FREE ENTRY / Photometria International Photography Festival - Awards 2025 “Non Stop Pop”

Pop culture reflects the values, desires and concerns of modern society and is constantly redefined through its commercial dissemination in the media and consumer culture. The concept of “Non Stop Pop” suggests a continuous and unceasing flow of images and symbols that flood the social fabric and constantly influence our perceptions and expectations.

An anthropological interpretation of pop culture focuses on its role as a collective tool for shaping identity, creating a kind of “collective ego” that is expressed through symbols, clothing choices, and behaviors, forming communities that are connected through the shared acceptance of these characteristics.

The concept of pop culture as a product of consumption is also a crucial dimension to explore. As a field of incessant commodification and consumption, pop culture images are quickly assimilated by the public, who accept and reproduce them until they are overtaken by new trends. This rapid turnover of trends, which characterizes the modern consumer model, emphasizes temporality and ephemeral value.

In the age of digital communication, pop culture now permeates everyday life not only through traditional media, but also through social networks and the internet. Anyone can create and disseminate content, participating in the continuous production of pop aesthetics. In addition, people's need to appear popular and be socially recognized has become one of the most dominant characteristics of pop culture. Through the projection of moments of their personal lives on social media, many try to construct an attractive and often carefully crafted image of themselves, which exudes prosperity, success and social acceptance. However, the intensity with which online popularity is sought often raises questions about whether these images represent the truth or whether they are a superficial version of reality. While these platforms enhance a sense of connection and recognition, the images presented are often “filtered” and selected, emphasizing only the brighter aspects of life. Thus, the pursuit of popularity often becomes an end in itself, which distances one from authenticity, replacing personal experience with a constructed narrative, which can create intense psychological pressure and a sense of inadequacy.