Introduction to Popular Culture – Vocabulary Review

32 vocabulary flashcards covering definitions, characteristics, elements, and key concepts of popular culture from the lecture notes.

Popular Culture (Pop Culture)

The traditions, practices, and material culture widely consumed by the majority of a society, including music, film, fashion, art, and digital media.

High Culture

Artistic and cultural products considered elite or refined, traditionally contrasted with popular culture.

John Storey

Cultural theorist who outlined six major definitions of popular culture, emphasizing its complexity and contested nature.

Storey Definition 1 – Widely Favored

Pop culture as any cultural form that is well-liked by many people, without negative judgment.

Storey Definition 2 – Residual Culture

Pop culture as what remains after identifying high culture, often viewed as inferior or low-status.

Storey Definition 3 – Mass-Produced Goods

Pop culture as commercial products created for mass consumption by non-discriminating audiences, potentially used by elites to control the masses.

Storey Definition 4 – Folk Culture

Pop culture as authentic culture that arises from the people themselves, not imposed by commercial forces.

Storey Definition 5 – Negotiated Culture

Pop culture as a continual negotiation between dominant producers and subordinate consumers, who accept, modify, or reject cultural products.

Storey Definition 6 – Postmodern Blurring

In the contemporary era, the line between authentic and commercial culture is blurred; users freely remix, accept, or reject manufactured content.

Accessibility and Mass Appeal

A characteristic of pop culture: easily reachable and attractive to large audiences, often reflecting current interests and trends.

Media and Technology Driven

Pop culture spreads rapidly via mass media, social media, and digital platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and streaming services.

Dynamic and Ever-Changing

Pop culture evolves quickly in response to societal shifts, technology, and global events, causing frequent trend turnover.

Commercial and Consumer-Oriented

Pop culture is heavily shaped by marketing and consumerism; companies create and promote trends for profit.

Influences Identity and Social Norms

Pop culture helps shape individual identities, values, and societal expectations through representation and visibility.

Interdisciplinary & Genre Crossover

Pop culture blends elements from multiple fields (music, fashion, film) and merges genres, e.g., K-pop or Marvel crossovers.

Youth-Centered

Pop culture often originates from or targets younger generations, integrating video games, slang, and social media habits.

Entertainment (Element)

Pop-culture category encompassing music, movies, TV, video games, and live performances consumed by mass audiences.

Fashion and Style

Clothing, accessories, and beauty trends reflecting popular tastes, e.g., streetwear and celebrity-inspired outfits.

Language and Slang

Informal expressions emerging from subcultures and entering mainstream usage, such as internet slang or viral catchphrases.

Technology and Media (Element)

Platforms and tools—social media, streaming, gaming—that shape both the creation and consumption of pop culture.

Sports and Recreation

Teams, athletes, and major events (Super Bowl, Olympics) that captivate large audiences and become cultural touchstones.

Icons and Celebrities

Public figures—musicians, actors, influencers—who drive trends and shape societal values within pop culture.

Literature and Art

Popular books, comics, street art, and digital creations that both reflect and influence cultural conversations.

Food and Lifestyle

Culinary trends and everyday habits adopted by the masses, e.g., food trucks, plant-based diets, viral recipes.

Politics and Social Movements

Political issues and activism (#MeToo, Black Lives Matter) that enter pop-culture discourse and affect public opinion.

Mass Culture

Commercialized, standardized cultural products produced for large audiences via mass media; often critiqued for lack of originality.

Subculture

A distinct group within a larger culture with unique styles and beliefs (e.g., punk, cosplay) that can influence mainstream pop culture.

Hegemony

Cultural dominance of one group over others; pop culture can reinforce or challenge prevailing ideologies.

Globalization

The worldwide spread and mixing of cultural products, creating hybrid forms (e.g., K-pop’s global reach).

Cultural Imperialism

Domination of global culture by one (often Western) culture through media and entertainment, risking erasure of local traditions.

Identity Formation

Process by which individuals and groups shape their identities via pop-culture affiliations, such as fandoms or fashion choices.

Consumerism

Economic and social ideology that encourages acquisition of goods—pop culture thrives on and promotes continual consumption.