I've always been obsessed with introductions. From leads in magazine articles to the opening line of a song, there's something about how the writer chooses to introduce themselves and set the tone for the rest of the work. And while there are an exorbitant amount of awful hooks, there's something about coming across those opening lines to a novel that draw you in for the long hall or the first lyric that grabs your attention and makes you really listen.
When it came to starting the first post of pop rocks, I antagonized over the introduction, wanting to keep the right pace of the blog without going too deep in the exposition. So instead, I thought I'd just begin with a brief snapshot into my mindset, obsession with introductions and all.
Pop rocks began as an idea a few months ago, as I started toying with the idea of jumping on the bandwagon and entering the blogosphere. Originally, I had no idea what specific topic I wanted to cover. As I considered the multitude of options, I asked myself one thing: what do I really care about? What can I talk about to utter exhaustion? Only one thing really stood out at that point--pop culture. As much as I'd like to lie and say I'm obsessed with politics or public health, the entertainment world has always intrigued me the most. It's the reason I read Variety every morning, checking out the latest project greenlit or recent review. It's why I read the Arts section of the New York Times from cover to cover and only skim the national news.
And I'm sure many question the importance of the entertainment industry compared to foreign policy or economics. But you can't argue the importance of having such an accessible form of expression available to the masses. As important as it is to be informed of the latest news, we all need a from of escapism every once in awhile when we need relief from the real world. Every once in awhile, we need to turn away from our lives and escape into a family sitcom.
Recently, the art of the entertainment industry seems to have fallen by the wayside in favor of constant surveillance on the celebrities themselves. A new album or movie is no longer necessary to attract publicity. Now, the public seems more focused on the latest star to enter rehab than the number one movie at the box office.
But this blog isn't about that. You won't find any gossip or rumor about the latest pregnancy or divorce. You will find news on some of the latest movies, plot developments in television shows, and recommendations for the indy band you haven't heard yet. Overall, the goal of pop rocks is to celebrate the art created by the film, television, and music industries. This blog is about raising awareness to remember the true reason for the existence of the entertainment industry--the work itself.
