4. POP CULTURE THEORIES
• Gender Theories
• Marxism & Hegemony
• Cultural Liberalism
• Liberal Pluralism
• Mass Society
• Cultural Industry
• Globalization of Culture
• Interactionism
15. Pop Culture, Cultural Marxism
& Cultural Hegemony
• Cultural Marxism texts must be analysed in relation to their historical
conditions of production, consumption and reception.
• The DOMINANT CULTURE theory (bourgeoisie v/s proletariat).
- Cultural Hegemony: Antonio Gramsci (1891 - 1937); domination of a culturally diverse
society by the economic ruling class.
- Althusserianism: Louis Pierre Althusser (1918 - 1990); ideology as a material practice.
Marxism + Empiricism knowledge is a product of sensory experience.
- Leavisism: Frank Raymond Leavis (1895 - 1978); socio-political power of cultural products.
26. - Comes from the word liberty freedom: - of speech
- of expression
- conscience
- religious practice
- association
- press
- Tolerant - Understanding
- (Mutual) Respect - Non-judgemental
Cultural Liberalism & Liberal Pluralism
27. Cultural Liberalism & Liberal Pluralism
Culture: - race/ ancestry
- ethnicity/ tribe
- nationality
- religion
- caste
- sub-cultures
- Sexual orientation
- Political opinion
- Lifestyle/ Way of life
- Physical appearance
- Attire
- Ethical debates/ issues
28. Cultural Liberalism
• A liberal view of society.
• Advocating individual freedom.
• Against imposed socio-cultural norms
& uniformity.
• Backed by democratic laws &
international human rights.
• Respect for individual & cultural
differences.
Liberal Pluralism
• Advocating limited political control.
• Backed by capitalism & democracy.
• Belief in self-imposed discipline & inner
goodness.
• Respect for diversity of all kinds.
• Positive attitude towards media as
representative of diversity (media
responds to audience demand).
29. Cultural Liberalism & Liberal Pluralism
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 16
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right
to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at
its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by
society and the State.
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to
change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or
private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media
and regardless of frontiers.
30. Cultural Liberalism & Liberal Pluralism
Postmodernism
• There is no absolute truth; opinions are relative.
• All basic structures governing society are but social constructs:
- Power relations
- Gender binaries
- Socio-economic classes
- Cultural norms and values
31. Slavoj Žižek (1949 - )
• Marxist and Cultural Critic: Theology & Cultural Studies, Marxist & Political
Theories (Stalinism, Maoism), Lacanian Psychoanalysis, Film Studies.
• Marxism Ideology = False Consciousness
• Lacan Imaginary, Symbolic and Real
• Žižek Imaginary Real Symbolic Real
Real Real
