The Shedding of Puritanism
Ellen Diemer
ENG 101
Butcher
26 October 2011
The Shedding of Puritanism
In the article, “Perverse in the Popular” by Martha Bayles, the ideas of perverse modernism are lucid, straightforward, and audible. The article sums up the pure reality of the new culture we are living in; one filled with violence and sex. Bayles words are constant reminders that although what would have been seen as crude and obscene to our grandparents, is exactly what the young generations are being exposed to and brought up with today. Through the media, we as Americans are shown the form of art of today’s popular culture. Although this does not demonstrate what used to be considered ‘art’ many years ago, it has become what sells in culture today. The obvious downfall in today’s popular culture through the lives of Americans has changed what each individual distinguishes as ‘art.’ This all relates to the idea of “perverse modernism” (Bayles), which refers to the public’s attraction to negatives and evils of society, as it has grown over many years, becoming more offensive by the day.
When one thinks of music in the media, lyrics aren’t the only thing that comes to mind. Usually our intellect plays a role and any visuals that were previously viewed with the song are brought back into play. Music videos are a great depiction of what the lyrical portion of a song has to offer, as they brilliantly illustrate the true meaning behind the words. As popular culture has seen more disturbances in the “chiefly” (1) media of today, the idea of violence and sex is not only brought through the words of a song, but through the visual of the video as well. “The great modernists, [even through visuals like music videos,] were original without being obscene; today's charlatans are obscene without being original” (6). The music video, Love The Way You Lie, directly demonstrates, not only with words, but visuals as well, perverse modernism brilliantly.
From the beginning of the video, Love The Way
ENG 101
Butcher
26 October 2011
The Shedding of Puritanism
In the article, “Perverse in the Popular” by Martha Bayles, the ideas of perverse modernism are lucid, straightforward, and audible. The article sums up the pure reality of the new culture we are living in; one filled with violence and sex. Bayles words are constant reminders that although what would have been seen as crude and obscene to our grandparents, is exactly what the young generations are being exposed to and brought up with today. Through the media, we as Americans are shown the form of art of today’s popular culture. Although this does not demonstrate what used to be considered ‘art’ many years ago, it has become what sells in culture today. The obvious downfall in today’s popular culture through the lives of Americans has changed what each individual distinguishes as ‘art.’ This all relates to the idea of “perverse modernism” (Bayles), which refers to the public’s attraction to negatives and evils of society, as it has grown over many years, becoming more offensive by the day.
When one thinks of music in the media, lyrics aren’t the only thing that comes to mind. Usually our intellect plays a role and any visuals that were previously viewed with the song are brought back into play. Music videos are a great depiction of what the lyrical portion of a song has to offer, as they brilliantly illustrate the true meaning behind the words. As popular culture has seen more disturbances in the “chiefly” (1) media of today, the idea of violence and sex is not only brought through the words of a song, but through the visual of the video as well. “The great modernists, [even through visuals like music videos,] were original without being obscene; today's charlatans are obscene without being original” (6). The music video, Love The Way You Lie, directly demonstrates, not only with words, but visuals as well, perverse modernism brilliantly.
From the beginning of the video, Love The Way