, but CNN canceled Crossfire.
Breast implants
Status: there is a growing "natural beauty" movement. Websites such as DOMAI and Super Beauty honor the beauty of unenhanced natural nude women. A related picture book called Natural Beauties is a best seller on Amazon.com. Dove, the beauty bar people, have launched a Campaign for Real Beauty with the goal of showing women of all ages that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. They've teamed up with the Girl Scouts on a self esteem program.
Electronically enhanced vocals of female pop stars.
Status: Still there, but may be waning as singers like Norah Jones grow in popularity. When Beyonce used her spectacular real voice to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a baseball game, I said "I'd buy her records if she sang like that in her recordings."
Corporate control of local radio stations.
Status: ongoing, but at least we've got KPIG.
Neoconservatives.Status: still popular when it comes to political generalities, but when it comes to specific issues their political ineptitude and moral emptiness is showing. They aren't really getting anything done because Americans, particularly genuine conservatives, resent being told what to do.
Low carbs.
Status: The movement is toast.
Self-appointed food police.Status: they seem to come and go. There is still an obsession with obesity, but a recent report debunked the idea that most people are excessively overweight.
One-party control of both houses of Congress and the White House.
Status: nothing can change until the '06 elections.
Liberal bashing.
Status: going strong. Liberal bashers came out in force during the election last year, and the outcome only encouraged them to keep it up. A favorite tactic is to take an an extreme statement by a far left-winger, and associate it with anyone that leans even slightly liberal.
Conservative bashing.
Status: waning, as the GOP has increased its grip on Washington DC.
Imitation Rob Lowe hairstyles.
Status: I haven't seen any for quite awhile.
Overreaction to a bare breast on TV.
Status: mixed. ABC was afraid of getting fined so they pulled Saving Private Ryan from the schedule. But NBC showed bare breasted women dancing at the Olympic opening ceremonies and nobody cared.
"John 3:16" signs at football games.Status: unknown. I haven't paid attention.
The "liberal media" myth.
Status: still accepted as gospel, but a few weak voices have tried to point out that most news organizations are owned by big corporations which tend to lean conservative.
SUVs.
Status: as gas reaches $2.50 a gallon, they don't seem quite as cool anymore.
Comments
Post a Comment