Foundations of Philippine Popular Culture

Lesson 1 - Handout1A

Popular Philippine Culture

refers to the everyday ideas, practices, and products embraced by the public. It reflects current trends and social values, evolving with the interests and experiences of ordinary people across different communities.

Culture

way you see the world, think, and express yourself in daily life.

Accessibility

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of pop culture

• easy to understand

• available to people of all ages and social classes

Popularity

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of pop culture

• Becomes mainstream because many people relate and participate

Commercialism

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of pop culture

• are created and marketed for profit, such as fan merchandise, events, and digital content

Validation

• Is supported through and legitimized by formal institution

• example are orchestras, universities, and cultural center which preserve, fund, and promote art forms.

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of high culture

Sophistication

• Emphasizes creativity, intellectual depth. and refined techniques.

• works are often studies in academic setting or praised by critics

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of high culture

Exclusivity

• Access can be limited by cost, location, or social perceptions, making it often accessible to privileged groups.

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of high culture

High culture

refers to artistic and intellectual expressions associated with educated and elite sectors of society. It includes forms valued for their historical, aesthetic, and intellectual depth.

Folk culture

the customs and practices that grow within communities and are shared through

daily interaction and participation. It is not made for profit or mass appeal but takes everyday forms like songs, dances, crafts, and stories, passed on through personal and communal experience.

Tradition

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of folk culture

• rooted in tradition, with custom knowledge passed down through word of mouth or daily practices.

• To maintain cultural continuity.

Locality

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of folk culture

• shaped by locality which reflects distinct practices, materials, and ways life tied to a specific region, environment, or community.

Symbolism

• 1 of the 3 characteristic of folk culture

• is rich in symbolism, in which everyday rituals and objects express deeper beliefs, spiritual values, or social meanings.

Cultural Institutions

play a crucial role in promoting both high culture and folk culture.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

• Republic Act No. 7356 on April 3, 1992

• designating it as the national government agency for culture and the arts in the Philippines.

• serves as the country’s overall policy making, coordinating, and grants-giving body for the development and promotion of culture and the arts.

• supports a wide range of cultural expressions, including indigenous traditions, folk practices, contemporary works, and high art.

Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan

• GAMABA for National Living Treasuresand co-administers the Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)

• established in 1966 to promote and present the

  performing and visual arts in the country.

• primarily focuses on high culture, including classical music, ballet, theater, and visual arts, but it

  also features folk and contemporary works through festivals and outreach programs.

• regularly hosts major cultural events and educational initiatives that span various artistic disciplines.

Indigenous Peoples (IPs)

• broad legal term recognizing the collective rights of native ethnic groups

Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)

• specific local communities that share common

  cultural practices and traditions.

Igorot of the Cordilleras, Aeta, Mangyan, and Palawan people

• They reside in Luzon

• known for their deep ties to ancestral land and their preservation of traditional practices.

Ati of Panay Island

• Resides in Visayas

• who maintain unique identities

  despite smaller populations.

Lumad and moro

• Resides in Mindanao

• with rich cultural and historical traditions

• collective term for non-Muslim Indigenous groups

Indigenous Cultural Communities

central to the roots of folk culture in the Philippines. Through oral

traditions, rituals, weaving, music, and nature-based practices, they preserve cultural heritage and express identity. Their close relationship with the land shapes localized and sustainable ways of life. These traditions continue to influence and define the character of folk culture today.

Cultural sensitivity

engaging with Indigenous cultures respectfully and responsibly. It helps prevent harmful stereotypes and the misuse of traditions, such as using sacred attire for fashion or presenting Indigenous Peoples as one-dimensional. Respect supports cultural dignity and promotes understanding

Engage

• Build knowledge from reliable sources and listen to Indigenous voices through books, talks, and direct community engagement.

Consult

• Always ask permission before using Indigenous designs, symbols, or stories, especially in art, media, or products.

Support

Give proper credit to Indigenous creators and promote their work fairly.

Cultural Studies Theory

• an interdisciplinary field that explores how culture connects with power,

  identity, and society. It looks at everyday things like media, language, and beliefs to understand how they shape how we live and think. It uses ideas from sociology, literature, and critical theories like Marxism and feminism.

• people do not just absorb what culture tells them. They create their meaning based on who they are.

Power

• is expressed, challenged, and negotiated. It is not neutral;it reflects who holds influence in society. People use culture to maintain authority or to resist dominant norms.

Representation

• The way people, groups, and issues are portrayed in media and culture shapes how society understands them. These representations influence public opinion and can reinforce harmful stereotypes.

Interpretation

• are not interpreted the same way by everyone. People understand and react to messages based on their personal experiences, beliefs, and social backgrounds. Audiences play an active role in making meaning.

Stuart Hall (1932-2014)

• a central figure in Cultural Studies

• best known for developing the encoding/decoding model which challenged traditional communication theories

• His work foregrounded the role of hegemony, race, and identity, positioning culture as a dynamic arena where meaning is constantly negotiated and contested.

Raymond Williams (1921-1988)

• "culture is ordinary," emphasizing everyday life and popular practices as valid subjects of study.

• idea of “structures of feeling” to capture the often unspoken emotional and cultural experiences shaped by historical conditions.

• advanced a materialist approach, linking cultural forms to their social and economic foundations.

Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)

• though not a Cultural Studies scholar

• deeply influenced the field with his theory of cultural hegemony. He argued that dominant groups maintain power not only through coercion but by shaping cultural norms to reflect their interests.

• concept of organic intellectual figures emerging from within marginalized communities who challenge dominant ideologies remains vital to understanding resistance and agency within culture.

Media and Communication

• examines how communication practices and media use influence everyday meaning-making. It provides a basis for understanding cultural power and representation.

Subcultures and Youth Culture

• like punk, hip-hop, or skateboarding show how marginalized groups create identities and values that resist mainstream norms. These cultures often reflect issues of class, race, and generational conflict.

Postcolonial Studies

• explores how colonialism continues to shape identity, language, and representation in formerly colonized societies. It focuses on cultural hybridity, resistance, and the enduring effects of imperialism on global power and culture.

Gender and Queer Studies

• uses insights from feminism and queer theory to examine how gender roles and gender identities are represented and understood in society. It explores how media, language, and institutions influence perceptions and experiences related to gender and sexuality.