DISCUSSION QUESTION #1

How do popular culture trends affect your personal decision-making process? Is it possible to escape the consumption of popular culture?

I believe that popular culture trends can affect your personal decisions because popular culture is an influence and a trend and I believe we are all part of this culture in one way or another. Social Media like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, and Yahoo have become a part of the majority of all people and this has become a trend and a part of popular culture that we adapt to and use in our daily lives. For Example purchasing Designer Clothes, Flat Screen TV’s and Purchasing Luxury Vehicles, Expensive Homes that you see on TV shows like MTV by Professional Athletes, Music or Movie Stars causes an affect and influences with people and we focus more on the Popularity than our necessities this leads to us focusing on wants instead of needs.

I believe it is not possible because we cannot escape Popular Culture because For Example: the Television is an object that lets us watch what is going on in the media and this is around the world and the media focuses on promoting popular culture and popular culture around the world. Companies that have products and services that we desire are everywhere so there is no escape by products and services that we personally want that are trends and part of popularity that is part of our Popular Culture whether it’s in America or around the World. I personally believe that popular culture has always existed now and in the ancient world there were always popular trends that became a part of our popular culture whether you are American or Chinese. However I do believe that with the Technology we have today there is a lot more temptation and popularity today than in the past.

DISCUSSION QUESTION #2

What is a trend? What makes a trend different from a fad? What are some examples of trends and fads?

There are a number of industries whose very survival depends on recognizing the difference between a fad and a trend. A fad by definition is a short-term event, what some may call a 'flash in the pan'. A trend, on the other hand, has the potential of becoming a long-term influence on the future of a market. A fad and a trend may resemble each other at first, but there is almost always a definite beginning and a definite end to a fad. The use of hot pink wall paint may be a fad, but the idea of using designer colors would be a trend for example.

One major difference between a fad and a trend is duration. A fad product, such as the Pet Rock of the 1970s, enjoys a few months of unexpected popularity, but disappears just as quickly as it appears. The creator of the Pet Rock, a large stone nestled in its own cardboard cage, understood the easy-come, easy-go nature of a fad and capitalized on the public's penchant for novelty toys. The lifespan of most fads is notoriously short, but if a fad item becomes a trend, it can remain popular for decades.