Who doesn’t love pop culture? It’s fun. It’s nostalgic. It’s something to talk about. And because of that, authors have been embedding pop culture references in their books for a long time. However, the jury is still out on whether or not it’s beneficial for the long-term health of a novel.
When used successfully, pop culture references really help to transport the reader to the time and place of the novel. The setting comes to life, and the book itself seems to suck you in. However, when pop culture references are not used carefully, they can actually become an unwelcome intrusion that pulls you out of the story.
The Good
Ready Player One is a science fiction novel by Ernest Cline that explores a futuristic world where the citizens have turned to an online universe in order to escape the harsh realities of the real world. Because the online universe in the novel is the creation of an eccentric billionaire, it is purposely embedded with pop culture references from the creator’s childhood. Wade Watt’s, the novel’s dejected protagonist, must use his knowledge of 80s pop culture to navigate the virtual world. This works perfectly because it serves multiple purposes. Not only does it help paint a stark difference between the dystopian society of the novel’s real world and the colorful and rich society of the past, but it also brings up feelings of nostalgia, which helps the reader learn more about the main character’s past. Cline smartly constructed the whole narrative around a world that necessarily draws from and incorporates pop culture references throughout the plot. The references are literally built into the premise of the story. Check out this article over at Vulture for an impressive list of the references from the book.
By design, the references come frequently and are expected, and they truly add to the fun of the story. In many ways this book serves as the perfect example of how a writer can use pop culture to create a rich and layered experience for the reader.
The Bad
I just recently finished reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, which for those who are familiar, is a New York Times Bestseller. The book is a smash hit that has catapulted Ng onto Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club list, and it just hit screens this past week as a mini-series on Hulu, starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon as the novel’s main characters. With its mix of mystery, art, and family drama, the book is a real tour de force, and it is an enjoyable read that has a little something for everyone. It’s no wonder it has made such a wonderful impression on readers across the world.
Although it deserves the praise and attention it gets, I was somewhat distracted by Ng’s use of pop culture references from the decade to establish the setting in 1990s era Cleveland. The trouble is, although the pop culture references do work in Little Fires Everywhere, they actually momentarily take the reader out of the story.
This is best seen in the moments when Ng attempts to reveal the shallow and empty lives of the two older Richardson children. She attempts to portray their superficiality by showing the children gathering around the tv, almost ritually, to watch Jerry Springer. For anyone who grew up in the nineties, this is of course, an understandable reference. Everyone knows that The Jerry Springer Show came to embody filth, immorality, and infidelity. The episodes themselves were embroiled in mini scandals that were exploited and overdramatized for shock value. And because it is so well known, Ng’s use of the Jerry Springer show technically works. In other words, it is not hard for readers to connect the dots and see that the Richardson children are in serious danger of losing their moral compass.
However, the problem is not that Ng fails to draw the line between The Jerry Springer Show and the morally grey zone occupied by the Richardson children, but that she could have gotten the same point across in a more natural way that didn’t detract from the story. There are dozens of ways that the author could have portrayed this shallowness without evoking Jerry Springer, such as using character thoughts and actions. However, rather than fill in the individual character of the children by showing specific behaviors or choices, Ng goes for the one-size-fits-all approach. And, since she uses such a powerful cultural reference, it introduces the danger of temporarily removing the reader from the narrative.
The Ugly
There is indeed a hidden ugly side to the use of pop culture references in books. Arguably, the worst aspect of using pop culture references in books has yet to be seen. For instance, what’s going to happen twenty years from now when someone attempts to read these books? Ready Player One is loaded with 80’s references, which at some point will be completely foreign to readers. And The Jerry Springer Show, as used in Little Fires Everywhere, may be familiar to the current older generations, but what about the younger millennials or future generations in general?
The problem with relying on pop culture references is that they are only guaranteed to work for now. Even tomorrow presents a problem. And most certainly, future generations will feel that they are missing something when they turn to these works and stumble upon references that they do not understand.
Conclusion
Pop culture references certainly hold a lot of power, but they introduce the potential for danger. There’s no doubt that, when used correctly, they can be a powerful tool for any author. However, it is only true when the right reference is used for the right reasons. And then there is the matter of tomorrow. Every storyteller, I think, wants to create something that is fresh and revealing and timeless all at once. And pop culture references, while they are a lot of fun, just might get in the way of future generations fully enjoying the work.
Of course, I’d love to hear what you think. Comment below to share your thoughts on this topic.