What Pop Culture Means to Me

By: DoctorRyan

I was at work today and I really started thinking about why I wanted to start writing again. When I was younger I always loved to read, write, and use my imagination. I grew up on a mountain in Harlan, Kentucky and lived there for the first eight years of my life. All I had in the world at that time was a small tv, a couple of He-Man toys (both He-Man) and my prized possession, KITT toy car from Knight Rider.

I grew up poor and never had much. I was a social outcast in school and never could really interact with other kids very much. But the one thing I did have at that time was my imagination. When I watched shows on TV, let's take He-Man for example. I would imagine being right there and that I was He-Man trying to save the world and defeat the bad guys. I always loved those shows where good always triumphed over evil.

Shows like Knight Rider and Airwolf, showed the heroes traveling around, helping people, making a difference. Even the cartoons I watched seemed to carry some sort of message that if you do good and be the best person you can be, you can still make a difference. Now laugh if you want because I'm trying to find deep meaning in The Smurfs, Snorks, and Heathcliff.

But I also lived in home where I think escaping reality helped me through the real bad times of my childhood. And finally when I was 8, I moved to Ohio with my mom. I think I have had my head in the clouds since then, because I always love to hear a good story. I read the whole C. S. Lewis Narnia books, finally got to see the Star Wars Trilogy on VHS, got my first video game system the Atari 2600, declared that Transformers The Movie was the best film ever, and I finally made some friends who loved a good tale.

But I think these shows and games I played helped make me who I am. They shaped my morals in ways I never knew until I started to go back through them. I always try to be kind and help people when I can. I try to show people, in a push come to shove world, that by treating people with respect, standing up for what you believe in, and never giving up, you too can make a difference. So the next time your watching your favorite old movie, tv show, or playing Super Mario Bros. for the 10,000th time, always remember what those stories mean to you. Pass them down to your children and remember that feeling you had when you seen these things for the first time.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please leave comments on what these shows mean to you. Until next time.

Looking for more from DoctorRyan?

READ 131711 TIMES

Fulton4V Posted on May 23, 2014 at 01:47 PM

I liked alot of these shows too and many of them had really good morals in them or at the end. You dont see that much in this time.

Vaporman87 Posted on May 21, 2014 at 04:25 PM

Yeah. Something is definitely wrong there. Perhaps you should break out a MOTU DVD or catch I Dream of Jeanie on TV Land. LOL

DoctorRyan Posted on May 21, 2014 at 03:26 PM

Thanks. It's hard to explain sometimes how a bunch of cheesy shows was somehow therapy for me. Of course then again I'm running around on the internet wearing a suit and sunglasses............

Vaporman87 Posted on May 21, 2014 at 02:47 PM

I love this little article. It warms the heart. Though I did not grow up poor, I was still not exactly a popular kid. I too found that my toys and imagination allowed me to explore situations in life in a way that could uplift me and keep me going.

I genuinely feel sad for those among us who cannot (and in some cases have never been capable of) using their imagination to create, inspire, and entertain. I often used my artistic ability to bring a smile to the face of a friend or family member. There was nothing more satisfying than that.

And the culture of toys, shows, and movies of my youth motivated and inspired me to not ever stop using that imagination , and to find the good in bad situations.

Well said Doc.

12 Retro Snacks & Drinks I want to see Come Back

Growing up, we all had foods and drinks that we love to consume as kids. Whether it was a couple Pop-Tarts and a glass of Tang for breakfast, Lunchabl...

Weirdest Ghostbusters 2 Merchandise

The 30th anniversary of Ghostbusters 2 flew under the radar this year, overshadowed once again by the hype over Tim Burton’s Batman, in a case of ...

Being An 80's and 90's Fat Kid Part 1

Being an overweight kid in the 80's and 90's was weird. It was awkward. Uncomfortable. You might be thinking isn't it that way for ALL fat kids that a...

10 Pop Culture Dogs of the 80s

Growing up I always wanted a pet dog. It just seemed to be a part of the classic childhood experience I was missing. Sadly I never had a furry friend ...

VHS Odyssey

Since last year I have been on a treasure hunt for VHS tapes to add to my collection. Some are nostalgic favorites, some are films I always wanted to ...

MOST RECENT RETRORATING FEATURED OFFICIAL

Go to page: