What Is Pop Culture? PDF

In our previous discussion, we explored the broad concept of culture, understanding it as the collective way of life that encompasses values, beliefs, customs, and practices shared by a group of people. Culture, in this sense, shapes our identities, influences our behavior, and connects us to others...

In our previous discussion, we explored the broad concept of culture, understanding it as the collective way of life that encompasses values, beliefs, customs, and practices shared by a group of people. Culture, in this sense, shapes our identities, influences our behavior, and connects us to others within society. Building on that foundation, we now turn to **popular culture**---a dynamic and influential part of the broader cultural landscape. Popular culture refers to the ideas, practices, and products that are widely accepted and consumed by the masses, particularly through the lens of modern mass media. It's what we often see in our everyday lives---whether it\'s the music we listen to, the movies we watch, the fashion we follow, or the social media trends we participate in. There are different ways of defining popular culture each have their strengths but also limitations. - **Quantitatively Superior**: This definition sees popular culture as what the majority of people enjoy or engage with. It's about numbers---what most people are watching, listening to, or talking about. The limitation is that just because something is popular doesn't mean it's meaningful or valuable. - **Qualitatively Inferior**: This view suggests that popular culture is of lower quality compared to \"high\" culture, like classical music or fine art. The problem here is that it dismisses popular culture as less important or sophisticated, which isn't always true. - **Mass Culture**: This definition describes popular culture as something created for and consumed by large audiences, often through mass media like TV, movies, and the internet. However, this can make popular culture seem too uniform, ignoring the diversity of tastes and experiences within it. - **A Product of "The People"**: This perspective sees popular culture as something created by the people, reflecting their lives, interests, and values. But it can be challenging to distinguish what is truly \"of the people\" and what is influenced by commercial interests. - **A Battlefield for Hegemony**: This idea suggests that popular culture is a site of struggle, where different groups compete to impose their views and values on society. While this highlights the power dynamics at play, it might overlook the enjoyment and creativity in popular culture. - **A Chimera to be Deconstructed by Postmodernism**: This view, influenced by postmodern theory, sees popular culture as something complex and multifaceted, often masking deeper meanings or contradictions. The downside is that it can make popular culture seem overly complicated and difficult to understand. The popular culture within the Philippines is very much exposed. A culture that is widely spread in the environment of people today. Nobody can deny that the widespread culture undergoes popularization. Popularization of the many things that seduce, engross, grip, and dominate many of us. There is a great influence of popularization in the society we live in. Nuncio argued, ―Mabisang aparato ng kolonyalismo at komersyalismo ang popularisasyon. Sa panahon ng pananakop ng Kastila ginamit ang krus, sandata at maskara. Pagdating ng mga bagong kolonyalistang Amerikano, ginamit naman ang teknolohiya at mass media. Sa diskursong ito ang popularisasyon ay pananakop bilang panghihimasok sa kasarinlan ng kamalayan at katawan‖ (2004, 53). \[Popularization is an efficient apparatus of colonialism and commercialism. During Spanish colonization, the crucifix, sword, and mask were used. When the American colonizers came, they used technology and mass media. According to this discourse, popularization means colonization through interference in the independence of consciousness and body.\] Both Americans and Spaniards used popularization as a means to implement their desire of inculcating religion and education in the consciousness of the Filipinos. They used symbols and innovations that would mark in the minds of the Filipinos. **References**: Nuncio, R. (2004). Mga bakas ng popularisasyon bilang aparatong kolonyal/komersyal at ang kapangyarihan ng komukunsumong masa. In R. Nuncio R., & E. Morales-Nuncio (Eds.), Sangandiwa: Araling Filipino bilang talastasang pangkalinangan at lapit-pananaliksik (pp. 513-62). Manila, Philippines: UST Publishing House. Parker, H. N. (2011). Toward a definition of popular culture. *History and Theory*, *50*(2), 147-170. Peña, R. P. (2023). Exploring the Popular Culture in the Works of Young Philippine Novelists. *World Journal of English Language*, *13*(3), 274-274.