Help Save Me From Being Clueless All The Time

[Kestra]

Okay, so here's the thing. I was born in 1983 (which makes me 26), and I have very little knowledge of popular culture.

We didn't have cable television growing up, and even as I got older, my parents didn't want me watching certain shows. Things like The Simpsons, Friends, Married With Children, Roseanne ... these were all deemed unacceptable.

My childhood was mostly spent watching cartoons, and reading books.

I also didn't really discover music until I was in late middle school and unearthed some massive radio and insisted that they let me keep it in my room. Still, my knowledge of music is massively limited.

My parents weren't completely horrible or anything, and I don't want to make them out to be bad. They grew up in a different place and time and didn't want me "corrupted" by certain pop culture elements. I loved reading anyway, so while the other kids were probably watching television, I was the nerd who was enjoying reading the encyclopedia.

But I'm sick of being clueless all the time. I'm the girl who still hasn't seen Terminator 2 (I will get around to it!), I'm the girl who says "who?" when someone mentioned David Bowie, and my husband still marvels at everything I don't know. I've been better caught up towards my college years and beyond.

So denizens of TBBS, I'm asking for your help. Tell me one movie, song, television show, or band, that you think I should experience. You can go back further than the 80s if it's relevant, but I mostly want to not be a complete idiot around my peers all the time. I've been trying to experience more on my own, so some of your suggestions might be redundant, but I'd appreciate anything really.

So what are the essentials?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Popular culture is a funny fickle thing. I mean, who is to say the local culture you've had limited exposure to is the "right" way to be brought up with after all? (If you've seen the "junk" derided on these boards on a frequent basis, you might feel it preferable to want to miss out. ) Your own upbringing, on the contrary, might seem the envy of many others of us here on the BBS who are less book-aware or less knowledgeable about certain aspects of your own world.

What sort of cartoons, books and other things were you brought up on, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Kestra]

What sort of cartoons, books and other things were you brought up on, if you don't mind me asking?

Cartoons depended on age. Things like Smurfs, Transformers, TMNT, Scooby Doo, Inspector Gadget, Batman TAS, Spiderman, X-Men, Gargoyles, a host of Disney cartoons, etc. The list could go on forever.

Books were much more comprehensive. I was exposed to the usual childrens' books in school. I also snuck around my parents' house reading whatever I could find, whether it was the encyclopedia, classics like To Kill a Mockingbird (which I read at a young age and didn't fully appreciate till later), books about anatomy or surgery, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, or anything by Enid Blyton. I was interested in any author from Kipling to Twain to Dickens. We made frequent trips to India so I picked up books there as well (hence the Enid Blyton). By the time I was in middle school one of my teachers discovered my passion for reading and took me on as her own personal project, lending me books that were probably way beyond me. But that's pretty much how I learned about the world.

I suppose I should consider myself fairly well-read though it seems impossible, with how many books are still out there for me to read! But books don't save me from looking like an idiot during casual conversations with peers, or trivia questions in games like Cranium.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

That actually sounds fairly well grounded - my own upbringing had the same sort of things as age went. However, I was less into books (although I had a similar familiar experience as you did regarding "To Kill A Mockingbird"), and preferred classical music and factual books about science, technology, medicine, and history. I was also behind my peers when it came to watching classic films and playing classic video and computer games. In all honesty, it wasn't until I hit University at age 18 that I made a conscious decision to catch up on all the things I missed out on the first time.

Even then, it sounded like you read the right sort of books and that your American pop culture exposure hasn't been too skimpy.

But to answer your original question: going back to The Simpsons would be a good starting point to begin your pop cultural re-education - it in itself contains a lot of American historical and pop-culture references (in all forms of media) you can draw from.
If you want music, I can recommend "Revolver" by The Beatles - if you're going to start knowing about classic pop and rock, you may as well start with the very best and take it from there.
Movies are a different thing - I can't really recommend one single film, as they have all impacted on pop culture in their own different ways. You might want to try the classics such as "Gone with the Wind" or "Citizen Kane" then move onto "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" before tackling the likes of "Blade Runner", "Ghostbusters" and "Pulp Fiction".

And if nothing else, it might even be worth diving into an online resource such as Wikipedia or Urban Dictionary.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

"The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and "Risky Business."

 

[Luckyflux]

Sounds like you have qualities that other people would covet. Knowing stupid junk trivia is nothing compared to your adventures through travel and through reading. Sounds like you are the wall flower with the most nectar, but your married so I'll stop there.

Anyway what kind of conversation do you miss out on? I mean people talk about all kinds of crazy, nonsensical kinds of things. You are saddened by the fact that you don't understand what they are talking about? Yet they will understand you if you talk about a great book or author? Hrmmmmm....

I would maybe check out popular videos on Youtube? See what has alot of attention and check it out? Maybe social online stuff twitter, facebook, myspace? Although don't do too much online stuff, the real world is where its at.

Older populars TV shows. Comedys like Mash or Archie Bunker for classic references. Good drama stuff like Who shot JR (Was that Dallas?). West Wing, LA Law, Hill Street Blues. But when are these going to come up in casuel convo?

I'd just focus on what you know...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Well you already know about Star Trek. That and Elvis just about covers it.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Watch those "I Love the 80s," "I Love the 90s," and "I Love the New Millenium" shows on VH1. They will give you tons of information on pop culture for each year. You can do the 70s version too if you like.

I was born in 1986, so I'm trying to think of things from my childhood that everyone knew about or did, things that influenced us. I'm sure you will get lots of input about pop culture before the 1980s and 90s, so I will focus just on the last two decades.

Power Rangers was big in my elementary school. Here is a page with popular toys from the 80s and 90s. Oh the Tomagatchi was so popular! They've actually made a comeback and my 12 year old sister now has one!

Must listen to the songs Ice Ice Baby and Baby Got Back, though I'm sure you've heard them before. But still, listen again just to remind yourself of how awful early 90s music was. Listen to some Nirvana too, though I do like their music. In terms of other music...my god there is just too much to cover. I suggest going to the store or online and buying or at least looking at the back of some sort of 90s compilation set. Sex and Candy is a song that sticks out in my head. And check out Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann for an example of a bizarre sort-of-song that became strangely popular.

In terms of children's shows that everyone our age just seems to "know" about now, most of them were on Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. You said you've watched some but here is an extensive list of what I would consider important ones: Are You Afraid of the Dark, Salute Your Shorts, Clarissa Explains It All, Doug, All That, Ren and Stimpy, Tiny Toons, The Secret World of Alex Mack, Pete and Pete, Rocko's Modern Life, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, So Weird, and tons more...of course you don't have time to actually watch all of these shows but at least reading about some of the ones you haven't seen on Wikipedia will help. Salute Your Shorts was my personal favorite.

In terms of books, Baby Sitter's Club series was very popular, as well as Goosebumps. If you haven't read any Goosebumps you absolutely must. These are children's books of course but I actually still enjoy them today. And they used to take so much longer to read! Sideways Stories from Wayside School was another little series that was popular. Fun books.

As I got older, Friends and The Simpsons were the main shows I watched. Actually I watched The Simpsons from the beginning, so I was quite young. It was our family time every week...getting together on Sunday nights (I swear it used to be on Thursdays, is this true?) to laugh together. When I did something bad my punishment was usually not being able to watch The Simpsons that week. I would sit in my room bawling as everyone else got to watch it.

Movies is a lot harder because there are so many and it depends so much on personal taste. For the 1980s you should read up on the Brat Pack and the various movies they starred in. And by the way, I haven't seen any of the Terminator movies.

When I think of my middle school years, which is really the time when I think you start becoming more aware of what's around you, I think of alternative music, getting our first computer, watching my dad play Duke Nukem', watching The Price is Right during the summer, playing Donkey Kong Country on the SNES at sleepovers, the NOW cds (which sadly are still going...they are on NOW 29 I think!!), a game called Jewels in the Attic and of course Mall Madness, and necklaces with 10 different flavors of lip gloss on them.

There's just way to much to explain and now I'm feeling super nostalgic! I really would have to suggest the VH1 "I Love the..." series again, that will give you the answers that you seek.

 

[Michael Chris]

^ That was one massive dose of nostalgia!!

You've probably experienced most of these, but O Brother Where Art Thou for movie [yes, I know it's new and hasn't impacted anything, but I like it], Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen for song, Friends for television show, and so hard to pick one band... hmm... Nirvana or Pearl Jam probably.

 

[Mistral]

Movie: Airplane
I picked this because of all of the quotable lines in it-it truly ingrained itself in American pop culture. Second choice-The Breakfast Club.

Album: Abbey Road
I think this is better than Revolver-but either way, knowledge of the Beatles is important to understand the evolution of Rock over the last 45 years. There is a pair of albums, 1964-1966 and 1967-1970 which are Beatles greatest hits albums-they might help even more.

TV show: so many stand out but The Simpsons for all of the reasons Zion pointed out. It covers(and mocks) American culture over 20+ years.

Song(s) : All you can do is listen to various radio stations from classic to cutting edge to get a feel for it all-but bone up on Beatles to know where so much of it came from.

You are apparently well read but a few titles to check out if you have thus far missed them:

The Lord of The Rings/The Hobbit
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
The Secret Life Of Bees
The Alchemist by Coehlo
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter s Thompson
Marley and Me
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
The Right Stuff

These are a sampling of what is/has been extremely popular over the last 25-35 years.

And hang out on the TrekBBS-We/they will keep you up to date on what's happening out there!

 

[Hermiod]

So what are the essentials?

You're looking for things that kids liked from the 1980's and 90's that you missed out on ?

It's very difficult to stick to one thing, so I'll say Star Wars (yes, the first one came out in 1977 but Empire and Jedi were 80's movies), Back to the Future, The Simpsons, The A-Team, MacGyver, Transformers, Ghostbusters (including The Real Ghostbusters but ignore anything Filmation made, not the same thing), The Last Starfighter (written off as a Star Wars clone but it's really good fun), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

If you've never seen the early days of The Simpsons, try watching the first seven or eight seasons. Speaking as a Brit, those seasons of the show were as funny and as good as any comedy America has ever produced.

 

[Kestra]

...and preferred classical music and factual books about science, technology, medicine, and history...

Oh, I didn't even go into that in depth. My parents had me studying chemistry, biology, and physics on my own from an early age. Our game nights consisted of educational geography and history games. I started playing the violin when I was five and learned a lot about classical music as a result. Add to this the fact that I was watched surgery videos with my dad as a child, my whole Indian cultural background, and you can begin to imagine the somewhat unusual childhood I had!

But to answer your original question: going back to The Simpsons would be a good starting point to begin your pop cultural re-education - it in itself contains a lot of American historical and pop-culture references (in all forms of media) you can draw from.

That sounds like a good idea, actually. I watch Family Guy now and I miss out on so many of the references. Usually I try to look them up or get my husband to explain them to me if he's not too busy being exasperated with my lack of knowledge.

I haven't seen 2001, but I've seen the other movies you mentioned as I did have a close friend who was really into film for a bit.

And if nothing else, it might even be worth diving into an online resource such as Wikipedia or Urban Dictionary.

I read one entry too many on Urban Dictionary and I'm a bit scared of going back!

"The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and "Risky Business."

Right, I've seen the first two but not Risky Business. Thanks!

Anyway what kind of conversation do you miss out on? I mean people talk about all kinds of crazy, nonsensical kinds of things. You are saddened by the fact that you don't understand what they are talking about?

It's a silly thing, like not getting jokes, not being able to even guess in trivia games with friends because even if I saw the answer I wouldn't know who the person or song was, not understanding references in other movies or television shows, etc. It's not the most important thing in the world, but I would like to catch up a bit.

Older populars TV shows. Comedys like Mash or Archie Bunker for classic references. Good drama stuff like Who shot JR (Was that Dallas?). West Wing, LA Law, Hill Street Blues. But when are these going to come up in casuel convo?

I've heard of MASH, but not the others. Will look into them, thanks!

Well you already know about Star Trek. That and Elvis just about covers it.

Elvis .... *makes notes*

Watch those "I Love the 80s," "I Love the 90s," and "I Love the New Millenium" shows on VH1. They will give you tons of information on pop culture for each year. You can do the 70s version too if you like.

Oh, I had never thought of that! I never watch VH1 but I have seen it playing at the gym once or twice, so I'll see if we have that channel at home.

There's just way to much to explain and now I'm feeling super nostalgic! I really would have to suggest the VH1 "I Love the..." series again, that will give you the answers that you seek.

You've given me a lot of places to start. Thanks!

You've probably experienced most of these, but O Brother Where Art Thou for movie [yes, I know it's new and hasn't impacted anything, but I like it], Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen for song, Friends for television show, and so hard to pick one band... hmm... Nirvana or Pearl Jam probably.

I'm pretty familiar with Friends now but the other suggestions are helpful.

...
These are a sampling of what is/has been extremely popular over the last 25-35 years.

And hang out on the TrekBBS-We/they will keep you up to date on what's happening out there!

Wow, a very well put-together list! Thank you! Actually being on forums online is one of the things that made me realize just how much I was unfamiliar with.

It's very difficult to stick to one thing, so I'll say Star Wars (yes, the first one came out in 1977 but Empire and Jedi were 80's movies), Back to the Future, The Simpsons, The A-Team, MacGyver, Transformers, Ghostbusters (including The Real Ghostbusters but ignore anything Filmation made, not the same thing), The Last Starfighter (written off as a Star Wars clone but it's really good fun), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Now I feel better about myself, because I have seen Star Wars, Back to the Future (I vaguely know the director!), MacGyver, Transformers, Ghostbusters, and TMNT. So I'm not all that hopeless!

 

[Shazam!]

Album: Abbey Road
I think this is better than Revolver-but either way, knowledge of the Beatles is important to understand the evolution of Rock over the last 45 years. There is a pair of albums, 1964-1966 and 1967-1970 which are Beatles greatest hits albums-they might help even more.

Get the Greatest Hits. Or better yet, buy some Wings instead.

 

[Hermiod]

Kestra - one thing I will say is that people outside the people I know at work (who are all Software types with similar viewing habits), most don't get the pop culture references I can get away with here.

If I drop in a reference to The Simpsons or video games or Star Wars here, at least half the people reading it will get it. In normal conversation, not so much.

I would suggest, then, that you really shouldn't worry about it.

 

[Michael Chris]

If you're at all interested in older tv shows, I would strongly strongly recommend I Love Lucy, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Gilligan's Island, the Brady Bunch, and the Twilight Zone.

Those are all influential.

 

[Canadave]

You can always take a look at the AFI's top 100 movies and IMDB's top 250 movies. Neither list is perfect, but together you should be able to get an idea of the best\most popular movies of all time.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

...and preferred classical music and factual books about science, technology, medicine, and history...

Oh, I didn't even go into that in depth. My parents had me studying chemistry, biology, and physics on my own from an early age. Our game nights consisted of educational geography and history games. I started playing the violin when I was five and learned a lot about classical music as a result. Add to this the fact that I was watched surgery videos with my dad as a child, my whole Indian cultural background, and you can begin to imagine the somewhat unusual childhood I had!

I have several Indian colleagues, and I can never get into their conversations about Hindi cinema (mostly Bollywood, rarely Masala) and the various different types of Indian pop music. Given my own background, and that my parents were also into that whole Subcontinetal cultural phenomenon a lot (even recording a lot of films on late night during Channel 4's India season in the early 90s, and the long-running "Mahabharat" TV series when it was on BBC 2) I feel a little left out on the whole thing, too Westernised in other words.

But to answer your original question: going back to The Simpsons would be a good starting point to begin your pop cultural re-education - it in itself contains a lot of American historical and pop-culture references (in all forms of media) you can draw from.

That sounds like a good idea, actually. I watch Family Guy now and I miss out on so many of the references. Usually I try to look them up or get my husband to explain them to me if he's not too busy being exasperated with my lack of knowledge.

Family Guy? You poor thing. Actually, recently I've regarded it as a bit of a guilty pleasure.

Album: Abbey Road
I think this is better than Revolver-but either way, knowledge of the Beatles is important to understand the evolution of Rock over the last 45 years. There is a pair of albums, 1964-1966 and 1967-1970 which are Beatles greatest hits albums-they might help even more.

Get the Greatest Hits. Or better yet, buy some Wings instead.

"I'd say, my favourite Beatles album would have to be The Best of the Beatles." (Hope someone gets that reference! )

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Hmm music you should know? Let me think...

It's a bit hard for me, giving you advice, since my music collection is well outside of the bounds of other people of our age (think a lot of classical, jazz and foreign music) -- and everything's dumped into a few big folders. Still, I've got a few songs you really need to know. What I consider to be a few of the important ones are linked to youtube; it was just as much about the music video's as it was about the actual music. Also, these are mostly pop songs; songs that merit a different category (like rock, metal, dance, etc) aren't listed here (unless I suddenly remembered one) -- the list would be too big. These are mostly pure hit songs. On with the list.

60's (you're supposed to inherit some of your parent's favourite music ):

Animals - House of the rising sun, Booker T & the mg's - Green onions, Deep purple - Hush, Doors - Light my fire, Eagles - Hotel california, George baker selection - Little green bag, Hot butter - popcorn, Hipster image - Make her mine, Jefferson airplane - Somebody to love, Led zeppelin - Stairway to heaven, Mamas & papas - California dreaming, Motors - Airport, Mungo jerry - In the summertime, Neil diamond - Solitary man, Pink floyd - Another brick in the wall, Rolling stones - Satisfaction, Rolling stones - Paint it black, Blood, sweat & tears - Spinning wheel, Steve miller band - Fly like an eagle, Troggs - Wild thing, Turtles - Happy together, Who - Behind blue eyes and, last but not least, Yardbirds - For your love.

80's:

A-ha: Take on me, Dead or alive - You spin me round, Boston - More then a feeling, Bronski beat - Smalltown boy, Bryan adams - Run to you, Cutting crew - I just died in your arms, Daryl hall & John dates - Maneater, Divinyls - I touch myself, Donna summer - I feel love, Duran duran - Rio, Europe - Final countdown, Eurythmics - There must be an angel, Frankie goes to hollywood - Relax, Genesis - I can't dance, Harold faltenmeijer - Axel f., Jan hammer - Crockett's theme, Joan jett - I love rock and roll, Kate bush - Wuthering heights, Katrina & the waves - Walking on sunshine, Kraftwerk - The model, Michael sembello - Maniac, Mr mister - Broken wings, Paul king - Love and pride, Pet shop boys - Suburbia, Rick astley - Never gonna give you up, The romantics - Talking in your sleep, Sabrina - Boys, Salt n pepa - Push it, Soft cell - Tainted love, Survivor - Eye of the tiger, Talk talk - Such a shame, Tears for fears - Mad world, Terence trent d'arby - Wishing well, Tiga & zyntherius - Sunglasses at night, Toto - Africa and last, but not least, Wham - Last christmas.

And for the 90's (though probably not everything -- the scene was probably a bit different in Europe then over there; lots of europop):

2 Unlimited - No limit, Ace of base - The sign, Adamski - Killer, Atlantic Ocean - Waterfall, Blind melon - No rain, Boyz II men - Motown phily, Bruce springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia, C+C music factory - Gonna make you sweat, Capella - U got 2 let the music, Cardigans - Lovefool, Chad jackson - Hear the drummer get wicked, Crystal waters - Gypsy woman, Dee-lite - Groove is in the heart, Denis leary - asshole, Des'ree - Life, Dominica - Gotta let you go, Eagle eye cherry - Save tonight, EMF - Unbelievable, En vogue - My lovin', Eurythmics - Sweet dreams, Felix - don't you want me, Freakpower - Turn on, turn in, cop out, George michael - Freedom, KLF - What time is love, Kristine w - Feel what you want, Kylie Minogue - Confide in me, Lou bega - Mambo #5, Madonna - Secret, Marcy playground - Sex and candy, MC hammer - You can't touch this, Meja - All about the money, Moby - Bodyrock, Monie love - It's a shame, N-trance - Set you free, Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit, No doubt - Don't speak, Pigbag - Papa's got a brand new pigbag, Prodigy - Out of space, R kelley - She's got that vibe, Reel 2 real - I like to move it, Right said fred - I'm too sexy, Robin s - Show me love, Scatman John - Scatman, Seal - Kiss from a rose, Sheryl crow - All I wanna do, Snap - The power, Snoop dogg - What's my name, Snow - Informer, Spin doctors - Two princes, Tag team - Whoomp! there it is, Technotronic - Pump up the jam, U96 - Club bizarre, US3 - Cantaloop, Vanilla ice - Ice ice baby, Verve - Bitter sweet symphony, Warren G & nate dogg - Regulate, Whigfield - Saturday night, Young disciples - Apparently nothin' and, last but not least, Youssou n'dour - Seven second.

And, in The Netherlands at least, you'd probably be smack in the midle of the rave / happy hardcore trend at a time you'd be most influenced by popular music. Probably not applicable to someone overseas, but perhaps funny to listen to what you've managed to escape :

Charlie lownoise & mental theo - Wonderful days, Dune - Hardcore vibes, Interactive - Forever young, Mark 'oh - Tears don't lie, Marusha - Somewhere over the rainbow, Party animals - Atomic, Party animals - Hava naquila, Party animals - Have you ever been mellow, Paul elstak - Rainbow in the sky, Soushkin - Dream your dream, Technohead - I wanna be a hippy and, last but not least, Tokyo ghetto pussy - I kiss your lips.

Beyond that, artists you must've heard of include, but not exclusively:

Jamiroquai, Prodigy, Fatboy slim, Chemical Brothers, Basement jaxx, Daft punk, Faithless, Prince, Snoop dogg, Aphex twin, Radiohead, System of a down, Lenny kravitz, Nirvana, Red hot chili peppers, Coldplay, U2 and Massive attack; most people know (of) them.

You have no idea how long it took to type this, damn.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Two movies that I really enjoyed growing up that I'm sure you've seen but thought I should mention: Mrs. Doubtfire and Homeward Bound.

Of course my favorite movie is Dumb and Dumber. Actually Jim Carrey movies in general would be good to watch. Even if you don't love him, the movies have become a part of pop culture (especially things like Cable Guy and Ace Ventura). Oh yeah and Cable Guy is absolutely littered with movie references, I think that everything Jim Carrey's character says is actually a line from another movie. Don't expect to get a lot of them though, I sure don't!

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Tell me one movie, song, television show, or band, that you think I should experience.

From the 80s? OK...

Film:
Raging Bull

Television:
Edge of Darkness

Band:
The Fall