Into the Realm of the Popular

I do think there is some validity to the notion of art loosing meaning as it becomes part of popular culture. However, in re-examining the sentence I just wrote, I ask myself, “How are we defining meaning?” I definitely do not think that an art piece becoming popular makes it sounds, look, or seem worse as an entity within itself, but something about the idea of mass-consumption takes away from the authenticity of the piece. I am thinking in particular about a Canadian folk-rock-techno band called Tegan and Sara. The band consists of two lead singers/guitarists, lesbian twins around the age of 26, whom the band takes it name from. My sister and I (also gay twins, but not nearly as talented) developed an interest in the group pretty early on in their development as artists. Over time, the band has become more and more “poplar” and was recently featured on MTV for an entire week. The concerts have, in turn, become more and more crowded and the sisters' faces have been popping up more and more frequently in other media forms. While I still love their image, music, and quirky humor, something in the way that I relate to them and my interest in them has changed since their arrival on the pop culture scene. It's almost like I wanted to keep them my little secret. I don't want 12-14 year old girls dancing and screaming beside me at their concerts. My motivations are pretty purely selfish, but are still valid. As Tegan and Sara are accepted and enjoyed by the crowds, I become part of that crowd; my sister and I are no longer unique in our adoration for the band. BUT, their music is still f-ing phenomenal and I still greatly enjoy their concerts. So, the shift into the realm of popular media is two-fold, with a column for pros, and a column for cons.