Evaluation Of Popular And Mass Culture Flashcards
Did Dwight MacDonald approve or disapprove of mass culture?
Disapprove
Who critiqued mass culture as being a threat to high culture?
MacDonald
What did MacDonald say were the problems of mass culture?
- It would drive out high culture as it is easier to understand
- Creating one, homogenised culture, simplifying high culture
- Leads to the alienation of those who create cultural products such as playwrites
- Creating adult sized children (easy access to adult tv) and infantile adults (watching cartoons)
- Undermining the fabric of society
What did MacDonald call his criticism of mass culture
A theory of mass culture
Summarise MacDonald’s views on mass culture:
MacDonald sees little evidence that high culture will survive mass culture, people are trapped in mindless mass culture, a small elite will keep high culture alive
Who criticised MacDonald’s theory of mass culture?
Strinati
What did Strinati say about mass culture theory?
- Mass culture theory is elitist, assumes the masses are ‘cultural dopes’
- Mass culture theory sees all popular culture as homogenous, but there is actually lots of genres
- Strinati says you can’t differentiate between folk and mass culture, where does country music fit
- Strinati says there is no clear boundary between mass and high culture
Who says the distinction between mass and popular culture is weakening?
Strinati
Which theory believes high culture is becoming popularised and commercialised?
Marxists
Who said members of the dominant class consume mass and high culture?
Storey
What is an example of high culture becoming mass culture?
- Banksy (art)
- Mona Lisa can be seen online or on postcards
What did Giddens say about high culture art forms?
- Often turned into products for sale to be consumed by ‘ordinary people’
- Nothing special about art anymore
- Literature turning into to shows such as pride and prejudice
