Culture

• Define popular culture

  Cultural products enjoyed by the mass of ordinary people e.g. music, blockbuster films
• Define Mass Culture

  Commercially produced culture, involving mass produced, short lived products which many see as having little lasting value and do not demand critical discussion
• Define High Culture

  Cultural products seen to be of lasting artistic or literary value; approved and admired by intellectual elites, predominately the middle and upper class e.g. theatre, ballet, classic books
• Features of Popular Culture

  • everyday culture- simple, easy to understand, entertainment 
  • Products of mass culture 
  • Mass circulation, magazines, tabloid newspapers, reality TV 
  • Designed to be sold to the largest number of people possible
• Features of High Culture

  • something set apart from everyday life 
  • Treated with respect 
  • Lasting value and part of a heritage which is worth preserving 
  • Found in special places such as art galleries, museums, concert halls and theatres 
  • Aimed at mainly upper & middle class audiences 
• How has there been a changing distinction between high and pop culture

  • Global reach of contemporary media
  • Mass production on a global scale
  • Expansion of media-based creative industries e.g. publishing, music, films

  = all types of culture can be consumed by the mass of people which means its no longer reserved for the elites
• Arguments that pop culture is negative and harmful

  • Acts as a distraction, diverts people away from more useful activities
  • Drives down cultural standards
  • Frankfurt school: purely for profit
  • Marxists: form of social control, illusion of choice between choices of infotainment, provides escapism so that ruling class can maintain ideological hegemony
  • Marcuse: undermines peoples ability to think critically about the world, form of social repression , promoting conformity and passive acceptance
• Arguments for pop culture provides choice and helps society

  • Shrinanti: wide diversity and choice within popular culture, which people critically respond to