POPC 1600 Midterm BGSU

What makes something popular?

trends, social activity, common need

Why do we study popular culture?

we can reveal and understand the world and ourselves underlying cultural principles of our society

What founding principles made popular culture grow?

technology, industrial revolution, and democracy

Semiotics

the study of signs

Signifier

word or sound

Signified

reference

sign

the concept or idea

Denotative Meaning

what we actually see or hear

Connotative Meaning

what we associate with this text or sign

Displaced Meaning

the process whereby the proof of the ideal is removed from the 'here and now'

Who was Karl Marx

he believed in the idea of the ruling class are, in every age, the ruling ideas-- the class which is the dominant material force in society, is at the same time its dominant intellectual force

Base

a societies means of material production

i.e. how things are made

Superstructure

the political and ideological institutions

What is the Military Industrial Entertainment Complex?

lumping together the government and military

Commodity Fetishism

the object is believed to have supernatural powers and is seen as something we MUST have

The Frankfurt School

this was the analysis of Marx commodity fetishism as well as identifying the negatives behind popular culture

What negatives did the Frankfurt School discover about Popular culture?

limited viewpoints

False choice

standardization

Pseudo-individualization

Hegemony

the idea that the dominant group of individuals creates ideals that everyone follows

Example of Hegemony

buying roses for a significant other on Valentines Day due to everyone doing it

Who developed the idea of Hegemony?

Antonio Gramsci

Repressive State Apparatus

institutions that shape cultural conformity through force

Examples of Repressive State Appartatus

police, courts, military

Ideological State Apparatus

institutions that shape cultural conformity through persuasion

Examples of Ideological State Apparatus

family, church, media, school

Colonialism

the historical process through which dominant groups (usually nations) have assimilated, dominated, and subjugated less powerful ones

Imperialism

the extension of rule over different countries, territories, or peoples, usually by force, for the purpose of economic gain

What is a popular genre?

a way of classifiying popular culture texts into groups and subgroups

What do texts in genres share

thematic and stylistic properties

What are genres not?

a certain style for example animated films is a style not a genre

a medium for example comic books are a medium not a genre

What are some sub-genres of horror films?

slashers, thrillers, sci-fi

Why do genres emerge?

shared expectations, familiar territory (i.e. toy story), Pre-sold properties (i.e., Harry Potter), Affected by cultural situations (i.e., superhero movies after 9/11)

How do we recognize Genres?

semantics (accumulated symbolic meanings) and Syntax (plot, formula, recurring situations)

Conventions of Films

features we expect to see (i.e. jump scares in horror films)

Inventions of films

New features that keep it fresh (i.e. Romeo and Juliet but Romeo is a zombie)

Why are horror films so popular?

cathartic (completing these messed-up situations without actually doing it), Roller Coaster (gives us the feeling WHILE staying safe), and Important cultural lessons)

What is the overall formula for horror films?

a mysterious and horrific creature emerges to terrorize a small community by attacking them one-by-one at night. Must be defeated by a virtuous hero to restore order

Conventions of Horror Films

attacks the women the hero desires, comes at night

What is the overall metaphor of horror films/monsters?

The metaphor is for adolescences they see themselves as these monsters

raging hormones, awkward bodies, uncomfortable with the opposite sex

What is the overall theme of superhero films?

adolescent male power fantasy

What are the themes of spy movies?

1. distrust of governments

2. conspiracy underneath reality that is shaped by lies, truth, fictions, and facts

3. Fierce nationalism and loyalty

What are Sematic Tropes?

objects that have accumulated symbolic meaning

What is dual purpose design?

emphasis on secret or conspiratorial nature around us

for example: using high tech gadgets inside lo-fi objects

Screwball Comedies (1930s & 1940s)

popular in Depression Era, one is rich and the other is poor (class conflicts resolve through romance), and there was no sex until marriage

What is the Wall of Jericho?

this was the separation (specifically sex at night)

Sex Farces (1950s & 1960s)

This was the Marilyn Monroe era, repressed American morals post WWII, convincing "playboys" to settle down, women were in the workforce, maintained the wall of Jericho

Nervous Romances (1970s & 1980s)

very different model of masculinity (less manly men), they have sex right away (MAJOR SHIFT), try to have a relationship bur doesn't work

What was the biggest shift in the Nervous Romance Era?

They had sex prior to marriage

New Romance (1990s & 2000s)

Legally Blonde, Shrek

Conventions of New Romantic Comedies

1. Quirky friend/confidante

2. Initial Hostility

3. Meet in a Cute way

4. Mistaken identity/deception

5. Eccentric traits

6. Playfulness

7. The Wrong Partner

8. Learning Process

9. Public declaration of love

How do romantic comedies reinforce our cultural belief in "True Love"?

destined to happen, will be exciting, unique, soul mate, happily ever after