What's YOUR pop-culture obsession?

Okay, maybe 'obsession' isn't a good word. I think I've been taught that obsession is always a 'bad' thing, and it is, if it hurts yourself or others. But what if it pertains to something that actually inspires you?

Stephen King's latest column in EW is about this very topic. His columns are generally very good, but not quite as good as Dalton Ross' columns. If you want to read really funny, savvy stuff, read Dalton Ross over at ew.com. He's my ideal guy, if only he weren't married. haha I love a man with wit. Anyhoo; I digress.

King said, "Definition of pop dope: It's what you gotta have. You can lay off for a while — the way I can lay off McDonald's for a while — but eventually the craving kicks back in and you gotta gobble. You find yourself in front of the TV with the clicker in your hand, or at the local cineplex, cold sweat on your forehead."

And he goes on to talk about 'pop dope' and how we get addicted/obsessed with this stuff.

King's column reminded me of the pop culture obsessions I have had. He was commenting on the fact that we get addicted to this fictional stuff, and how interesting that can be. I can speak to this topic, as I've clearly been more than a casual fan of lots of pop culture stuff; why, just the other day, I was thinking about what a brilliant, BRILLIANT character Jane Eyre is. This says much about what a Lit Geek I am, but every now and then, I ruminate on great characters, from literature, and, truth be told, from film and TV too. So, I'm just a Geek in general. haha But about Jane? I was thinking, I have never seen/heard/read a character I more related with (and still do). And I've never been so in love with a story! But, it's just a story. Bronte herself will probably tell me to get over it when I meet her in the afterlife (assuming we both make it there). haha But, it inspires me. And I think that's a good thing.

And don't get me started on film and television. Television has lost much of my interest in recent years, but if you remember my lists of favorite characters, you remember that I'm pretty passionate about some of those too. And films, well, people can quote word for word certain films (The Godfather, Citizen Kane, Casablanca, etc). What does this say about us and the obsession with fiction? I personally think a great love of fiction should NOT be considered an obsession. I can see how it can be, as I've truly sat around and pondered on and obsessed on some characters for years.

But, my attachment to these fictions has only brought me happiness, stress relief, and inspiration. Sure, the case can be made that I'd be healthier if I found happiness, stress release, and inspiration via other sources. And, I do find those things elsewhere. But, I'll admit, I can lay awake for hours pondering on Meredith's love life or (back in the day) how Mulder and Scully solved that case, or what the hell is Lost about anymore, or how funny any random movie was. And I get over it and come back to reality in the morning.

I guess the thing is, fiction takes us away from reality for awhile; this is why we like it. But, the irony is, all fiction is BASED in reality. Even the most fantasy of fantasies has human elements in it. I believe that in telling stories, we are trying to better understand ourselves as human beings. This is why I do not rant against the writers of Grey's Anatomy when a major character acts like a jerk. We all act like jerks at some point. It's real life! But it's also, NOT real life. You know? What a great paradox.

So, are we obsessed with pop culture? Well, since pop culture is essentially us expressing ourselves and trying to make sense of it all, I suggest that what we're REALLY obsessed with, is ourselves. And, Freud said it, The Ego is a strong force. Or The Id, or whatever.

And, for the spiritualists out there, religious texts (The Bible, The Koran, etc) were written to help us understand THE BEST of what humans CAN be. Sometimes, we have TV or film or music that also helps us understand more than ourselves. That's what keeps me coming back, I believe. The idea that we can understand something greater than ourselves, while also better understanding the truth of who we are. Because it's all important.

After all, one of the coolest Jedi ever said it best:

"Luminous beings are we; not this crude matter." (Yoda)

And if you need more SW quotes, I can probably continue to spurt them out.
Because it's my pop culture 'obsession,' and I'm happy about it.

SW Geek