Fads Vs. Trends

Fads

1. Angelina's Leg.

Angelina's leg has become an overnight superstar after the oscars.  When the actress kept posing with her leg poking out of her dress people have been crazing over it ever since.  Angelina's leg even has its own twitter account and people have been making parodies of her leg on several websites and making it pop up in random pictures such as The Last Supper, the statue of liberty, etc..61It is pretty interesting what can fascinate and take hold in society, the sensation with her leg seriously took one night to become famous, it won't last long but its definitely a fad right now. If you haven't seen her leg in action at the oscars here is a video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zELlUxRrzAk
Angelinas Leg

2. Charlie Sheen's WINNING

Everyone's favorite disaster, was Charlie Sheen.  Everyone loves a coked up washed up celebrity hitting the covers of magazines.  He was kicked off his show Two and a Half men and went on a huge tirade where he coined his own terms "Winning" and "Tigers blood and Adonis DNA"  this became a huge success and people have been quoting charlie in this very recent fad. All of these now coined phrases appearing on t-shirts and in mock music videos, and people saying them out loud all the time come from one of his interviews after being kicked off the show.
Charlie Sheen

3. ShakeWeight

Another fun fad that was hitting our tv screens is the Shakeweight, it shows girls shaking this thing around and gaining tons of muscle from it.  Of course it looks ridiculous watching it on television, and to me, has some sort of hokey joke value and was even parodied in tv shows for the ridiculous style they made fun of it on Saturday Night Live, and did a spoof on Ru Pauls Drag Race.  Alot of my friends want one just because it looks really funny to be walking around working out shaking this weird device. Take a look for yourself! 
Shakeweight

4. Jersey Shore/Jerseylicious/Housewives of New Jersey/Mob Wives.

 Reality shows featuring people from New Jersey have run rampant on our television screens to the young jersey hipsters like those depicted on the Jersey Shore, and those older women live in Housewives and Mob Wives.  I don't really understand this new found obsession with New Jersey and the people that are living there, maybe its their tan skin,attitude, and accents but I dont think this will last long.  Jersey shows depict these women and men as tough individuals which could be a reason for the fascinating, plus a lot of people are interested in the mob and they are stereotyped as all being italian so that could figure into the equation somewhow.
Jersey

5. Skinny Jeans

This is a really annoying fad.  I find Mr. Jack Skellington to be the perfect example of what it looks like when you are wearing skinny jeans, stick legs.  I used to work at a business where we sold tons of these and they never really look good on anybody, I'm sorry.  To me I think they just make you look like a stick figure at least on the legs, and I'm sorry but I don't want to see your Moose Knuckle. I think a reason this became a fad was because many emo and bands started wearing them which then got people persuaded that its the new cool thing to do haha.
The Skinny Jeans

Trends

1. Internet

 Ever since the internet popped up its been a huge hit.  There are so many things you can do on the internet you can basically waste your whole life just surfing things on the internet and creating your own entertainment.  I don't see the internet going anywhere anytime soon which is a good thing because its something that I love to do, surf the internet and play games on it.  Plus you can keep in touch with friends so much easier. The internet has had a huge impact on social culture and pretty much the entire world, its much better than having to go to a library to find everything.
Internet

2. Social Media

 I firmly believe there will ALWAYS be social media.  It might not be called Facebook or Twitter, but I believe that there will always be something around that will help us keep in touch with friends over the internet, and something to share our thoughts on and to have pictures and to basically keep online diaries that is a pretty new recent trend and I don't see it going anywhere.  Businesses have even tapped to social media, using advertising as media can get your business out there, because mostly everyone will see it, bands can also use it to get there name out there instead of depending on a label.
Social Media

3. Pop Music

 Pop music has become all the rage, its become its own genre and also had made its way into other music, they have pop rock, pop punk, pop goth.  Pop songs usually have catchy lyrics, good beats, and even if you hate the artist you probably know what the lyrics are after listening to the song for the first time.  One reason pop music became so famous was because MTV promoted the music because pop music stars were using really good visuals in their videos.  Two people have become labeled as the king and Princess of Pop, Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.
Pop Music
Britney Spears
Michael Jackson

4. Disney

Disney has been around for an extremely long time.  The first ever Disney Movie was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.  Ever since then Disney has made theme parks, shops, toys, etc.. all over the country.  At least 3 generations have experienced Disney in their life and even though the creator Walt Disney has passed away it still continues to pump out extremely successful movies and a continuing build on its theme parks.  I can almost guarantee that you cant run into someone who doesn't have a knowledge of at least 2-3 disney movies.

Walt Disney Company

5. Reality T.V.

 One thing I am glad to say is that Reality T.V. is here to stay.  Reality T.v. shows get more viewers than a presidential debate.  You can't flip past all the channels and not hit at least 5 or 6 reality shows.  These shows can range from singing competitions, ghost hunting, to competition shows like Amazing Race to those trying to find love :)  Humans have a curiosity in watching others lives kinda voyeuristicly and it proves that in the ratings they receive.  People love watching tv shows that have people that they can relate with, which is why people get such strong passions over certain tv shows and they have favorite personalities on the shows.
Reality T.v.