The Best & BIGGEST of The Decade: Culture

January 4, 2010 |No Comments| by skip

WEED
Weed is back. Not sure that it ever left but it’s becoming more and more mainstream every year. This past decade was a clear indication of the trend. No longer is the mystical green plant considered the devil’s harvest, people are becoming more and more accepting of its uses, both for medical and leisure purposes. The hipster culture along with the music it adores has embraced marijuana while videos of celebrities like The Governator puffing away generates more laughs than groans. It’s just a matter of time before it’s legalized.

REALITY TV
“The Real World,” “Survivor,” “American Idol,” “The Amazing Race,” “America’s Next Top Model,” “Dancing With The Stars,” “The Apprentice,” Big Brother,” “Fear Factor,” Cheaters,” Wife Swap,” “Jersey Shore.” Need I say more?

OBAMA
These past few years were Obama-mania. Never before has the younger generation of America been so interested in politics. Never before have people living outside the United States been so fascinated with an American president. Never before have we had a black president, and not since JFK was a president so damn cool. Taking over office after one of the more hated men in politics was no difficult task but Barack Obama was able to do it with a sense of grace and dignity we surprisingly all expected. What does that say about him? To top it off, the world has a love affair with his wife and he won the Nobel Peace Prize this past year. That’s a winner in my book.

HARRY POTTER
How massive does a series have to be to make this list? Try 400 million books sold (setting the record for fastest selling books ever), six movies, and an extensive merchandise line valued at over $24 billion. The cultural impact has been immense, with a cult-like following of all sorts of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and classes. The word “muggle” is even in the dictionary. The success of movies like “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Twilight” can all thank J.K. Rowling for her literary contribution.

THE DIGITAL AGE
What a decade it was for the Internet. The digital age is here to stay folks. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Google, and YouTube captivated people worldwide who were suddenly linked by the click of a button. From letters to e-mails, the transfer of information has never been faster or more efficient. The computer has suddenly become as important as owning a car. From news, music, and sports, you can get it all in one of those Snuggie things. It doesn’t get much better than that.