For popular culture to have a meaning in the modern society, a lot of things have been borrowed from the classical literature (Lee 154). For example, various themes, plots and communication styles that were used in the past are still being portrayed in today’s literature, indicating that although classic literature might be regarded as outdated, it still influences the pop culture in different ways. In the time where technology, films, televisions, and the internet have the biggest influence in the society, the classical literature has been playing a significant role in allowing the people to relate the classic pieces of literature on a more personal level, inspiring the new generation to love and understand the literature written many years ago (Christopher 61).
With the great revolutions which continues to occur in the classical literature, it is becoming easy for people to seek knowledge from the digital media, and also to communicate it without challenges. From the linguistic perspective, for instance, the classic literature has been enabling people to understand, analyze and evaluate language and other aspects that they come across in the popular culture. The manner in which people in the digital age speak relates to some of the things that have evolved over the years in literature. Therefore, for the people to understand the popular culture, they should be aware of the developments that have occurred in the classical literature. 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 key elements that define the classic culture.
Ken affirms that for pop culture to exist and have a meaning to the people, 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, 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 have been borrowed from the classical literature, indicating that it acts as the backbone of developing much of the popular culture contents. For instance, almost every classic converted into a movie, suggesting that what seems to be of past is still essential in making the today’s literature. The classic literature has also influenced the pop culture because while transforming the some of the classics, one must relate the techniques to those of the past to avoid making the content to have a different meaning.
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 what is new because what is contained in the classical literature is fundamental in determining the modern lifestyles and items that are regarded as popular and generally accepted (27).
According to Ken, it is evident that the past continues to influence the future and also the present, more so through the writings that have been passed through the centuries (125). 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.
