High and Popular Culture Vocabulary

Introduction to Cultural Subsets

  • Global Culture and Individual Identity: There are many different cultures throughout the world. It is common for an individual to be a part of several cultures simultaneously.
  • Example of Overlapping Cultures: An individual living in the United States could be part of the national culture while also belonging to the distinct culture of the American South, a specific religious community, and a heritage group.
  • Purpose of Study: Identifying different subsets or categories of cultures that exist within a larger culture and examining how these subsets are viewed by society.

The Nature of Subcultures

  • Definition: A subculture is a unique culture shared by a smaller group of people who are also part of a larger culture.
  • Relationships Within Culture: A larger culture typically contains many subcultures. Individuals have the capacity to be part of several subcultures at once.
  • Distinguishing Features: Each subculture possesses distinct norms and customs that are not shared by the broader culture in which the subculture is enveloped.
  • Examples of Subcultures within the United States:
    • The Amish
    • Bikers
    • Hippies
    • Whovians
  • Scope: There are so many subcultures in America that it is extremely difficult to identify every single one. While some are "open groups" that anyone can join, others are restricted to certain members of society.

High Culture vs. Popular Culture

  • High Culture Definition: A subculture shared by the elite members of a society.
    • Semantic Association: Many people associate the word "culture" exclusively with high culture.
    • Perception of Being "Cultured": Someone who attends the ballet and collects museum-quality artwork is often categorized as "cultured."
    • Sociological View: Sociologists do not consider high culture to be inherently better than other cultures; they view it as "interestingly different" from popular culture.
    • High Culture Examples: Expensive restaurants that serve caviar and play classical music. These elements typically do not appeal to the bulk of United States citizens.
  • Popular Culture Definition: The dominant subculture shared by the majority of a society's population.
    • Key Characteristics: Mass accessibility and mass appeal.
    • Popular Culture Examples: Cheap fast-food restaurants that serve hamburgers and play "top 40" pop music.
    • Ubiquity: Elements of popular culture are everywhere due to their widespread appeal.

Multiculturalism and the Melting Pot

  • Diversity in the U.S.: Immigrants from many countries bring their own cultures, contributing to a diverse population.
  • The "Melting Pot" Metaphor:
    • This metaphor describes the national culture as a blend of many different cultures.
    • Metaphorical Description: Like soup ingredients that, once mixed together, contribute to the whole and become difficult to separate from each other.
  • Multiculturalism Definition: The view that cultural differences should be respected and celebrated.
    • Growth: This perspective is currently on the rise in the United States.
    • Comparison to the Melting Pot: Unlike the melting pot focus on blending, multiculturalism promotes diversity through the recognition and continued celebration of separate cultures that co-exist peacefully.
    • Goal: The focus is on the preservation of separate individual cultural traditions and customs rather than creating one single culture from aspects of others.

Countercultures and Societal Rejection

  • Definition: A counterculture is a specific type of subculture that strongly opposes one or more elements of the dominant culture.
  • Core Identifying Feature: Members of a counterculture reject conventional values or behavioral norms that are accepted by the majority of society.
  • Specific Example: Polygamists.
    • Belief: Polygamists believe in marriage to more than one person.
    • Conflict: This practice contradicts the values and the laws of the dominant American culture.
  • Societal Reception: While multiculturalism is inclusive, it often does not extend to countercultures. Many people react very negatively toward the culture of polygamists and other countercultures.

Learning Outcomes and Summary

  • Definitions to Retain:
    • Subculture: A unique culture within a larger culture.
    • High Culture: Elite subculture (e.g., ballet, classical music).
    • Popular Culture: Majority subculture (e.g., fast food, pop music).
    • Counterculture: A subculture that opposes dominant norms (e.g., polygamists).
    • Multiculturalism: The preservation and celebration of distinct cultural differences.
  • Study Statistics: The source material is part of a library containing over 88,00088,000 lessons.
  • Access Date: The material is recorded as accessed on June 25, 2026 (6/25/266/25/26).