popular culture.
Cell phones and pop culture seem to go hand-in-hand. People use cell phones to express themselves whether it be the art painted on the case, the picture set as a background, or the glittering rhinestones that sparkle as the customized ring tone buzzes out of the speakers. By definition, popular culture neglects where or by whom it is produced, it speaks to a large public audience that cannot be simply described by a single social variable, like race, gender, age, or class. Anyone can be an artist of popular culture, and mobile devices have had a great impact on that. Cell phones can create pop culture, spread pop culture, or reinvent pop culture in various ways. Also, popular culture can be influenced by mobile devices and the technology that comes with them. For example, in the popular suspense movie, Cellular, a handsome protagonist receives a phone call from a kidnapped lady and feels inspired to save her. The entire movie revolves around his cell phone conversation with this distressed woman. When asked how he got into this mess he replied that he simply answered his phone.
Cell phones have even influenced the creation of an entire new slang language that takes place via text messages. The shortened words and abbreviations frequently used in texts have become second nature to many people. Not only do people use these pseudo-words in their messages, commercials have featured them and pop songs have been written about this slang language. A song entitled "LOL Smiley Face" by Soulja Boy describes his relationship with a girl that consists solely of texting and sending pictures to each other. Usher's pop hit "OMG" is also titled after the popular texting slang. Below is a Cingular Commercial where the young girl even speaks in the text slang.