Novelist, Mark Twain, in his writing, Corn-Pone Opinions, describes conformity in society. Twain's purpose is to inform his audience of the human tendency to conform without valid reason. Twain uses social-typical example to convey his idea. "A new thing in costume appears--the flaring hoopskirt, for example--and the passers-by are shocked, and the irreverent laugh. Six months later everybody is reconciled: the fashion has established itself: it is admired" (Twain, paragraph 9). Twain presents this social-typical example to emphasize how people will go along with certain fashions just because it's in style. People don't think for themselves but allow conformity to instruct their lives.
Twain continues to expand his main idea through the use of rhetorical questions. "Do you believe that a tenth part of the people, on either side, had any rational excuse for having an opinion about the matter at all?" (Twain, paragraph 15). Twain uses this rhetorical question to establish that people act without valid reason. People don't act on their own accord, but act under the influence of others.
I agree with Twain's idea of conformity. People will act based on others. I believe this is closely tied to pop culture. For example, fads such as "Kylie lips" and yeezys are well known and are sought by many. These items are over priced but still many want to buy them because they're trending and have famous names attached to them.
