types of culture

Create social solidarity and integration. Shared numbers and values maintain order and promote a value consensus

Functionalist

Culture reflects class inequality. Mass culture keeps working class passive (false consciousness).

Marxism

Folk culture is eroded by capitalism

Marxism

Culture reflects the patriarchy. Traditions reproduce gender inequality.

Feminism

Culture is diverse, fragmented and open to individual choice.

Postmodernism

Fluid identities

Postmodernism

How people interpret and give meaning to culture in everyday life

Interactionalist

High culture

Includes cultural products seen as elite or intellectually valuable.

Associated with the upper class

Examples of high culture

Opera, Shakespeare, fine art, ballet

Functionalism - high culture

Helps maintain shared values and a sense of national identity.

Marxism - high culture

Used by ruling class to maintain power and exclude others

Low culture

Cultural products seen as having little artistic value or being vulgar, still widely consumed.

Examples of low culture

Tabloid newspapers, soap operas, celebrity gossip

Postmodernism - low culture

Argue with the fact it lacks depth, they reject these labels as being elitist and outdated.

Mass culture

Cultural products designed for a large audience. Seen as commercial, standardised and passive.

Examples of mass culture

Reality TV, fast food, Hollywood, blockbusters

Marxists - mass culture

Marcuse - mass culture is a form of ideological control, distracting people from real social issues

Marcuse

Neo-Marxist

Postmodernist - mass culture

People can pick and mix from mass culture, creating new identities

Pick and mix

Postmodernist - individuals no longer have fixed traditional identities. People can choose various elements of lifestyle, religion, and identity to create a unique sense of self.

Popular culture

Created by the people, for the people. Includes cultural products enjoyed by the majority.

Examples of popular culture

Pop music, football, social media trends

Global culture

Cultural products, values, and lifestyles that are shared across the world.

Examples of global culture

McDonald’s, apple, Netflix, music from global artists.

Mcdonaldisation (1993)

Ritzer - argues culture is becoming standardised and predictable

Postmodernism - Global culture

Gives people more freedom to choose identities

Cultural imperialism - global culture

(Criticised by Marxists) suggests western culture dominates and threatens local culture.