According to Christopher, various themes, plots and communication styles that were used in the past are still portrayed in today’s literature, indicating that although classic literature might be regarded as outdated, it influences the popular culture in different ways (61). For popular culture to have a meaning in the modern society, a lot of things have been borrowed from the classical literature. This paper will discuss how classical literature has influenced the popular culture (movies, music, video games, social media, television, etc.).
Ways in which classic literature has influenced popular culture
With the great revolutions which continues to occur in the classical literature, it is becoming easy for people to seek knowledge from TVs, and also to communicate without challenges (Lee 154). From the linguistic perspective, for example, the classic literature has been enabling people to understand, analyze and evaluate language and the content they receive from TVs and other digital media platforms. The techniques used to present information in popular culture and especially through TVs relates to some of the things that have evolved through the ages. Therefore, for people to understand the popular culture, they should be aware of the developments that have occurred in the classical literature (Christopher 63). This implies that the classical literature influences the popular culture because for people to understand some of the aspects of what defines today’s literature, they must know some of the essential elements that represent the classic culture.
Ken affirms that for pop culture to exist and have a meaning, people must safeguard the teachings of the classic literature (128). This means that although the people may seem to have shifted to what can be termed as the modern literature, like accessing information through TVs, for example, the past remains fundamental because it enables the society to have a broad view of the current society through the work that was done many years ago.
By comparison, it can be stated that a lot of techniques that are being used in the popular culture and especially through the content conveyed through TVs have been borrowed from the classical literature, indicating that it acts as the backbone of developing much of the popular culture contents. For example, almost every classic literature has been converted into a movie, indicating that what seems to be of past is still essential in making the content conveyed through the digital media. The classic literature has also influenced the pop culture because when transforming some of the classics, one must relate the techniques to those of the past to avoid changing the meaning of the content.
In the time where culture, technology, and society are drastically changing, the classical literature plays a crucial role in enabling the people to have a proper connection between the past and the present. Joseph affirms that for literature to be beneficial, people should establish a proper connection between the old and the new because what is contained in the classical literature is fundamental in determining the contemporary lifestyles and items that are regarded as popular and generally accepted (27).
Conclusion
From this study, it is evident that the past continues to influence the future and also the present, more so through the writings that have been handed down through the centuries. The styles used in the classical literature will continue to influence how the people understand the popular culture because although some changes have been made, a lot has been borrowed from the past styles.
Work cited
Christopher, Doll. Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past. Notes, Vol. 68, No. 4, 2012, PP. 58-98.
Joseph, Hurley. H. Pop Culture Places: An Encyclopedia of Places in American Popular Culture. Reference " User Services Quarterly, Vol. 54, No. 3, 2015, PP. 24-35.
Ken, Lindblom. Teaching Reading with YA Literature: Complex Texts, Complex Lives. English Journal, Vol. 107, No. 1, 2017, PP. 124-135.
Lee, Jenkins. M. Studies in Classic American Literature and American Studies. D.H. Lawrence Review, Vol. 37, No. 2, 2012, PP. 154-168.
