Any trend or entry in popular culture or mainstream entertainment that focuses on the supernatural, paranormal or unexplained. Example: ghosts, paranormal investigations, psychics, cryptozoology, UFOs, aliens, vampires, monsters, zombies. First usage was July 2009 by writer Aaron Sagers, who calls himself a "paranormal pop culture expert"
Because it combines the pursuit of the supernatural in a mass media format, 'Ghost Hunters' on the Syfy channel is a hit Paranormal Pop Culture TV show.
by Jacob Faulkner March 9, 2010
Get the Paranormal Pop Culture mug.An expression used by a person to claim they know little to nothing about popular/modern day movies, music, celebrities, gossip, news, current events and ect.
by Pat.V May 4, 2011
Get the F in pop culture mug.An interdisciplinary field that studies popular culture—television, music, film, comics, gaming, memes, fashion—using the tools of sociology, anthropology, political economy, and cultural studies. It examines how pop culture is produced (industries, labor, intellectual property), how it circulates (platforms, fandom, algorithms), and how it is consumed (identity, community, resistance). The social sciences of pop culture reject the high/low culture distinction, treating pop culture as a central site where meaning, power, and belonging are negotiated. It also studies phenomena like meme wars, stan culture, and the political economy of streaming.
Example: “Her social sciences of pop culture research traced how K‑pop fan communities organized mass purchasing and streaming campaigns not just out of devotion, but as a strategic response to platform algorithms that rewarded volume over depth.”
Sociology of Pop Culture
A subfield that applies sociological frameworks to analyze popular culture as a social phenomenon—how it reflects and shapes class, race, gender, and generational identities; how it is produced and distributed through industrial systems; and how audiences use it to construct meaning and community. The sociology of pop culture draws on theories of taste (Bourdieu), subcultures (Hebdige), and audience reception (Hall). It examines everything from the representation of social issues in television to the role of pop culture in political campaigns, treating pop culture as a serious object of sociological inquiry.
Example: “His sociology of pop culture research showed that the rise of ‘sad girl music’ on streaming platforms correlated with algorithmic playlists that rewarded emotional vulnerability—not just a cultural shift, but a structural one.”
Sociology of Pop Culture
A subfield that applies sociological frameworks to analyze popular culture as a social phenomenon—how it reflects and shapes class, race, gender, and generational identities; how it is produced and distributed through industrial systems; and how audiences use it to construct meaning and community. The sociology of pop culture draws on theories of taste (Bourdieu), subcultures (Hebdige), and audience reception (Hall). It examines everything from the representation of social issues in television to the role of pop culture in political campaigns, treating pop culture as a serious object of sociological inquiry.
Example: “His sociology of pop culture research showed that the rise of ‘sad girl music’ on streaming platforms correlated with algorithmic playlists that rewarded emotional vulnerability—not just a cultural shift, but a structural one.”
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 16, 2026
Get the Social Sciences of Pop Culture mug.There's ten packages of pop tarts around outside with that pokemon playing game this pop tart culture has been here forever when's COVID end? Can we keep our new friends? Colonization!!!
by Cody5050 January 14, 2022
Get the Pop tart culture mug.Someone who knows everything featured on the internet, in movies, in the music scene, or on TV, and uses it in daily life (and makes it cool not geeky). If you say something remotely close to a line from a movie, they might quote it. Want to know anything about a youtube video you haven't seen yet? Ask the pop cultured guy.
They probably use lol in real life.
They probably use lol in real life.
"Dude, Steve just referenced Star Wars, Kanye West, and Rick Roll'd in the same 5 minutes."
"Yeah, he's so pop cultured."
"Yeah, he's so pop cultured."
by lairy September 15, 2009
Get the pop cultured mug.When you feel intimidated and irked either due to a lack of knowledge in trendy pop cultural/meme references, or from the fact that you probably have no interest in them. Usually happens when you're out with a new group of peers, and they be saying some memey phrase or sharing some pop cultural fad and you have no idea what it is or what it means (nor do you care). Likewise, this is also very commonly experienced on the internet, most notably in the YouTube comment section.
1) Jimmy felt very pop culturally intimidated by his girlfriend once he found out that she knew more pop cultural references than him.
2) Matt joined his new group of female peers to work on a course-related project. While he didn't have trouble socializing with them, he felt extremely pop-culturally intimidated by the odd memey phrases that their peers were tossing around and giggling about. Then, they started sharing pictures of Korean guys and went on talking about their favorite kpop star. "Stop. Please...", he wished to tell them.
2) Matt joined his new group of female peers to work on a course-related project. While he didn't have trouble socializing with them, he felt extremely pop-culturally intimidated by the odd memey phrases that their peers were tossing around and giggling about. Then, they started sharing pictures of Korean guys and went on talking about their favorite kpop star. "Stop. Please...", he wished to tell them.
by Mary Mary Quite The Contrarian October 19, 2019
Get the Pop Culturally Intimidated mug.A person who is especially unaware of various pop culture references and who has not seen or even heard of various popular music, movies, books, etc.
Jennifer is "Pop Culturally Retarded" because she has never seen or even heard of the movie Old School.
by The Karcich June 11, 2010
Get the Pop Culturally Retarded mug.