---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think there's real currency in pop…"
description: "\"I think there's real currency in pop culture.\" — Matt Tong"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/matt-tong-24067_culture_i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-cul_2278853.jpg"
---

#  I think there's real currency in pop culture.

![“I think there's real currency in pop culture.” quote by Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/matt-tong-24067_culture_i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-cul_2278853.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/matt-tong-24067_culture_i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-cul_2278853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/matt-tong-24067_culture_i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-cul_2278853.jpg)

> “I think there's real currency in pop culture.”

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests that pop culture holds tangible value and influence, comparable to money in its ability to shape trends and ideas.

**In simple terms:** Pop culture can be valuable.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and leverage cultural trends.

Themes

culture economics influence media trendspotting

Mood

analytical optimistic

Type

observational strategic

When to use this quote

- advertising campaigns
- content creation
- trend analysis
- brand positioning

Key Concepts

cultural capital social dynamics marketing branding

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn cultural insight into lasting impact?
- What risks come with treating culture as currency?

A Different Perspective

Its value can be fleeting and context‑dependent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Currency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currency/) [Currency Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currency-pop-5311161/) [Pop culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-culture/) [Pops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pops/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Currency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-currency-634610/) [Think Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-real/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Sadhana is the real currency that you can use anywhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/sadhana-is-the-real-currency-that-you-can-use-anywhere/)

[Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/)

> [“The currency of living is money; the real currency of life is love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/the-currency-of-living-is-money-the-real-currency-of-life-is-love/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“Experience is the only real currency of life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lassman/experience-is-the-only-real-currency-of-life/)

[David Lassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lassman/)

> [I am deeply skeptical of trade deals in general.But the only way they can get a number of Democrats is by doing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/i-am-deeply-skeptical-of-trade-deals-in-general-but-the-only-way-they/)

[Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/)

> [The real currency is not cash but respect. Arrogant money is not worth having, but poverty by choice is revered as a higher appreciation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakare/the-real-currency-is-not-cash-but-respect-arrogant-money-is-not-worth/)

[Bakare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakare/)

> [It's my job, too, to keep up with pop culture and what the kids are into 'cause you don't want to sound like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/it-s-my-job-too-to-keep-up-with-pop-culture-and-what-the-kids-are/)

[R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/)

> [Don's Mancini father was an advertising executive and I think Don really grew up and all of that stayed in his head. Some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/don-s-mancini-father-was-an-advertising-executive-and-i-think-don/)

[David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/)

> [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/)

[Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/)

> [I'm a huge Nirvana fan and I like seeing things that at first seem out of context, but actually they're one of the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-zinner/i-m-a-huge-nirvana-fan-and-i-like-seeing-things-that-at-first-seem/)

[Nick Zinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-zinner/)

> [That was something that I learned from Alan Ball from “Six Feet Under." He didn”t really like to have too many pop culture references…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-soloway/that-was-something-that-i-learned-from-alan-ball-from-six-feet-under/)

[Jill Soloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-soloway/)

> [ You know, Mick Jagger's "Sympathy for the Devil." I think it was inspired by that \[H.P.Lovecraft stories\]. You don't know who's reading what, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/you-know-mick-jagger-s-sympathy-for-the-devil-i-think-it-was-inspired/)

[Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/)

> [I allude to Back to the Future in the 1985 story to let folks know it was an inspiration and because it literally was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-allude-to-back-to-the-future-in-the-1985-story-to-let-folks-know-it/)

[Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/)

> [There are a lot of reasons to be hated in pop culture, and being a straight white male is one of them. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rzeznik/there-are-a-lot-of-reasons-to-be-hated-in-pop-culture-and-being-a/)

[John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/)

> [Sometimes something will be happening in pop culture and a movie will be right there, so you'll have this perception that maybe the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/sometimes-something-will-be-happening-in-pop-culture-and-a-movie-will/)

[Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/)

> [The pop culture has become more frenetic. There are more forces at work that are far more invasive. However, I think it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/the-pop-culture-has-become-more-frenetic-there-are-more-forces-at/)

[Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/)

## More by Matt Tong

> [Nobody starts a band to make friends; you do it because of the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/nobody-starts-a-band-to-make-friends-you-do-it-because-of-the-music/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [There's too much rock that relies a fetishism or nostalgia for the old ways. That's a real enemy to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/there-s-too-much-rock-that-relies-a-fetishism-or-nostalgia-for-the/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [I have a real problem with rock music because it seems that lineage doesn't really exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-have-a-real-problem-with-rock-music-because-it-seems-that-lineage/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [I want the words to be read in conjunction with the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-want-the-words-to-be-read-in-conjunction-with-the-music/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [Patriotism is a joke in the UK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/patriotism-is-a-joke-in-the-uk/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [I don't really believe in the use of drum machines live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-don-t-really-believe-in-the-use-of-drum-machines-live/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [I'm finding it hard to listen to other rock bands. It's been hard for me for a long time, but now I can't listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-m-finding-it-hard-to-listen-to-other-rock-bands-it-s-been-hard-for/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [Youth is so cynical. There's never anything to believe in as a teen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/youth-is-so-cynical-there-s-never-anything-to-believe-in-as-a-teen/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [It's frustrating that people attribute something to certain songs and that's not what they're about at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/it-s-frustrating-that-people-attribute-something-to-certain-songs-and/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [After a while, you start to believe that your opinions are more valid than everyone else's. It can be hard to be humble about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/after-a-while-you-start-to-believe-that-your-opinions-are-more-valid/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [I feel that's important that I have some place to go that isn't on the cover of a magazine. I signed up to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-feel-that-s-important-that-i-have-some-place-to-go-that-isn-t-on/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [You want to reach people on a real level and have a fan base that understands you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/you-want-to-reach-people-on-a-real-level-and-have-a-fan-base-that/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [You can't help hearing things that are popular when you're young and impressionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/you-can-t-help-hearing-things-that-are-popular-when-you-re-young-and/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [Everyone tries to research your background. I have a real fear of celebrity and exposing my real self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/everyone-tries-to-research-your-background-i-have-a-real-fear-of/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [Even that word depends on what you mean by pop. I mean, pop music has currency. It could just be about that girl who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/even-that-word-depends-on-what-you-mean-by-pop-i-mean-pop-music-has/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

[Explore all 25 Matt Tong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

## More Culture quotes

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/)

[Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/)

[Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/)

> [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/)

[Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/)

> [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/)

[Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/)

[Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/)

> [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/)

[Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/)

> [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/)

[Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/)

> [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/)

[Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/)

> [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/)

[David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/)

> [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

[Browse all 15,940 Culture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think there's real currency in pop culture.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Matt Tong"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-culture/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Culture"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-culture/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/matt-tong-24067_culture_i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-cul_2278853.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/matt-tong-24067_culture_i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-cul_2278853.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/matt-tong-24067_culture_i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-cul_2278853.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think there's real currency in pop culture.” — Matt Tong",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Matt Tong",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think there's real currency in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-culture/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-think-there-s-real-currency-in-pop-culture/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
