Influencing My Children to Understand Pop Culture

I know this Mom of 5 who is so terrified of her children being "mainstream" that she refuses to allow them to be influenced by todays pop culture society. She will not let them watch age appropriate TV, radio and even goes so far as to home school them.  To me it is quite humorous especially because her children love all then things she is determined to steer them from; Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Glee. And really, although I may not be a fan of all things pop culture for kids today, are they really so bad? I didn't wear short skirts and knee highs because Britney Spears made the image trendy. Isn't it more important to teach our children the value of individuality and self assurance rather than teaching them that current pop culture is the enemy? What presents the most irony to me is that this Mom and her husband are/were huge Beatles fans and quality of music aside, aren't the Beatles the pop culture equivalent of Lady Gaga for their generation? I really hope that I can find a balance between allowing my children to understand their own individuality and interests and forcing my own person influences onto them. I hope that they can appreciate pop culture but also take from it what they like and leave the rest for others to enjoy.