Pop Culture

[Robert E. Parkin]

Okay, so I'm writing a new YA story with a heavy focus on High School. I was curious, what would pass for "Pop Culture" for teens these days? I mean, I'm 27, but I'm curious what others may say for the younger generation. While I don't like to litter my work with Pop Culture references at all, I do like to throw one in there every so often for authenticity and being a relatable sense of the times.

Any ideas? Books, Music, Models, Idols, Cars etc.

My main protagonist is a 16-year-old girl so try to gear it around there. She is very withdrawn, but that doesn't mean her classmates are. ^^

Thoughts?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

There aren't a lot of teenagers here, so why aren't you out tracking the real thing, bagging a few, and making them talk to you?

 

[Robert E. Parkin]

There aren't a lot of teenagers here, so why aren't you out tracking the real thing, bagging a few, and making them talk to you?

It's late, and I was writing. Figured I would ask to see if anyone knew something off the top of their head. I plan to ask around anyway, but didn't have access to anyone due to the hour. Sorry.

 

[Brian G Turner]

My eldest is nearly 16, and she lives for watching Youtubers. However, a lot is going to depend on location (ie, country!) and personal interests.

The danger with pop culture references, of course, is that they may end up as quite transient. The TV comedy Big Bang Theory manages it because the references are proven to be long-standing - Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly, comic book heroes...

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I agree with Teresa - if you're going to write about teens you need to know them, either virtually or through family, or by reading up to date YA. Or pick up some teen mags. I'm lucky, I have a teen daughter so am kept reasonably up to date.

Like Brian, my teen lives on You Tube. mainly for music and some youtubers. She was very into Dan is Not on Fire at one point, though he seems to have ebbed. She says Pewdipie, Superwoman, Jenna Marvel are all popular. Ed Sheerin is popular in the UK, Emimen is still popular. The Big Bang Theory is one of the big twen shows at the moment.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

There aren't a lot of teenagers here, so why aren't you out tracking the real thing, bagging a few, and making them talk to you?

Snaring them is easy ... Better food than home, unlimited Internet, recording studio, interesting multimedia projects, enough computers for LAN party ...
Making them talk? Nearly impossible. Other people's kids can be a softer target than your own though.

 

[Juliana]

Also, remember that pop culture is a fickle, fast-changing beastie. So a reference to something on youtube, fine. But if you refer to a particular youtuber, they'll soon be yesterday's news. So you have to tread carefully with real-life references. Same for stuff like social media, where platforms wax and wane like mad.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Where is myspace or bebo today, or Geocities?
Even Youtube might be a dim memory in 10 years as it's part of the Google Borg and they ruthlessly extinguish anything not generating enough advert revenue.

 

[Robert E. Parkin]

Pop culture is indeed trending. Perhaps it isn't absolutely needed. It is rather hard to write stuff that are considered trending now in hopes they don't don't fall out of popularity by the time you publish the book.

 

[J Riff]

Grab a copy of 16 Magazine. Or watch some horrific sitComs. Or video games.

 

[Cascade]

I think few things will date a book more quickly than trying to make pop culture references. By the time the book is written (let alone published) they will have moved on. Unless you are intending to set the story very much in December 2014/ January 2015 I would think you might be better 'imagining' the trend and making it part of the speculative work.

eg- Avatar shopping. Ie online shopping malls set up like MMORPGs where kids via avatar, meet up, chat, and wander from online shop to online shop. Before posting screen shots of what their avatar looked like wearing their new hat.

 

[Michael Colton]

Where is myspace or bebo today, or Geocities?
Even Youtube might be a dim memory in 10 years as it's part of the Google Borg and they ruthlessly extinguish anything not generating enough advert revenue.

Not to be that person in the conversation, but MySpace is actually making a comeback now that Justin Timberlake purchased it. It is completely revamped and is no longer a general social media site but is entirely geared towards musicians and bands. So it is making a niche comeback, which is rather fascinating in and of itself.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Avatar shopping. Ie online shopping malls set up like MMORPGs

Matell's Stardolls
Yuch!

 

[Michael Colton]

That's actually not 'speculative' per se, as it is already a thing. There already exists several virtual words that are primarily geared towards virtual shopping for your virtual avatar.

Don't ask me how I know that.

 

[Chris Guillory]

Like what Juliana said, pop culture changes over time. I have noticed though, it seems to be measured by the decade i.e. pop culture of the 80's, 90's, etc.

I guess you can pick a decade and select a few from there. Or another thought would be to create pop culture within your WIP. Fabricate some popular theme or product and have some light back story about how all the "cool kids are doing it."