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'You know Debbie Gibson writes all her own songs?' No! Fucking just pull me up a chair. 'Yeah, she writes all her own songs about her own real life experiences. 'Yeah, what's the next one called? Mom why am I bleeding? When did we start listening to pre-pubescent white girls? I musta missed that meeting. We have at our fingertips the greatest minds of all-time, the knowledge and history of the greatest thinkers of ALL FUCKING TIME, but no, what's that little white girl saying? Let's go put Debbie Gibson's thoughts on compact disc so they'll never be destroyed.

Bill Hicks#124

MediaCultureMusicPop cultureEducationIntellectMusic industry

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker critiques the music industry for prioritizing pop artists over historical thinkers and intellectuals.
In plain terms
People listen to simple pop music instead of great historical ideas.
What can you take from it?
Culture often values entertainment over deep knowledge.

Where it applies

  • music criticism
  • education
  • media analysis

Putting it to work

  • discuss media priorities
  • promote historical literacy

Questions to consider

  • What does our media consumption say about society?
  • How do we value knowledge?

Another view

The view dismisses pop art without considering its cultural value.

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