"The Politics of Culture"

Welcome. This blog will focus on popular culture and aims to present an approach to deconstruct the many aspects of “popular culture.”

What is popular culture?

Depending on an individual’s preconceived notions and idiosyncratic beliefs, popular culture and its definition many vary from person to person. Generally, popular culture refers to a trend in “mainstream,” by adding stylistic value to a particular idea, person, or object. Some may like what it represents, others may not share the same positive feelings associated with the term. In either case, in order to divulge the meaning of popular culture, one must deconstruct the concept to two simple words is encompasses: what is popular and what is culture.

The term “popular” denotes a characteristic of something that is widely accepted, regarded, or even used. Popularity, depending on the interpretation, can suggest either a negative or positive connotation. There are those who attribute respect with popularity, while others who are convinced the opposite is true. When generalizing the term, popularity is considered to be something that is mainstream or commonly accepted by the majority. Therefore, popular culture is a constantly evolving phenomenon, which can define or characterize a culture or time period.

“Culture” is a socially constructed concept, which unifies or groups together a specific persons or particular subject matter. Culture can represent a broad idea or be deduced to a smaller scale. Culture may also serve as revealing the multi-facets of a particular time period or population. Culture refers to shared ideas, attitudes, and even behaviors. Ultimately, culture inspires. It inspires a specific point of view, perceptions, beliefs, and action based on those beliefs.

An excerpt from Literary Theory: An Anthology suggests that, “culture is both a means of domination … and a means of resistance to such domination, a way of articulating oppositional points of view to those in dominance.” The excerpt also presents the notion of “culture from below” and “culture from above.”

“Culture from below” signifies a response to the dominant ideas. It is seemingly the subculture. If “culture from above” is the dominant ideologies dispersed throughout a population, than “culture from below” is the challenge or opposition to those particular ideas or the hegemonic power structure. The hegemonic power structure is able to maintain its influence over a set culture or population by way of mainstreaming popular culture; in other words, reinforcing the status quo.

Popular culture spotlights widely held beliefs of a group of people in a specific time period. It brings to light something ordinary and portrays that certain something as extraordinary (even without any intrinsic value). In other words, iconic. Popular culture cultivates an illusionary mechanism. For example, it can transform an individual from seemingly common to one of allure and intrigue. Popular culture glamorizes.

Rivkin, Julie and Michael Ryan. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Malden: Blackwell, 1998.