Populism vs. Elitism in New Media and Side Notes

"Fill up your mind with all it can hold. Don't forget that your body will let it all go."-Jeff Tweedy

All the knowledge in the world is at our fingertips. We, our generation, have been suckled on the well or, better yet, abyss that the internet provides. Will more sources of information enrich our collective knowledge or muddle it? Will we take solace in the fact that the providers of new media can provide new, perhaps even refreshing, outlooks and styles of reporting, or will we be filled with paranoia about the lack of old school connections and degrees from reputable journalism schools?

It brings to mind the classic conflict of populism vs. elitism. I can't decide where I stand in that conflict. I believe in experts and academia. I believe that there is a difference between taste and opinion. Everyone has an opinion, but gaining taste comes from gaining education. (Damn, I bet I sound like a blue blood.) On the other side of the coin, I tend to fall for the highly idealistic democratic dream of American life. I believe that forms of criticism are highly subjective or unclear and inconsistent on their methods of dissection. I believe that every voice should be heard, but some voices should ring out. I want to reject the idea of a classic aristocracy made up of silver spoon white males, but I am rejecting myself with that argument. (Maybe not a silver spoon but definitely metal). If I can find a middle ground in this argument it would be that I believe that we should view expertise in a more diverse manner. In media that I am familiar with like music and film, the populace has proven time and time again that they dont know shit.( yeah, I know it's a double negative. I like the way it sounds though) I don't think the populace are stupid or ignorant. I just dont think they care. That's why we need to listen to people that have devoted their lives to understanding a subject on more than one level. Sure the action scenes in 300 were vividly depicted and well choreographed, but no respectable film critic would use that as a basis for the argument that 300 was the best film of the year. Many of my facebook friends would disagree. We need multicultural, heterogenous views, so that we can balance populism and elitism by having most demographic groups represented by eloquent, trained individuals. With this method, at least most people can feel represented.

Side Notes:

MTV: Please give me more of the freakazoid cultual mutations that you caused like Jersey Shore and less hackneyed, sentimental bullshit like "If you really knew me." I realized a long time ago that people love to be pulled into a Breakfast Club scenario where everyone reveals their depth and hardships. We shouldnt need a show like that. I guess MTV selling empathy is better than selling kegstands.

Being Cynical: Will I ever stop? Should I stop? Nothing makes me smile more than cliche.

Women: Please tell me where the balance between feminism and tradition is. Maybe you dont know either, but it confuses the fuck out of me. I know you dont want to be treated like an object, but then sometimes, you tell me you want to be treated like an object. I dont know whether to be Bluto or Popeye. (That analogy alone is probably proof of my disconnect.)