Module 6 Popular Culture in the Philippine

Summary

This video lesson, presented by Ronnie Protago, explores the concept of popular culture in the Philippines, emphasizing the distinctions between popular, folk, indigenous, and nationalistic culture. The lesson covers three types of 'popular'—from inferior yet accessible items to widely liked trends—and delves into different cultural forms. It also introduces the three levels of culture: high, middle, and low, while highlighting cultural elements such as values, norms, institutions, and artifacts. With historical context from colonial times, the video encourages viewers to understand and engage with Filipino culture on various levels.

Takeaways

• 📚 The learners are expected to differentiate the three kinds of popular culture and identify the levels of culture.
• 👡 'Popular' can mean something inferior but widely available, like plastic sandals, which become popular through use.
• 🎭 Popular culture can also refer to someone or something intentionally seeking attention, like Vice Ganda with eccentric behavior.
• 🍵 The third type of popular refers to something liked by many people, like milk tea, which gained popularity due to its widespread appeal.
• 🏞️ Culture can be highly valued, like the Banaue Rice Terraces, or based on regional traditions, like the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban.
• 📊 There are three levels of culture: high culture (elite/intelligentsia), middle culture (a hybrid of high and low), and low culture (appealing to the masses).
• 🏛️ Culture consists of four elements: values, norms, institutions, and artifacts, passed down through generations.
• 📖 Bienvenido Lumbera highlights differences between pop culture, folk culture, and nationalistic culture, noting their distinct influences on Filipino society.
• 🌱 Indigenous cultures, like the Aetas, have largely maintained their traditions despite facing challenges like marginalization and poverty.
• 🎥 American colonialism significantly impacted Philippine popular culture through new media, like Hollywood films, which monopolized the market.

Q & A

What are the three kinds of 'popular' mentioned in the script?

The three kinds of 'popular' are: 1) Something inferior that becomes popular due to availability, like plastic sandals; 2) Something or someone intentionally seeking attention, like Vice Ganda; and 3) Something liked by many people, like milk tea.

What are the two kinds of culture discussed in the script?

The two kinds of culture are: 1) Highly valued representations, like the Banawe Rice Terraces, representing industriousness; and 2) Traditions, artifacts, and perceptions shared by people from a geographic region, like the Pahiyas Festival.

What are the three levels of culture described in the script?

The three levels of culture are: 1) High culture, often associated with the upper class or intellectuals; 2) Middle culture, which is a hybrid or mixture of cultural elements; and 3) Low culture, which appeals to the masses and is often referred to as 'bakya' or 'jologs' culture.

What are the four elements of culture according to the script?

The four elements of culture are: 1) Values (what seems important in life); 2) Norms (how people are expected to behave); 3) Institutions (the structures through which values and norms are transmitted); and 4) Artifacts (material objects derived from cultural values and norms).

How does the script differentiate pop culture from folk culture and nationalistic culture?

Pop culture is shaped by colonial influences and modern media, while folk culture is the traditional way of living, often passed down orally and linked to rural areas. Nationalistic culture emerged through resistance to colonial rule and represents collective identity.

What examples of indigenous culture are provided in the script?

An example of indigenous culture is the Aeta people, one of the earliest groups in the Philippines who maintained their cultural practices, including hunting, gathering, and building temporary houses.

How was popular culture used during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines?

During the Spanish colonial period, popular culture was used by colonial authorities to pacify the natives through plays and literature like the 'pasyon' and 'corrido,' promoting Christian values and loyalty to the monarchy.

How did the native intelligentsia use popular culture during the 19th century?

The native intelligentsia, through the propaganda movement, used popular culture forms such as parodies of Spanish prayers to criticize the abusive friars and rally the people against colonial rule. An example is Marcelo H. del Pilar’s 'Dasalan at Tuksuhan.'

What impact did American colonialism have on popular culture in the Philippines?

American colonialism brought about the expansion of popular culture through liberal policies on the press and the rise of new media like radio, television, and Hollywood films, which dominated the Philippine market.

What is the importance of popular culture according to Bienvenido Lumbera?

According to Bienvenido Lumbera, popular culture is powerful because it can be used to manipulate minds. However, once people understand its influence, it can also become a tool for political resistance and empowerment.