WHAT IS POP CULTURE? [AUDIO]
Summary
TLDRThis lesson delves into the concept of pop culture as mass culture, tracing its roots back to historical debates and the Roman Empire's 'bread and circuses.' It discusses the evolution of pop culture from being seen as inferior to its modern interpretation as widely liked by many. Key themes include the origins of pop culture, the impact of commercialization, and its ideological role in society. The script raises questions about whether pop culture is a genuine expression of the masses or a tool for social control, and how it interacts with political regimes and mass media.
Takeaways
- 🌐 Pop culture is a mass culture that has evolved over time and is not a contemporary phenomenon, with roots traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
- 🎪 The term 'bread and circuses' from the Roman Empire describes extravagant entertainment used to divert attention from social issues, reflecting early forms of mass culture.
- 🏙️ Modern pop culture is often associated with national consciousness, as seen in the Philippines where beauty pageants contribute to a sense of national identity.
- 🔄 The perception of 'popular' has shifted from being seen from the elite's perspective to that of the common people, indicating a cultural shift in what is considered popular.
- 📚 Early definitions of popular culture were often associated with inferior or low-quality works, contrasting with 'quality' literature or journalism.
- 🎭 Pop culture can be seen as a deliberate attempt to win favor, with examples such as pop journalism being viewed as less intellectually rigorous than its democratic counterpart.
- 🤔 The script raises questions about the origins of pop culture, whether it emerges from the people or is imposed from above as a form of social control.
- 💰 The influence of commercialization and industrialization on pop culture is highlighted, questioning whether profitability takes precedence over quality and artistry.
- 🛍️ The mass production of pop culture raises concerns about whether popular products are genuinely desired by the public or are manufactured to create a sense of need.
- 🧠 The ideological role of pop culture is examined, questioning whether it serves to indoctrinate people with values that maintain the dominance of the privileged.
- 🚫 The script discusses the potential dangers of mass media in transmitting and inculcating official ideologies, such as those seen in fascist regimes, and the risk of mass propaganda.
Q & A
What is the definition of pop culture according to the script?
-Pop culture is defined as mass culture, which has evolved from being associated with inferior or vulgar works to being well-liked by many people and is often a reflection of national consciousness.
How does the script trace the origins of debates over mass culture?
-The script traces the origins of debates over mass culture back to the writings of Pascal and Montaign in the 16th and 17th centuries, and even further to the 'bread and circuses' of the Roman Empire.
What is the term 'bread and circuses' used to describe in the context of the script?
-The term 'bread and circuses' refers to extravagant and expensive events or entertainment provided by the Roman Empire to divert attention from discontent and issues among the common people.
How is pop culture associated with national consciousness, as per the script?
-Pop culture is associated with national consciousness through examples like the Philippines, where the success of Filipinas in beauty pageants is tied to a sense of Filipino identity and pride.
What shift in perspective regarding the term 'popular' occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries according to the script?
-The shift in perspective was that 'popular' began to be seen from the point of view of the common people rather than the rich, elite, or upper class, indicating that the definition of popular was coming from the masses themselves.
What are the two older meanings of 'popular' culture mentioned in the script?
-The two older meanings of 'popular' culture are: 1) inferior or vulgar kinds of works, such as popular literature compared to quality press, and 2) works that deliberately set out to win favor, such as pop journalism versus democratic journalism.
What are the three related themes to consider when discussing the development of the idea of pop culture?
-The three themes are: 1) determining what or who defines popular culture, 2) the influence of commercialization and industrialization on popular culture, and 3) the ideological role of popular culture in society.
What questions should be asked regarding the source of pop culture?
-Questions to ask include whether pop culture emerges from the people as an autonomous expression of their interests and experiences, or if it is imposed from above as a form of social control, and whether it arises from the lower class, the upper class, or a combination of both.
How does commercialization and industrialization influence the quality of popular culture?
-Commercialization and industrialization may lead to a focus on profitability and marketability over quality, artistry, integrity, and intellectual challenge, raising questions about the true popularity and value of mass-produced cultural products.
What role does modern mass media play in the context of pop culture and political regimes?
-Modern mass media can be used for mass propaganda by political regimes, transmitting and inculcating official ideologies, and potentially repressing alternative ideas or opposition if there are no countervailing political organizations.
How did the concept of mass society influence the perception of mass media and mass culture in capitalist societies?
-The concept of mass society led to fears and anxieties among intellectuals about the rise of mass culture, which in turn informed debates and discussions about the role and impact of mass media and culture in society.
Outlines
🎪 Origins and Debates of Pop Culture
This paragraph delves into the historical roots of pop culture, tracing debates back to the 16th and 17th centuries with references to Pascal and Montan. It discusses the emergence of pop culture during the rise of the market economy and its relation to the 'bread and circuses' of the Roman Empire, which served to distract the populace from social issues. The modern concept of pop culture is tied to national consciousness, exemplified by the Filipino pride in beauty pageants. The paragraph also highlights a shift in perspective during the 18th and 19th centuries, where 'popular' began to be seen from the viewpoint of the masses rather than the elite, and touches on the early meanings of 'popular' as inferior or deliberately favor-winning, such as in the comparison between 'Twilight' and 'The Great Gatsby'.
🤔 The Source and Influence of Pop Culture
The second paragraph explores the origins of pop culture, questioning whether it arises autonomously from the people or is imposed by those in power as a form of social control. It examines the influence of commercialization and industrialization on the quality and integrity of cultural products, pondering whether profitability takes precedence over artistry. The paragraph also contemplates whether popular culture is genuinely desired by the masses or manufactured by capitalists to create a sense of need. Lastly, it raises the question of whether mass-produced pop culture can maintain its quality and intellectual value.
🏛 The Ideological Role of Pop Culture
This paragraph examines the ideological role of pop culture, questioning whether it serves to indoctrinate people with ideas and values that ensure the continued dominance of the privileged. It explores whether pop culture is a form of rebellion or if it reinforces the status quo. The discussion includes the role of modern mass media in propagating official ideologies and the potential dangers of mass media's ability to control and broadcast messages to large audiences. The paragraph also touches on historical examples, such as the Nazi regime's use of culture and art for propaganda, and the fear of commercialization and mass media's potential for repression.
📻 The Impact of Mass Media on Pop Culture
The fourth paragraph discusses the impact of mass media on pop culture, focusing on how modern media like cinema, radio, and the internet have been used for mass propaganda by political regimes. It highlights the concerns about the commercialization of culture and the potential for media to transmit and inculcate official ideologies, such as fascist ideologies characterized by authoritarian control. The paragraph also addresses the role of mass media in the absence of countervailing political organizations, leading to mass propaganda and repression, as illustrated by the Nazi regime's control over cultural and artistic expressions during the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
🌐 The Continued Dominance of American Pop Culture
In the final paragraph, the discussion turns to the continued dominance of American pop culture and its impact on mass culture. It raises questions about the nature of mass culture and reflects on the historical and ongoing influence of American pop culture globally. The paragraph suggests that despite the emergence of new cultural phenomena, such as the Beatles and One Direction, the overarching influence of American pop culture persists, indicating a complex interplay between cultural dominance and global reception.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pop Culture
💡Mass Media
💡Commercialization
💡Ideological Role
💡Market Economy
💡Folk Culture
💡National Consciousness
💡Industrialization
💡Cultural Products
💡Social Control
💡Mass Propaganda
Highlights
Pop culture is defined as mass culture, emerging from the commercialization of culture and leisure.
Debate over mass culture dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, traced to writings of Pascal and Montan.
The term 'bread and circuses' from the Roman Empire refers to extravagant entertainment to divert public attention from discontent.
Modern pop culture is associated with national consciousness, exemplified by Filipinos' pride in beauty pageants.
The shift in perspective in the 18th and 19th centuries saw 'popular' as defined by the masses rather than the elite.
Early meanings of 'popular' were associated with inferior or vulgar works, contrasting with 'quality' literature.
Pop culture was also viewed as a deliberate attempt to win favor, such as pop journalism versus democratic journalism.
Today, 'popular' is understood as well-liked by many, distinct from past definitions focusing on inferiority or deliberate favor-winning.
Three key themes in the development of pop culture include determining what constitutes pop culture, its sources, and reasons behind its production.
Questions about whether pop culture emerges autonomously from the people or is imposed as a form of social control are central to its study.
The influence of commercialization and industrialization on pop culture raises concerns about the precedence of profitability over quality.
The ideological role of pop culture is examined, questioning whether it indoctrinates people to accept dominant ideas and values.
Turning points in pop culture from the 1920s to 1930s include the advent of cinema, radio, and the rise of fascism.
Modern mass media's role in transmitting and inculcating official ideologies, such as fascist ideologies, is highlighted.
The potential for mass media to serve as a tool for mass propaganda in the absence of countervailing political organizations is discussed.
The concept of mass society has been a significant perspective on the role of mass media and culture in modern capitalist societies.
The dominance of American pop culture and its impact on global mass culture, from the Beatles to contemporary artists, is noted.
Transcripts
welcome to lesson 1.1
introduction to pop culture
pop culture is mass culture
the rise of mass media commercialization
of culture and leisure gave birth to
many issues
interests and debates but
these issues interests and debates
are not very contemporary they have
actually started way back
years ago and this debate is
not new anymore if we talk about debates
over mass culture
in fact according to lavendal
he has traced arguments back to the
writings of pascal and montan in the
16th
and 17th centuries it has emerged
during the rise of market economy
and it has always been with us
he traced it and related to the bread
and circuses
during the time of the roman empire this
bread and circuses
is a term to refer to a very extravagant
and expensive event or entertainment
as provided by the roman empire in order
to divert the attention or to cover up
some discontent and issues
us and the satisfaction felt
by the common people in the empire
and it has also been traced
way back in the late 18th century
and the modern idea of pop culture is
always associated with a national
consciousness
wherein popular culture is
turned into a national culture
for example in the philippines the
weaning of
beauty pageants by filipinas in
prestigious
and popular beauty pageants such as miss
universe
a lot of filipinos would always
associate there being a filipino
the consciousness of being a filipino
to the popularity of these filipinas
who won in beauty pageants
so issues about mass culture
is not just today it has started
way back however
there was this shift in perspective in
the 18th
and 19th century popular meant
being seen from the point of view of the
people
rather than being seen from the point of
view of
the rich the elite or the upper class
so the definition of popular is already
coming from the masses
or the common people however
its early and earlier sense have
remained
popular culture was not identified by
the people
but by others there were two
older meanings the first one is
inferior kinds of vulgar such as popular
literature
popular press versus quality press
such as for example if we compare
the popular literature twilight and the
quality
kind of literature the great gatsby
they would always associate popular
culture to inferior kinds of work
such as popular literature
second it works deliberately
setting out to win favor so they would
always associate
pop culture as a way to deliberately
set out to win faber such as
pop journalism versus democratic
journalism or popular entertainment
[Music]
journalism about popular people popular
events social events or
popular gatherings are always being
frowned upon by some people
or being looked down by some people as
something an intellectual or of
lower there's discourse as compared to
journalisms that are actually
discussing social issues or serious
issues for that matter
however today the modern sense
of popular culture or
popular means well liked
by many people so the recent sense of
popular culture
as the culture actually made by people
for themselves is different from all of
these
it is often displaced to the past as
folk culture
but it is also an important modern
emphasis
so we have already departed from the
traditional definition of
pop culture although some
ideas about it remain but
it has evolved already into this
definition
which is well liked by many people
but if we talk about pop culture we have
to consider
various concepts or themes
such as these three related themes
that we have to consider if we talk
about the development
of the idea of pop culture what are
these three
first we have to know
what or who determines popular culture
we have to ask where does
pop culture come from
who provides pop culture who is the
source
and why why do they
produce these popular cultural products
we have to ask and reflect on certain
questions
such as does popular culture emerge
from the people themselves as an
autonomous expression of their interests
and modes of experience
do you think it comes from the people
themselves because they just wanted to
express
their ideas what they are interested
and what their experiences are or
is it imposed from above
from someone in power from someone in
authority
as a type of social control
do they produce popular culture in order
to control the minds
of others or of the common people
another is this popular culture rise up
from the people below from the lower
class
from the masses or does it come from the
elites
on high or from
the educated ones or is it
rather a question of an interaction
between the two
so where does pop culture come from from
below
from the lower class from the upper
class
or is it a combination of both an
interaction a product of the interaction
of the lower class and
the upper class so we have to consider
these things
when we discuss or talk about pop
culture
another the influence of
commercialization
and industrialization upon popular
culture
we have to ask these questions does the
emergence of
culture in commodity forms mean
that the criteria of profitability and
marketability
take precedence over quality artistry
integrity and intellectual challenge
so do we prefer profit
and trading over the quality artistry
integrity and intellectual aspect of a
particular product
thus the increasingly universal market
for pop culture
ensure that it is truly popular
because it makes available commodities
people actually want are the popular
products that you know today
anything that you can think of anything
that is popular
is it produced or is it increasingly
becoming popular because
this is what the people really wanted
do we really want these popular products
around us
or is it something that
the capitalists are providing us
and making us feel that we want it
or we need it
another question is what wins out when
popular culture is manufactured
industrially
and sold according to the criteria of
marketability and profitability
what wins is it commerce or quality
is it trading is it the buying or
selling
or the durability
the quality of the product what wins
when popular culture is manufactured
when there is a mass production of
popular culture
so we have to consider these questions
and lastly
we have to look at the ideological role
of popular culture
we have to ask ourselves is popular
culture there
to indoctrinate the people to get them
to accept
and adhere to ideas and values which
ensure the continued dominance of those
in more privileged positions
who this exercise power over them
so are we given
this popular culture are are these
being imposed upon us in order for us to
accept these
and adhere to these ideas and values
just so the dominant
idea of those who are in power
is being sustained
what do you think so that they can
continue to exert their dominance over
us
is popular culture about rebellion and
opposition to the prevailing social
order
or status quo but what is the status quo
anyway
what is the prevailing social order
anyway
why is pop culture somehow a form of a
rebellion or opposition
or is it even a rebellion or an
opposition
does pop culture express in however
an imperceptible subtle and rudimentary
manner
resistance to those in power is pop
culture a resistance
to those in power is pop culture
as a version of dominant ways of
thinking and acting
does it undermine those who are in power
does it question those who are in power
so we have to consider these questions
when we discuss or think or talk about
pop culture why
pop culture has a role to play in the
society
it was born because something
is present in the society that has to be
addressed
it was not just born out of nothing
it it gave rise it includes plenty of
issues it includes plenty of
ideological ideas it includes
trading commerce profitability
market so it does not come out of
nowhere
it has certain value
the existence of pop culture and our
society
means something and we have to locate
and point that out
but of course there are also turning
points if we talk about pop culture
in the 1920s to 1930s the turning points
in the study and evaluation of pop
culture
started in the coming of cinema
radio mass production and consumption
of culture the rise of fascism
and the maturing of liberal democracies
in western societies
these ideas set the agendas
of debates
culture became infinitely reproducible
via industrial production according to
benjamin
it posed problems for traditional ideas
so the birth of popular culture
threatened traditional ideas
about the role particularly about the
role of culture and art in society
so there were changes in the positioning
of culture and art in society
when pop culture was born
cultural products from cars to films
became commercial products
again these are originally cultural
products
but because of mass production
industrialization they became commercial
products
but if we think about it if we go back
to
the birth of cinema radio if you think
about it
it will lead us into asking
what is the role of modern mass media
if we talk about pop culture
well modern mass media such as the
popular press
cinema and radio they tend to fuel
fears about the commercialization of
culture
and also they raised concerns about the
potential
they conferred upon the political
regimes of
for mass propaganda you know popular
press
the cinema radio and of course
television
today we have the internet we have the
social media
they were being used by political
regimes
for mass propaganda
and also there was a fear about
the commercialization of culture because
of these
media aside from that
this modern mass media transmits
and inculcates the official ideology
what are these ideologies example
fascist ideologies
what do you mean by fascist ideologies
those
are those which are authoritarian
dictatorial powers those
that suppress us or silences
the regime that suppresses or silences
the opposition
forcibly suppressing them
because they could be controlled
centrally
and broadcast to the population at large
the thing about
mass media is that there could only be
one person one journalist
one broadcaster in one
tv station or radio station or
newspaper for example but let's take
for example television one person
one tv station and that person
could broadcast could transmit and could
inculcate
certain ideologies to
millions of filipinos that's how it
works
that's why this is dangerous
and that is one of the role that modern
mass media
play if we talk about pop culture
and its relation to political regimes
another is that the absence of
countervailing political organizations
if nobody questions if nobody
opposes if nobody counters
a certain ideology or a certain idea
mass media
becomes a mass propaganda and it becomes
mass repression for example
in the 1930s in nazi
regime in germany they established
official nazi ideology in
all areas of culture and art
and they eradicate alternative political
and aesthetic ideologies just like
during the olympics in berlin in 1936
everything all the cultural
and artistic displays were all
emblems or are all symbols of the nazi
why the aim was to enlist the help of
intellectuals
writers novelists poets painters
sculptors musicians academicians
architects etc
those who are educated or who are
equipped with
talents they were used by the nazi to
ensure
that the nazi ideology prevailed as nazi
aesthetics
so there was only nazi poster
nothing else nazi paintings
nazi sculptures
nazi music everything
is inspired by the nazi ideology the
concept of mass society has formed one
important perspective
on the role of mass media and mass
culture in modern capitalist societies
such as in the uk i mean the popularity
of the beatles
in hollywood being the source of
many films
it has been the fears and anxieties of
intellectuals
in society such as britain and america
about the rise of what they have seen as
a mass society and a mass culture
which have served to organize and inform
the debates about these developments
but even that after the beatles there
was there
was still one direction and if you think
about it there is still a continued
dominance of
american pop culture until today
in the past and until today it has never
actually stopped
but if we think about it if we talk
about
pop culture as mass culture
it leads us into asking
what is mass culture anyway
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