Trends, Networks, and Critical

Thinking in the 21st Century

LESSON 1
Fad vs. Trend
Engaging with the Arts
• Have you ever wondered how the Philippine art
developed? Do you know that there are significant
differences in the art forms and art making based on the
period the artworks were produced?
• The traditional art of the Philippines developed as different
factors influence the artmaking in the country.
• The Philippine art has its unique characteristics based on
its period of development.
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 The 21st century is a deluge of overwhelming
demands from a digital society; hence, enormous
trends have emerged.
Global trends have been increasingly given
attention and anchored to socio-cultural, economic,
and political dimensions. Unconsciously, individuals
like you do not realize that they have been into certain
trends.
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Trend
Trend is something that covers almost all of human activities such as but not
limited to politics, beliefs, economics, lifestyle, social life and the like whether
the individuals or groups of people are aware of it or not. It is defined in various
ways depending on the orientation of these individuals or groups. In the fields of
arts, fashion and music for example, it is a prevailing style or preference such as
realism movement in art, emergence of the miniskirt, and popularity of certain
genre of music like jazz, classical and rock. Many of you must have had an
experience of listening or watching Video-Karaoke singers during festivities or
celebrations.
 You would know because their song selection was
dependent on the most prevailing genre of songs tice that
song selections are dependent of the singers. Older singers
tend to opt for older songs while younger singers opt for newer
songs. Why do you think so? Well, it is during their respective
era or generation. The trend toward portable music players, is
You would notice that song selections are dependent of the
singers. Older singers tend to opt for older songs while
younger singers opt for newer songs.
Why do you think so? Well, it is because their song
selection was dependent on the most prevailing genre
of songs during their respective era or generation. The
trend toward portable music players, is another
example which started with the invention of big, heavy,
portable “boom boxes” and transformed into personal
CD players– continuing to grow and change into the
MP3 portable music player phenomenon that we see
today.
In the sphere of economics, trends may come as a general
movement registering statistical changes for a long period such as
the increasing cost of living and rate of unemployment. A typical
example of this is the long prevailing capitalistic mentality of
people all throughout the world which in one way or another
dictates their economic movement. Why do you still pursue your
studies despite the difficulties brought about by the current
pandemic? Well, most of you if not all would say, “because I have
a dream to fulfill. I want a good life, a good and stable job, a
career, etc.”
In politics, trends refer to a tendency, drift, or bend toward a
certain stance, thought, or policy as when democratic Southeast
Asian countries favored authoritarian governments at a certain
point in their histories. Well, this will also remind us of our own
history when there was a point in our time when people felt that
their freedom and liberty were disregarded which brought them
to a struggle to regain it – the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution,
which eventually became a kindling reminder of how the true
spirit of democracy works.
Other areas also exhibit prevailing preference such as in sports
(wearable devices that monitor training performance), food (rise
of oatmeal products, inclusion of moringa or malunggay in food
products), medicine (stem cell treatment), cosmetics (whitening
supplements), travel (paperless tickets and online check-in),
manufacturing (3-D printing), environmental management (home
solar electric system). To sum up, a trend is a pattern of behavior
demonstrated by a big number of people within a particular
period.
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Here are some examples of trend:
⮚ teleserye
⮚ social networking sites
⮚ social advocacies
⮚ drone technology
⮚ denim jeans
⮚ business process outsourcing
⮚ online ticketing
⮚ cashless transactions
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Fad
▸ Trending ngayon sa YouTube ang… Trending sa Twitter
ang… Trending ngayon sa Facebook ang… You might get
confused at these headlines from the News and ask, “how
can these be considered as trends based on the above
discussion?” This part now discusses fads and how it differs
from trends.

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A Fad is something, such as an interest or fashion, that is very
popular for a short time (Merriam– Webster’s Learner’s
Dictionary). A fad is a product that has little, if any, utility but is
characterized by a quick rise in sales and popularity followed by a
quick decline in sales and popularity. This quick up and down in
sales is because fad products usually do not satisfy a strong
consumer need.

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Nevertheless, fads seldom completely die out with some
diehard followers remaining loyal. Now, if we will look back
at the first paragraph above, you will now see that those
things which are advertised as “trending” in YouTube,
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or any popular social media
platforms are not actually trends but are merely fads.

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Here are some classic examples of fad.

✔ hula hoop ✔ pet rock

✔ yo-yo ✔ Friendster
✔ virtual pets ✔ troll doll
✔ Frisbee ✔ bucket challenge
✔ Pokémon Go ✔ mannequin challenge
✔ Hello Kitty ✔ “Gangnam Style” song
✔ Loomband ✔ Tamagochi pets
✔ Candy Crush App ✔ hoverboards
✔ iPod ✔ fidget spinner
✔ kalyeserye

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A fad is an intense but short-lived fashion. It is a
widely– shared enthusiasm for something,
especially one that is short-lived. It is a temporary
fashion, a craze, interest, or activity that people
follow enthusiastically, but lasts for a short period
of time.

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How does a trend differ from a fad? To simply put it, a fad
has a definite beginning and a definite end while a trend
though has a certain beginning at a certain point in time or
history but, it evolves and changes as it continues to grow.
Every generation has its own set of fads. Do you now
realize what are those? Can you now recall some stories of
what fads came and went during your time? It will surely
yield a very interesting list.

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 The table below summarizes the distinction between a fad and a trend
according to Arzadon et.al. (2018).
CATEGORIES FAD TREND
Notions of • the new things that we currently do fade • the way we do things
Change when the perception of novelty is gone

Behavior • intense • sustained behavior that turns into lifestyle, mindset,

and
values
Effects • coolness • meets needs, solves problems and issues
• me-too mentality
• starts with technology
Time and • appears suddenly • appears suddenly
Nature of • enormously popular • enormously popular
Growth • suddenly disappears • does not disappear
• unexplainable growth • gets stronger over time
• sticks around
Scope and • stays within one company • can across over many companies
Limitations • single brand/limited brands • encompasses entire areas of technologies

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