Theories of culture: LT1

Question 1

Marxist

Answer 1

They believe culture is used to control the working class

Question 2

Adorno and Horkheimer: False needs

Answer 2

Mass culture encourages working class to think they ‘need’ to buy things they don’t need

Question 3

commodity fetishism

Answer 3

false needs create obsessions and desires about consumer goods

Question 4

Frankfurt school: Oppression w/c

Answer 4

. mass culture transmits capitalist ideologies
. Oppressing working class destroying individuality
. encourages acceptance of authority
. distracts serious issues preventing a revolution

Question 5

Who disagrees with Frankfurt school?

Answer 5

Gramsci, argued single mass culture is too simplistic

Question 6

Gramsci

Answer 6

. Capitalism creates big dominant culture - dominant hegemony
. Tolerate oppositional culture to create an illusion the system is fair

Question 7

Evaluation of marxists view of culture

Answer 7

. Neo-marxist ignore positive aspect shared culture brings

Question 8

Functionalist

Answer 8

culture allows society to run as smoothly as possible

Question 9

Durkheim: social glue

Answer 9

. Culture forms ‘social glue’ bonds people together
. Individuals internalise norms and values.
. Results in consensus

Question 10

Evaluation of functionalist view of culture

Answer 10

Functionalist ideas are ‘rose tinted’ ignores oppression of certain groups