Fifty Shades and Popular Culture

Many loved the Fifty Shades trilogy. Many others loved to hate it. Just like any other popular culture, but especially because of their vast, E.L. James’s trilogy and its movie unearth who we are as a society that not only created but also popularized such a controversial work. On the one hand, critics argued that Fifty Shades of Grey reflected the glorification of sex. Some even explained that the trilogy normalized sexual abuse. On the other hand, many expressed a sense of relief that sexual preferences and choices that have long been marginalized could not be discussed in the mainstream. Furthermore, the trilogy reflects our society’s obsession with wealth, failure to identify questionable behaviors in romantic relationships, and very traditional views on sex, sexuality, and romance in contrast to more liberal depictions of them in popular culture. The trilogy also enables us to explore the value and meaning of fan works, parodies, merchandizing and product placement, and other forms of creative endeavors.