Any time someone makes a reference to popular culture, there is a distinct possibility that there will be a visceral reaction from someone else in the room. There are those who are far from its influence, shying away from any complex discussions of what some might consider mundane topics, or even keeping all mediums of communication limited. There are others who really can’t help themselves, keeping all the lines and channels open, and making great efforts to keep up with the latest in everything. Still others just have a special sense for the kitschiness of pop culture, drawn to it because it holds an endless supply of moments that are potentially delightful.
It’s one of the great pleasures, then, for those who are so wired to respond whenever an obscure television reference comes up, to discover new pockets of culture that feel the same. It’s hard to call it a subculture, exactly, although there are those in Sydney who would call it an alternative phenomenon. It’s just that by its very nature, pop culture is very much the stuff of the mainstream. Perhaps it’s in the obsession and fanaticism that it starts to enter into another realm altogether.
However the definitions wash out, there are many options for the curious cultural adventure-seekers in Australia. There are times of the year when one can step out of their Hilton Hotel Sydney location,
and walk into one of the most extravagant celebrations of pop in the world. The Pop Culture Expo called Supanova is still in what might be called its rough beginnings, but it seems to be making a pretty smooth setting out.
This is well-trod territory, where celebrity appearances dot the conventions itinerary, and the events are all hyperlinked on all the latest digital devices. What is original, however, and impossible to replicate, is the energy that the fans and participants bring. Dressing up and going out as a living quotation from tv, film, music, etc., isn’t necessarily original, but it certainly becomes that whenever another generation invents it. In Australia, it takes on some new and startlingly wonderful directions.
Some of the most significant, and often under-recognized, contributions to the phenomenon started here, after all, and it is the sort of place where 70s fashion is still not at all out of style. Trends are set, and new identities are forged, in a remarkably visionary place, and pop culture enthusiasts from all over the world are likely to find themselves perfectly at home. Here, differences and similarities in global pop culture rise to the surface, and participants have no choice but to engage in the celebration of everything. A Sydney dining guide and a ticket to pop culture, and there’s a delightful time up ahead.