There is an ongoing trend about the popularity of film stars and international pop. Nowadays, it is undeniable that young people are often more updated about celebrities than historical figures. Thus, this writer will explore some reasons and give solutions to address this problem.
There are several reasons why celebrities get more attention than historical figures. Firstly, the rise of the internet and social media has made information about international pop more accessible than ever. Social platforms such as Instagram or Tik Tok are becoming more addictive. Since teenagers now spend most of their spare time surfing on the internet, it is undeniable that they know everything about celebrities. For example, Teenagers may have more knowledge about Taylor Swift or The Weeknd instead of Martin Luther King and Marie Curie. Additionally, History has a wide amount of information and this includes numerous dates and years. Therefore, it may be difficult for students to memorize and they can not recall during the exam. As a result, they gravitate towards forms of entertainment that are more interesting and easier to remember.
However, several measures can be taken to address the decline in the popularity of history. History can be introduced to youngsters through entertainment. Documentaries and movies, which are based on true stories, can raise teenagers’ curiosity. For example, there is a film called ‘Apocalypse Now’ that talked about the Vietnam war and it was awarded 21 times and was nominated for 33 awards. By looking at the success of the movie, teenagers may feel curious about how good the movie is, and the history can be more well-known. Secondly, the teaching method can be changed at schools to draw students’ attention. For example, students should be encouraged to play historical figures when they have a presentation as a small drama. In that way, it may help students to know more about history and memorize it.
In conclusion, although youngsters rarely pay attention to historical personalities due to the rise of social media and dull history lessons, this can be dealt with through entertainment and schools.