# Pop Culture Stuff Everyone Seems to Misunderstand **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564 "2021-04-22T19:51:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/21 "2021-04-22T22:55:40Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Because Vader’s not mad his son was saved. Woah. I love that. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/22 "2021-04-22T23:10:11Z")
People seem to think the first Death Wish movie (and the series itself) is about a white man killing minorities, when in fact most of the people he kills are white criminals. That may have been what happened in trashier novels/films but the first Death Wish isn’t that. Similatly there’s an idea spread by even people who should know better like on Kotaku that the Call Of Duty series is literally “Muslim Killer: The Simulation” ignoring the fact you kill more WW2 Nazis and Cold War Soviets in the series, in fact I think at this point you kill more Vietnamese people than actual Arabs in the series. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/23 "2021-04-23T01:04:12Z")
In the Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “The Impression That I Get,” the singer isn’t saying that he “never had to knock on wood.” He’s saying that he “never had to” undergo all the misfortunes he mentioned in the first verse, then adding “knock on wood” to avoid jinxing himself. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/24 "2021-04-23T01:25:24Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > I can’t believe I am the first to put out: Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. I mean the song is used as a national anthem of pride… but the lyrics and meaning are anti-war and effectively anti-US system. > > Glory Days is also often misused. It is depressing as hell. I blame the production – all that fist-pumping bombast. Springsteen’s a great songwriter but irony isn’t in his wheelhouse – his strength is in his sincerity. So when his dark lyrics get produced like stadium-rocking anthems, their meaning evaporates. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/25 "2021-04-23T01:28:05Z")
The Old Wizard (Long grey bead/wise) = Odin The Lieutenant Marvels, Mary Marvel & Uncle Marvel = The Warriors Three & Sif. Sivanna & the two kids , Beautia (can mesmerize men with her charms) & Magnificus (super-strong) equals Loki, The Enchantress and the Executioner. The Wizard lives on a rock of eternity, & Asgard was presented in similar fashion. The list goes on & on. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/26 "2021-04-23T01:51:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Cherubs are bad ass angels Note to self: don’t, or, rather, do, depending on mood, google “bad ass-angels”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/27 "2021-04-23T02:03:10Z")
Yeah, they are serious about that. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/28 "2021-04-23T02:06:43Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > The Old Wizard (Long grey bead/wise) = Odin > The Lieutenant Marvels, Mary Marvel & Uncle Marvel = The Warriors Three & Sif. > Sivanna & the two kids , Beautia (can mesmerize men with her charms) & Magnificus (super-strong) equals Loki, The Enchantress and the Executioner. > > The Wizard lives on a rock of eternity, & Asgard was presented in similar fashion. > > The list goes on & on. I agree there are a lot of commonalities, but honestly some of those seemed a bit strained (I don’t see any commonalities between the Marvel Family and Thor’s supporting cast other than a supporting cast exists, for example). And again, I agree that there are enough commonalities that it seems like there must have been some influence. But I think “Thor is an homage to Captain Marvel” is less an example of “pop culture stuff everyone seems to misunderstand” and more of possible but not certain interpretation. And maybe this is a nitpick, but I don’t think it counts as an homage if the folks making the “homage” don’t even mention the influence when they talk about their creation. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/29 "2021-04-23T02:08:19Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I blame the production – all that fist-pumping bombast. Springsteen’s a great songwriter but irony isn’t in his wheelhouse – his strength is in his sincerity. **So when his dark lyrics get produced like stadium-rocking anthems,** their meaning evaporates. - I suspect the contrast is the whole point. It’s superficial bombast to cover a darker truth. And it seems not a single politician has read the repeated reveals about their favorite patriotic rock songs. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/30 "2021-04-23T02:10:07Z")
I don’t know if anyone misunderstands this, but I don’t see it spoken of. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, Wizard Of Oz, and Labyrinth are all dreams. They represent a young girl’s journey out of childhood. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/31 "2021-04-23T02:19:48Z")
The iconic _Twilight Zone_ theme music, by Marius Constant, starts on an anacrusis (pickup). `[Here is a sheet music page that depicts it accurately](https://beethoven.oktav.com/i/at/742175a1_t-001-twilight-zone-1200w.jpg). If you’ve been singing “DEE-dee DEE-dee,” with the first and third “dees” on the downbeat, you’ve been doing it wrong (but you have lots of company). ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/32 "2021-04-23T02:26:54Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And yet, the movie ends with the destruction of several buildings in Delaware, as the narrator watches. The movie seems to present this as a good thing, desfructive, yes, but unhealthy? I’m not convinced they are saying that, > > How many people were killed as a result of that? Thrillers usually end with a win-but-lose ending. Killing Tyler Durden was a win. The unpreventable destruction and disillusionment that followed was the loss. Thrillers also very commonly end with disillusionment. It’s even worse in the book. The protag ends up in a mental institution and starts seeing Tyler’s followers again. The film is better, in case you wondered. The controlling idea of the film is much more clear and consistent. The book is kind of a mess. And I say that as a fan of ol’ Chuck. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/33 "2021-04-23T02:30:44Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > Darth Vader was not lying to or trying to trick Luke. If he had joined Vader they really would have killed the Emperor together and then ruled the galaxy as father and son. > > In a twisted way this was a very father-like thing to do (spend time with his son and push him to greatness). Probably the only kindness he was capable of after being corrupted. I make no claim to SW expertise. But how can you say with any certainty that would have happened when we have no idea what would have happened in any timeline other than the one shown in the various movies? It seems a plausible speculation, but nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/34 "2021-04-23T02:38:32Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Tyler Durden was not supposed to be a role model. That aspect of his personality is a hypermasculine violent anarchist _and that’s not supposed to be a good thing._ The whole point of _Fight Club_ is that aggression is a destructive and unhealthy response to white collar disillusionment. Similar Alan Moore did not intend Rorschach from _Watchmen_ to be be considered a role model even though a lot of fans of _Watchmen_ consider him to be ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/35 "2021-04-23T02:42:31Z")
This one gets me too. Alan Moore should have just called the book _I Hate Superheroes_ and maybe more people would get a clue. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/36 "2021-04-23T02:46:41Z")
Strawberry Fields Forever isn’t about getting high and/or solving life’s problems. It’s about being dead. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/37 "2021-04-23T02:50:01Z")
Sorry, forgot we were in Cafe Society and posted a science-y example. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/38 "2021-04-23T03:06:15Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > > [@Disheavel](#): > > > > I can’t believe I am the first to put out: Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. I mean the song is used as a national anthem of pride… but the lyrics and meaning are anti-war and effectively anti-US system. > > > > Glory Days is also often misused. It is depressing as hell. > > I blame the production – all that fist-pumping bombast. Springsteen’s a great songwriter but irony isn’t in his wheelhouse – his strength is in his sincerity. So when his dark lyrics get produced like stadium-rocking anthems, their meaning evaporates. Proof: the original 4-track demo. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3UBei3n4FOY/hqdefault.jpg "Born In The USA (acoustic from Tracks)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UBei3n4FOY) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/39 "2021-04-23T03:10:36Z")
Both those Springsteen songs amount to chanting > USA!! USA!! We’re number last!! We’re number last!! The rubes eat that shit up. Which explains why we’re number last. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564/40 "2021-04-23T03:47:05Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > I can’t believe I am the first to put out: Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. I mean the song is used as a national anthem of pride… but the lyrics and meaning are anti-war and effectively anti-US system. Another contender in a similar vein: “Little Pink Houses” by John Mellenkampf. The McCain campaign used it in 2008. Apparently they liked the chorus and didn’t listen to the rest of it: > "Cause they told me when I was younger, > said, `Boy, you gonna be president.’ > But just like everything else, those old crazy dreams > just kind of came and went. To be bipartisan about this, I’ll say Bill Clinton’s use of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop Thinking about Tomorrow” did not bode well: > Though you wont’ believe that it’s true, > I never meant any harm to you. What is _wrong_ with these people? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-stuff-everyone-seems-to-misunderstand/940564.md?page=3)