How to Use Pop Culture References in Your Writing
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 2 min read
For a story to stand the test of time, it must feel relevant beyond the era in which it was created—but that doesn’t mean it can’t incorporate pop culture references. Timeless works of literature are products of their eras, and they include appropriate references while still achieving a sense of universality.
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What Is a Pop Culture Reference?
A pop culture reference in a work of art is any mention of a cultural artifact from a specific era. An author may draw pop cultural references from the era in which they create the work, or they may choose references appropriate to the period in which the story takes place.
R.L. Stine on References That Stand the Test of Time
3 Tips for Referencing Pop Culture in Your Story
If you find yourself motivated to include the best pop culture references in your own work, consider the following guidelines.
- 1. Use pop culture references as supporting details. Include pop culture details to give your story a vivid setting. Referencing era-appropriate music, Hollywood films, books, advertisements, and celebrities your characters would be familiar with can give your story a sense of time and place. You can even allow your fictional main characters to cross paths with pop culture figures, such as musicians and politicians. The Simpsons TV show did this throughout the 1990s, inviting pop culture guest stars to appear in episodes. Many other sitcoms have embraced a similar model.
- 2. Choose references that will stand the test of time. Popular culture changes quickly, which can make a book that references the pop culture icons of the moment too specific for its own good. Be conscious of how you use pop culture in your writing to ensure that your subject subject matter doesn’t become dated. For example, if you want to reference a superhero or comic book in your writing, first ask yourself if that reference will still make sense in a decade; only include it if you think it will stand the test of time.
- 3. Include allusions to classic works of art. What makes a story timeless? In part, it’s when the story exists in conversation with the works that came before it. To write a timeless story, go beyond pop culture allusions and introduce intertextuality. Try referencing Greek mythology, the plays of William Shakespeare, or the work of Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, or George Orwell. Whether you’re writing a love story or a sci-fi epic, a well-rounded slate of appropriate literary allusions can increase the lifespan of your writing and help you write a timeless story.
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