What is Popular Culture?

1. What is Popular Culture?What is Popular Culture?

2. Defining Popular CultureDefining Popular Culture
The People’s CultureThe People’s Culture
Mass CultureMass Culture
Low CultureLow Culture
Culture that is PopularCulture that is Popular
Popular ValuesPopular Values
Commercial CultureCommercial Culture

3. The People’s CultureThe People’s Culture
Invokes the word Invokes the word populus populus (Latin), or in English, (Latin), or in English,
the populace: the people.the populace: the people.
Implies that some culture is somehow not the Implies that some culture is somehow not the
culture of ‘the people’. culture of ‘the people’.
Or that ‘the people’ all have the same culture.Or that ‘the people’ all have the same culture.
Suggests that some culture is thrust upon us Suggests that some culture is thrust upon us
against our will, while other forms of culture are against our will, while other forms of culture are
made or chosen by us.made or chosen by us.

4. The People’s CultureThe People’s Culture
This approach to popular culture is This approach to popular culture is
associated with folk culture, as opposed to associated with folk culture, as opposed to
culture produced in elite institutions such culture produced in elite institutions such
as art museums or symphonies. as art museums or symphonies.
It is made at the local level in specific It is made at the local level in specific
communities.communities.
We might think of quilting groups, local We might think of quilting groups, local
music scenes, or community art programs.music scenes, or community art programs.
Folk music comes easily to mind, but lots Folk music comes easily to mind, but lots
of other culture fits this description.of other culture fits this description.

5. The People’s CultureThe People’s Culture
Obviously, one problem here is that this Obviously, one problem here is that this
form of culture simply isn’t what springs form of culture simply isn’t what springs
immediately to mind when we use the immediately to mind when we use the
term popular culture. Instead, we think of term popular culture. Instead, we think of
TV, movies, and music that are made TV, movies, and music that are made
within an industry, and not necessarily at within an industry, and not necessarily at
the local level.the local level.

6. Popular Culture as Mass CulturePopular Culture as Mass Culture
Related to the notion of The People’s Culture is Related to the notion of The People’s Culture is
the idea of Mass Culture. the idea of Mass Culture.
Mass culture has less of a sense of locality or Mass culture has less of a sense of locality or
community.community.
This approach groups most of society into a This approach groups most of society into a
giant mass and assumes they all do the same giant mass and assumes they all do the same
things.things.
Historically, mass culture was a term used by Historically, mass culture was a term used by
economic elites (aristocrats), to describe people economic elites (aristocrats), to describe people
who are not like them. who are not like them.

7. Popular Culture as Mass CulturePopular Culture as Mass Culture
Some flaws with this approach:Some flaws with this approach:
Economic elites still consume lots of things that fit the Economic elites still consume lots of things that fit the
mass culture model. They still like country music and mass culture model. They still like country music and
TV shows, just like others.TV shows, just like others.
BUT, it turns out there really isn’t a single mass.BUT, it turns out there really isn’t a single mass.
Our cultural practices are divided into many different Our cultural practices are divided into many different
categories: in terms of preferences, in terms of race categories: in terms of preferences, in terms of race
or ethnicity, in terms of ideology, in terms of gender or ethnicity, in terms of ideology, in terms of gender
and sexuality, in terms of age. There is no piece of and sexuality, in terms of age. There is no piece of
popular culture that we all consume.popular culture that we all consume.
There is no single mass. There is no single mass.

8. Popular Culture as Mass CulturePopular Culture as Mass Culture
Counter-response: we really aren’t as Counter-response: we really aren’t as
different as we think, and our culture is different as we think, and our culture is
surprisingly uniform.surprisingly uniform.
An R&B song is remade by a country band.An R&B song is remade by a country band.
A British TV show is remade by an American A British TV show is remade by an American
network, using the same script (The Office, network, using the same script (The Office,
Coupling).Coupling).
The exact same style of clothes is sold by the The exact same style of clothes is sold by the
Gap, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch.Gap, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch.

9. Popular Culture as Low CulturePopular Culture as Low Culture
Defines popular culture strictly in contrast Defines popular culture strictly in contrast
to “high culture.”to “high culture.”
If high culture consists of fine art, classical If high culture consists of fine art, classical
music, opera, PBS, and Shakespeare—music, opera, PBS, and Shakespeare—
stuff that gets taught in schools and stuff that gets taught in schools and
celebrated in art museums—then popular celebrated in art museums—then popular
culture is bad art or non-art, the other culture is bad art or non-art, the other
forms of music, the major TV networks, forms of music, the major TV networks,
and the Da Vinci Code.and the Da Vinci Code.
Implies that quality culture is “high” and Implies that quality culture is “high” and
bad culture is popular.bad culture is popular.

10. Popular Culture as Low CulturePopular Culture as Low Culture
Problems: Classical music looks more and more Problems: Classical music looks more and more
like a rock concert, with sexed up musicians and like a rock concert, with sexed up musicians and
top selling CDs. Lots of popular culture is top selling CDs. Lots of popular culture is
celebrated as art of the highest level and lots of celebrated as art of the highest level and lots of
high culture is bad art as best. Some network high culture is bad art as best. Some network
TV is really great and some PBS is pretty bad. TV is really great and some PBS is pretty bad.
Shakespeare was considered trashy in his day.Shakespeare was considered trashy in his day.
There’s also a sacred/mundane distinction being There’s also a sacred/mundane distinction being
made here: high culture is treated as special made here: high culture is treated as special
where popular culture is treated as everyday.where popular culture is treated as everyday.

11. Culture that is PopularCulture that is Popular
Another approach is to say that when the Another approach is to say that when the
audience for a certain form of culture reaches a audience for a certain form of culture reaches a
critical mass—when it gets popular enough—critical mass—when it gets popular enough—
then it counts as popular culture.then it counts as popular culture.
But how do you decide what that mass is? But how do you decide what that mass is?
The culture itself doesn’t change when the The culture itself doesn’t change when the
audience reaches a certain size. audience reaches a certain size.
The song that everybody loves sounded the same The song that everybody loves sounded the same
when nobody had heard it. when nobody had heard it.
Plus, culture that is popular has a relationship Plus, culture that is popular has a relationship
with culture that is not yet popular. They share with culture that is not yet popular. They share
resources, and offer inspiration and new ideas.resources, and offer inspiration and new ideas.

12. Popular Culture as Popular ValuesPopular Culture as Popular Values
Another approach to popular culture Another approach to popular culture
focuses on the values of groups.focuses on the values of groups.
The term culture always invokes the idea The term culture always invokes the idea
of of meaningmeaning, so popular culture is any set , so popular culture is any set
of meanings that are widely shared.of meanings that are widely shared.
Often used in the context of “youth Often used in the context of “youth
culture,” “American culture,” “Black culture,” “American culture,” “Black
culture,” etc.culture,” etc.

13. Popular Culture as Popular Popular Culture as Popular
ValuesValues
This approach allows us to examine the This approach allows us to examine the
varieties of values that are embedded in varieties of values that are embedded in
the culture we consume.the culture we consume.
Those values touch on an infinite variety Those values touch on an infinite variety
of issues, but we will be focusing on race, of issues, but we will be focusing on race,
class, gender, sexuality, disability, and class, gender, sexuality, disability, and
age. age.

14. Popular Culture as Commercial Popular Culture as Commercial
CultureCulture
The term popular culture is often used to describe The term popular culture is often used to describe
culture that is produced and/or sold by a market.culture that is produced and/or sold by a market.
In this sense, mass produced forms of culture such as In this sense, mass produced forms of culture such as
CDs and movies certainly count as culture, but so too CDs and movies certainly count as culture, but so too
does art that is sold on the market. In fact, not much is does art that is sold on the market. In fact, not much is
left out at all. Indie rock bands still record in studios and left out at all. Indie rock bands still record in studios and
sell CDs. Independent movies still need distributors, sell CDs. Independent movies still need distributors,
movie theaters, and video stores. movie theaters, and video stores.
That does not mean that the only way to understand this That does not mean that the only way to understand this
culture is in terms of money and sales, but it does gives culture is in terms of money and sales, but it does gives
us one thing unifies the many diverse forms of popular us one thing unifies the many diverse forms of popular
culture.culture.

15. Our ApproachOur Approach
The approach in this class is to combine The approach in this class is to combine
the popular values approach with the the popular values approach with the
commercial culture approach.commercial culture approach.
We will examine the complex system that We will examine the complex system that
produces popular culture—a set of produces popular culture—a set of
corporations and institutions responsible corporations and institutions responsible
for the commercial production of culture—for the commercial production of culture—
as well as the complex system of as well as the complex system of
meanings that we find in popular culture—meanings that we find in popular culture—
both those intended by the makers and both those intended by the makers and
those that are discovered by the audience. those that are discovered by the audience.

16. OverviewOverview
POPULAR
VALUES
COMMERCIAL
CULTURE
WHAT’S
MISSING
•Mass Culture
•People’s Culture
•Culture that is
Popular
•Low Culture
But each of these
overlaps with
what we see to
the left, so they
are by no means
excluded.