Pop Culture and Entertainment Lecture 1

What is the definition of Pop Culture?

• There is no fixed definition due to the fact that pop culture is fluid and is influenced by tensions between high and mass culture.

What are the two components of Pop Culture?

• Culture: could refer to elite art, or a group’s way of life.

• Popular: Comes from the Latin word populris, which means of the people, but its use varies by context (museums, media, protests).

What is Capital-C Culture? give an example.

• High-end artistic expressions (eg. opera, ballet).

What is Folk Culture? give an example

• made by and for specific communities (eg. Spanish music).

What is Mass Culture? give an example.

• Commercially made for large, impersonal audiences (eg, Marvel movies).

What is Popular Culture?

• mixes folk and mass culture; it can be made by people or corporations.

How is popular Culture represented through products? give an example

• Represented through commercial goods (eg. toys).

How is Popular Culture represented through Texts?

• Films Tv shows, books; cultural artifacts that we read

How do Practices represent Popular culture? give an example

• Every day habits (eg, watching TV) reflect shared meaning.

What are the Commerical Practices within Pop Culture?

• Produced for profit and mass consumption (eg. Disney).

What are the Traditional Practices within Pop Culture?

• Based in specific communities or histories (eg. Indigenous storytelling).

Is Culture Natural or Constructed?

• Culture is not natural; it is produced and is affected by individual’s history, power and ideologies.

• Collectively made: meaning is negotiated by audiences and institutions.

How does culture define “Us” vs. “Them“.

• Culture is used to create group identities and define boundaries. (eg. Social class).

• Popular culture can unify or divide; it tells us who belongs (ingroup), who doesn’t (outgroup).

How is Production defined in Pop Culture? give an example.

• Who makes culture and how (eg. Starbucks).

How is Representation defined in Pop Culture? give an example.

• How meaning is created through signs (eg. Coffee as productivity vs. relaxation).

How is Consumption defined in Pop Culture? give an example.

• How audiences interpret or resist cultural products (eg. Fair trade, boycotts).

How is taste defined in pop culture?

• Socially learned; linked to class. “high vs “low” taste reflects power.

How is Power and Ideologies influenced in Pop Culture?

• Power is central: Who has it, how it is used, and how it shapes culture.

• Institutions such as the media, school governments shape public values through popular culture.

• Popular culture is a site of ideological struggle (eg, Gender norms, race).

What is a limitation of Mass culture?

• It is seen as passive and unoriginal.

What is a limitation of Folk Culture?

• Folk culture may romanticize the “authentic”

How is Pop Culture influenced by Capitalism?

• It turns culture into goods to be sold and serves purposes for entertainment and profit.

How is Pop culture linked to the working class?

• Linked by culture used to regulate leisure and values.

How did Marx define Commodity Fetism?

• objects seem to have magical qualities disconnected from their labor origin (eg. Starbucks cup=Status).

What was the Coffee example in the O Brien adn Szeman reading?

• Coffee is seen as a symbol of energy, identity, and taste; it hides global labor, trade inequalities, and capitalist systems.

In Moir’s reading on Elmo how was Sesame street seen as an Iconic Brand? (4 ways)

• Long history: Since 1969; part of childhood.

• Familiar characters: Toys such as tickle me Elmo, books, and educational content.

• Known for inclusive, educational values (diversity, kindness, community).

How is Elmo seen as a “fictional Influencer”?

• Elmo’s X post (How is everyone doing) went viral.

• Users responded with humour, sarcasm, or real struggles —> Memes and emotions intersect

• Elmo is run by a social media manager but is humanized through posts.

What is Dougalas Holt’s “Iconic Brand” concept?

• These are cultural symbols we connect to personally.

• Represent myths and balues that help shape our identites.

Is this concept of “Iconic Brand” fixed or not fixed?

• Not fixed: Must evolve to stay relevant (eg. use social media, adapt tone).

How does Public participation affect Iconic Brands?

• Public participation is important because users spread memes. remix content, express feelings which help sustain brand’s cultural value.

What are Memetics?

• The study of how memes (cultural units) spread and evolve.

What are memes?

• Memes are digital, humorous and relatable communication tools.

• Memes is the language of the internet and it enables mass cultural participation.

• Used in Elmo’s post to add comedy, irony, or emotional depth.