Stringfellow joins HIST to Debate Popular culture

dublin | arts and media | event notice Tuesday November 11, 2003 17:47 by John McGuirk - College Historical Society mcguirkj at tcd dot ie GMB, TCD, Dublin 2 086 0832011

Does Pop favour Arse over Art?

Peter Stringfellow will headline a line up of well known guests tonight in the HIST to debate popular culture. He will then Join us in REDZ for an after party. All Welcome.
Contact me, (John McGuirk) at 086 083 2011 with any queries.

Guests:

Dr. Colin Coulter
Myles Dungan (Rattlebag)
Paul Martin (Showbiz editor of The Irish Mirror)
Peter Stringfellow
Leagues O'Toole (No Disco)


The general trend in popular culture, which has accelerated since the nineties, has been towards more and more commercialism, which arguably has led to increasing blandness and the dumbing down of pop music, film, TV etc. The rise of first manufactured groups and now the TV selection process of Pop Idol, You’re A Star etc. has indicated a growing targeting of music at pre-teens, a focus on image rather than substance and a general decline in quality under a barrage of media hype. The situation where just appearing on a “reality TV” show means instant celebrity, coupled with the deification of our stars, clearly isn’t healthy. Nonetheless, there is a demand for Gareth Gates, Westlife, Big Brother and films like xXx or Crossroads. Is the ‘culture industry’ merely providing for what the people want? Or is it more sinister than that? Are we paying a higher spiritual price for this dumbing down, narrowing of commercial opportunity, deification of celebrity and the increasing focus of culture on commercial success rather than art as an end in itself, than we imagine?
Pointing their finger and declaring ‘J’accuse’ in an arty fashion will be Myles Dungan of Rattlebag and the man, the legend Leagues O’Toole, editor of Foggy Notions and formerly of the shamefully defunct No Disco. Paul ‘Showbiz writer of the year’ Martin of the Mirror will be looking suave on the other side, while Peter Stringfellow will be throwing his intellectual weight into the fray.