CPA - Popular Culture Lesson

Popular Culture

  • Popular cultures are large groups of heterogeneous people (meaning the people tend to be very different in appearance, language, religion, etc.) that make choices based on modern aesthetics and money. These groups are usually well connected to other areas of the world, are technologically advanced and have a focus on service industries as a way of life.
    • Money and power are the basis for most pop culture decisions
  • Worldwide differences exist, but are becoming less and less every day. Popular culture is often based upon money and power and spreads via globalization
  • Pop culture ideas and concepts most often move through hierarchical diffusion (from areas of power) and have a well-known hearth
  • This can include independent innovations (ideas that were created in different locations separate of outside influence, for example the creation of paper money) and cultural appropriation (when cultures take customs from other cultures and use them for their own benefit)
    • This is tied to the financial gain of one culture based on the beliefs and practices of another (cultural commodification)
  • Gender roles tend to be much more equal and based on the education of all people in order to provide economic opportunities
  • Housing
    • Pop culture can be easily seen in US homes, because as styles change so do the new homes
      • The nearby materials do not matter, because people can afford to select any material they want
  • Clothing
    • Pop culture clothing is reflective of income and occupation
      • Teachers, lawyers and mill workers dress differently
      • The more disposable income - the more involved one can be with changing "high fashion"

 

Obesity County Level Estimates among Adults Aged Greater than or Equal to 20 United States 2004

 

  • Food
    • Although popular culture means that all varieties of food could be available, it usually just creates more consumption of alcohol and snacks
  • Impact of Television
    • TV is extremely important to pop culture because it is the most popular leisure activity in MDCs and the most common means for spreading pop culture, Internet usage followed the same pattern and is surpassing television as the most important means of pop culture transmission (especially due to the wide spread use of social media)
    • US television stations (and some Western European stations) are owned by companies with licensing from the government but most TV stations are owned and operated by governments
      • Satellites have made the world available, which is why these are banned in several nations (mostly in the Middle East and Asia)

 

  • Cultural ConnectionsA Collage of Native Americans Dressed in European Attire
    • Cultural convergence occurs when two cultures adopt the traits of each other and become more alike
      • Syncretic - a combination of new and old traditions (think about the combination of the Christian traditions of Easter and the secular idea of the Easter Bunny)
        • Syncretism can also be seen in physical structures
      • Sequent occupancy can lead to syncretic traits – this type of cultural blending occurs when one group's architecture, practices, etc. are laid on top of a previous culture (imagine visiting a McDonalds while waiting in line to tour the Coliseum in Rome)
    • Acculturation - adoption of cultural traits in a new area (with the loss of some of the old)
    • Assimilation - Complete erasing of original characteristics of a culture by the more powerful culture
    • Transculturation - expansion and adoption of cultural ideas into another culture

 

  • Cultural Regions
    • Even with globalization, cultural regions still exist (usually based on perceptual regions )
      • Each cultural region changes as people modify their environment
        • Money, technology, environmental changes, toponym, architecture, houses of worship, public buildings, symbols create the regional identity

 

  • Effects of Pop Culture
    • Pop culture (especially American) can be viewed as an attempt to influence the entire world (spread of cheap entertainment and disposable products)
    • Cultural homogeneity - cultural sameness
      • Cultural imperialism - one nation "invading" another with its ideas
      • Cultural nationalism - rise of anti-cultural imperialism
        • Maladaptive diffusion   - diffusion of a process with negative side effects (what works well in one region may not in another)

 

  • GlobalizationA map showing every continent with at least one McDonald's restaurant
    • Pop culture focuses on the modification of natural landscapes
      • Folk culture appreciates the natural environment
    • Uniform landscapes are becoming more frequent
      • Gas stations, supermarkets, hotels, cars, large retail stores and fast-food are similar all over the globe
      • These uniform landscapes have negative consequences
        • Increased demand for natural resources
        • Pollution

 

Vocabulary Review

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