Fads in Popular Culture

What is a fad? Typically a fad is defined as a style of dress, a manner of speech, or any type of action which conforms to what a social group or segment of society dictates and typically lasts for a short period of time. But in reality, what is a fad? Who determines what is popular and what is not?

There are a variety of means by which a fad comes to life. A popular rising young female rock star can wear a certain style of clothing which happens to have plunging neck lines and reveals her mid section. Millions of young girls and teenagers who watch her perform dream of possibly getting a shot at the big time and if they can't they can at least dress in the same manner of who they wish to imitate. As a result, the clothing aisles are filled with shirts having plunging neck lines and are shortened so as to show the stomach. The same can hold true for types of clothing, such as tee shirts, hair styles, vehicles and just about anything one can imagine.

So then if a fad is largely due in part to what is viewed or perceived, then it could be said that the media has an impact upon what does or does not become a fad. Certainly television, radio, or print does not exclusively control what becomes fad, however, through their medium of communication; many more people are affected by what they witness on television, for example, than at any previous time in history. With out the means to view the previously mentioned performer from the example above, there would be far fewer people aware of what the performer was wearing and therefore far fewer desiring to look the part. For example, in the early days of film and radio, it was often times a luxury to go to the movie theater much less own a radio. The actors from that time were not known nearly as well as those starring in film today.