Why Pop Culture Is Important to Me

Written by Shae Rufe

I believe that TV shows, video games, comics, and so on can actually change your life. Now, hear me out here, I'm not saying that every single thing I just mentioned influences us, but everyone has a different show or story that means something to them, and one that became near and dear to my heart is Steven Universe. I found this show after my grandpa died and literally binge watched every episode in two days.
 
I'd been on YouTube when a suggested link popped up for conspiracy theories about the show. I don't know why, but it called to me. I think I bonded with Steven and the Crystal Gems because they were going through their own struggles. Steven didn't know his mom, while everyone else was mourning her loss. The show spoke to me on multiple levels, enough to have me become a loyal fan.
 
Kingdom Hearts is a game that stole my heart as a child and has only grown with me. My favorite installment, Birth By Sleep, had some darker, more adult struggles and themes. Terra tries to do the right thing and is often a bit of a screw up. Ventis wants to be just like Terra, but he's so genuine it hurts. Aqua is our leader destined to do great things. All of it is a lot of pressure, and the ending is utterly heart wrenching. Still, as you play as all three characters, you get to see the choices made and the reunifications of those choices. This is a fun game, and technically a prequel to the series, yet it holds so many feels!
 
There are so many shows and games out there, the world is not saturated in just comic film adaptations, and the nerds are taking over the world. Each of us find fandom a to fall into and love, because they speak to us on a personal level. I love the exact moment when that happens. Supernatural has been one of my favorite shows for a long time because I see myself in Sam Winchester. That person who, no matter how much they screw up, is really just trying to do the right thing. Characters that we see a bit of ourselves in are the reasons we watch the shows we do, play the games we play, and read the comics we read.

Those connections help us feel not so alone, or give us hope, or even entertain us. Whatever it is, we fans latch on and cling to the things we love because of those connections. It ends up becoming a magical experience. I can't tell you how many people I've bonded with over a show, or game, because of something I'm wearing. Even out and about, people stop and notice and we get to bond over something we both love. On top of these things bringing us joy, they also bring us together as people. I don't know about you, but that's my favorite part about being a geek.

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