Cultural competence involves interpreting signs and symbols in relation to specific cultures without realizing it. For example, a Norwegian pine tree with snow is instantly associated with Christmas in British culture but just a normal tree in others. The color red symbolizes happiness in China but danger in Britain. Clothing styles or cars can also signify meanings across cultures.
Fan culture takes an active role in media through communities that share interests in films, TV, music, books or games. Fans worldwide connect over social media to discuss their interests, such as dedicated accounts for singers like Justin Bieber. Fan fiction, where fans write stories about characters or settings, is shared publicly online and plays a big role in fan bases.
1 P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a POPU.docxcroftsshanon
1 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
POPULAR CULTURE AND MEDIA
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this chapter you will be able to do the following.
Define popular culture.
Identify the three major theoretical views on popular culture: Functionalist,
Critical and Interpretation.
Define Interpretive Communities.
Define Class distinction.
Evaluate claims for Authenticity.
Define the 'Sleeper Curve.'
Define mass media.
Apply theories of media to US society.
Describe how perpetual discontent is used by advertisers.
Describe editorial strategies used by the media.
WHAT IS POPULAR CULTURE?
The idea of popular culture is one that is undoubtedly very familiar to you. You
probably consume lots of media content in the form of music, tv, movies and the
internet. The sociologically fascinating part about this is the ubiquity (that is, it is
everywhere) of the mass media and our popular culture. Everywhere you turn you
will find ads, billboards, clothing, screens of various sizes to rest your eyes on. But
how often have you critically analyzed this omnipresent socializing force in your
life? What meanings do people attribute to popular culture? What are the patterns
to these interpretations? What effect does this powerful institution serve? These
are some of the topics we’ll discuss below. But as we do, think about your favorite
artist or TV show or movie and see how the concepts we’ll go over help explain its
appeal to you.
So, to start, we’ll need a working definition of popular culture. Popular culture
refers to the aesthetic products created and sold by profit-seeking firms operating in
the global entertainment market.1 You’ll notice from this definition that culture itself
is designed to be sold and consumed for profit globally. This is why summer
blockbusters like Battleship or the latest Transformers movie follow predictable
formats that often involve clearly defined enemies (good versus evil; human versus
alien, etc.), minimal dialogue (for instance Arnold Schwarzenegger as the terminator
only utters 147 words in Terminator), and lots of explosions, fights and car chases.
Movies designed this way will attract the largest audiences possible because the
content has been simplified and translates easier to any language for the overseas
markets. One thing to remember when thinking about popular culture: it is
ultimately (despite how we as audiences might perceive and consume it) designed
to make money. To make the most money possible means to make the sure-fire hit,
the blockbuster film with uncontroversial content. The end result of which is a
2 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
predictable and standardized formulaic product (this by the way is true of most
popular culture content, not just movies).
HOW WE MAKE SENSE OF POPULAR CULTURE: THEORIES
There are usually two components to the study of any popular cultur.
1 P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a POPU.docxjeremylockett77
1 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
POPULAR CULTURE AND MEDIA
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this chapter you will be able to do the following.
Define popular culture.
Identify the three major theoretical views on popular culture: Functionalist,
Critical and Interpretation.
Define Interpretive Communities.
Define Class distinction.
Evaluate claims for Authenticity.
Define the 'Sleeper Curve.'
Define mass media.
Apply theories of media to US society.
Describe how perpetual discontent is used by advertisers.
Describe editorial strategies used by the media.
WHAT IS POPULAR CULTURE?
The idea of popular culture is one that is undoubtedly very familiar to you. You
probably consume lots of media content in the form of music, tv, movies and the
internet. The sociologically fascinating part about this is the ubiquity (that is, it is
everywhere) of the mass media and our popular culture. Everywhere you turn you
will find ads, billboards, clothing, screens of various sizes to rest your eyes on. But
how often have you critically analyzed this omnipresent socializing force in your
life? What meanings do people attribute to popular culture? What are the patterns
to these interpretations? What effect does this powerful institution serve? These
are some of the topics we’ll discuss below. But as we do, think about your favorite
artist or TV show or movie and see how the concepts we’ll go over help explain its
appeal to you.
So, to start, we’ll need a working definition of popular culture. Popular culture
refers to the aesthetic products created and sold by profit-seeking firms operating in
the global entertainment market.1 You’ll notice from this definition that culture itself
is designed to be sold and consumed for profit globally. This is why summer
blockbusters like Battleship or the latest Transformers movie follow predictable
formats that often involve clearly defined enemies (good versus evil; human versus
alien, etc.), minimal dialogue (for instance Arnold Schwarzenegger as the terminator
only utters 147 words in Terminator), and lots of explosions, fights and car chases.
Movies designed this way will attract the largest audiences possible because the
content has been simplified and translates easier to any language for the overseas
markets. One thing to remember when thinking about popular culture: it is
ultimately (despite how we as audiences might perceive and consume it) designed
to make money. To make the most money possible means to make the sure-fire hit,
the blockbuster film with uncontroversial content. The end result of which is a
2 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
predictable and standardized formulaic product (this by the way is true of most
popular culture content, not just movies).
HOW WE MAKE SENSE OF POPULAR CULTURE: THEORIES
There are usually two components to the study of any popular cultur ...
1 P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a POPU.docxcroftsshanon
1 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
POPULAR CULTURE AND MEDIA
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this chapter you will be able to do the following.
Define popular culture.
Identify the three major theoretical views on popular culture: Functionalist,
Critical and Interpretation.
Define Interpretive Communities.
Define Class distinction.
Evaluate claims for Authenticity.
Define the 'Sleeper Curve.'
Define mass media.
Apply theories of media to US society.
Describe how perpetual discontent is used by advertisers.
Describe editorial strategies used by the media.
WHAT IS POPULAR CULTURE?
The idea of popular culture is one that is undoubtedly very familiar to you. You
probably consume lots of media content in the form of music, tv, movies and the
internet. The sociologically fascinating part about this is the ubiquity (that is, it is
everywhere) of the mass media and our popular culture. Everywhere you turn you
will find ads, billboards, clothing, screens of various sizes to rest your eyes on. But
how often have you critically analyzed this omnipresent socializing force in your
life? What meanings do people attribute to popular culture? What are the patterns
to these interpretations? What effect does this powerful institution serve? These
are some of the topics we’ll discuss below. But as we do, think about your favorite
artist or TV show or movie and see how the concepts we’ll go over help explain its
appeal to you.
So, to start, we’ll need a working definition of popular culture. Popular culture
refers to the aesthetic products created and sold by profit-seeking firms operating in
the global entertainment market.1 You’ll notice from this definition that culture itself
is designed to be sold and consumed for profit globally. This is why summer
blockbusters like Battleship or the latest Transformers movie follow predictable
formats that often involve clearly defined enemies (good versus evil; human versus
alien, etc.), minimal dialogue (for instance Arnold Schwarzenegger as the terminator
only utters 147 words in Terminator), and lots of explosions, fights and car chases.
Movies designed this way will attract the largest audiences possible because the
content has been simplified and translates easier to any language for the overseas
markets. One thing to remember when thinking about popular culture: it is
ultimately (despite how we as audiences might perceive and consume it) designed
to make money. To make the most money possible means to make the sure-fire hit,
the blockbuster film with uncontroversial content. The end result of which is a
2 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
predictable and standardized formulaic product (this by the way is true of most
popular culture content, not just movies).
HOW WE MAKE SENSE OF POPULAR CULTURE: THEORIES
There are usually two components to the study of any popular cultur.
1 P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a POPU.docxjeremylockett77
1 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
POPULAR CULTURE AND MEDIA
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this chapter you will be able to do the following.
Define popular culture.
Identify the three major theoretical views on popular culture: Functionalist,
Critical and Interpretation.
Define Interpretive Communities.
Define Class distinction.
Evaluate claims for Authenticity.
Define the 'Sleeper Curve.'
Define mass media.
Apply theories of media to US society.
Describe how perpetual discontent is used by advertisers.
Describe editorial strategies used by the media.
WHAT IS POPULAR CULTURE?
The idea of popular culture is one that is undoubtedly very familiar to you. You
probably consume lots of media content in the form of music, tv, movies and the
internet. The sociologically fascinating part about this is the ubiquity (that is, it is
everywhere) of the mass media and our popular culture. Everywhere you turn you
will find ads, billboards, clothing, screens of various sizes to rest your eyes on. But
how often have you critically analyzed this omnipresent socializing force in your
life? What meanings do people attribute to popular culture? What are the patterns
to these interpretations? What effect does this powerful institution serve? These
are some of the topics we’ll discuss below. But as we do, think about your favorite
artist or TV show or movie and see how the concepts we’ll go over help explain its
appeal to you.
So, to start, we’ll need a working definition of popular culture. Popular culture
refers to the aesthetic products created and sold by profit-seeking firms operating in
the global entertainment market.1 You’ll notice from this definition that culture itself
is designed to be sold and consumed for profit globally. This is why summer
blockbusters like Battleship or the latest Transformers movie follow predictable
formats that often involve clearly defined enemies (good versus evil; human versus
alien, etc.), minimal dialogue (for instance Arnold Schwarzenegger as the terminator
only utters 147 words in Terminator), and lots of explosions, fights and car chases.
Movies designed this way will attract the largest audiences possible because the
content has been simplified and translates easier to any language for the overseas
markets. One thing to remember when thinking about popular culture: it is
ultimately (despite how we as audiences might perceive and consume it) designed
to make money. To make the most money possible means to make the sure-fire hit,
the blockbuster film with uncontroversial content. The end result of which is a
2 | P o p u l a r C u l t u r e a n d M e d i a
predictable and standardized formulaic product (this by the way is true of most
popular culture content, not just movies).
HOW WE MAKE SENSE OF POPULAR CULTURE: THEORIES
There are usually two components to the study of any popular cultur ...
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Miscommunication Essay. Miscommunication Amongst the Leadership in the Organi...Mari Howard
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Culture Jonathan R. Wynn, University of MaOllieShoresna
Culture
Jonathan R. Wynn, University of
Massachusetts Amherst
Culture (Fall 2021)
Page 2
Culture
J O N A T H A N R . W Y N N , U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A S S A C H U S E T T S A M H E R S T
WHAT IS CULTURE?
Material culture vs. symbolic culture
High culture vs. popular culture
Culture as values vs. culture as a way of life
CULTURE IS A CYCLE
The romantic image of an artist
How is culture produced?
Consuming culture
Subcultures
HOW CULTURE WORKS
How culture creates inequalities
How culture creates groups and boundaries
THE CULTURE JAM
Culture jam as a mix
Culture jam as a problem
Culture jam as a solution
Culture (Fall 2021)
Page 3
INTRODUCTION
How does music help us understand the complexity of culture?
You close your eyes and feel the music. Your head bobs up and down. You see the
color of the lights through your eyelids.
Are you close to the stage, with bodies and sweat pressed to your shoulders, or do you
hang back? Do you feel a connection with the surrounding strangers? With the band? What
kind of music is it? Do the lyrics reflect your experiences or do they transport you into another
perspective? Where are you? A packed underground club? A stadium? Or a library cubicle,
listening on Beats headphones?
Music is a powerful force in our lives. It is also a multibillion-dollar industry, with
organizational and technological changes that shape how music is made and experienced.
Music is just one kind of culture, shaping our views of the world, connecting people near and
far.
What kind of music is this crowd listening to? (Source)
https://pixabay.com/en/audience-band-celebration-concert-1867754
Culture (Fall 2021)
Page 4
We humans produce far more than what we need for mere survival. Our intellect allows
for expansive creativity, self-reflection, and communication. We transform our living
environment. We share ideas and values. Culture, broadly, is everything we make and
consume—including our ideas, attitudes, traditions, and practices—beyond that bare
necessity. Music may very well be one of the earliest forms of culture humanity produced.
“Culture” is one of the most difficult words for a sociologist to use. Sociological research
on culture varies, but most sociologists are committed to the idea that the symbolic and
expressive aspects to social life—the beliefs and values we hold, as well as the practices and
activities we engage in—are worth examination. Thinking in this way, burritos and Beyoncé,
athleisure and college athletics, juggalos (fans of the band Insane Clown Posse) and graffiti all
uncover great sociological questions.
Opening this chapter with a few questions about how you experience music illustrates
how we can think about culture from a sociological perspective. Émile Durkheim allows us to
think about how much of social life works via culture: he notes that symbols (material or
...
1. Audience Responses
Cultural Competence
In every day life, we interpret signs and symbols and relate them
with specific cultures and people without even realizing. For
example, if we take this Norwegian Pine tree with snow on.
Typically, in the British culture, almost instantly it would be seen a
something related to Christmas but it other cultures, it would be
seen as just a normal tree. The way different cultures perceive
colours is also a part of cultural competence. If we look at the colour
red, in Britain it is seen as a colour for danger or a warning symbol,
which is why fire engines and fire extinguishers are red. Although,
we see red as a dangerous and negative colour, in China, it is seen as
a colour that symbolizes happiness and good luck and at Chinese
New Year, red packets are given out as a sign of prosperity in the coming year. It
is also a popular colour at weddings and it is seen to be a sincere colour. Another
part of cultural competence is attaching meanings to items such as clothes or
even cars. For example, if you see somebody dressed in leather clothes and big
boots with a mo-hawk, it will instantly be seen as a sign of rebellion, whether or
not that is the case.
Fan Culture
Fan culture takes a very active role in media as it can make or break a product.
Fan culture describes a community of people who share a common interest of an
anything from a film, a TV program, a band/singer or a book or game. Fan
culture transcends language, cultural and geographical barriers by connecting
people from various backgrounds over a love of a particular thing through use of
social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. People all around
the world created accounts dedicated to their interest. One example of a fan base
are the Beliebers, who are seen to be one of the most powerful, hardcore fan
bases around. The fan base is partially due to the Internet as fans can connect via
it. Fan fiction plays a big role throughout fan bases. Fan fiction is where fans of a
particular thing write stories about characters or settings from it. Fan fiction
stories are never professionally published but are instead publicly available for
all to read on websites such as Wattpad.