Popular Culture

Paper Summary:

The paper defines popular culture as referring to cultural forms of interest and entertainment common only to the masses or the majority of people. The paper explains how popular culture was seen as being somehow inferior to 'higher', more elitist, forms of culture during the nineteenth century. The paper discusses, however, how the Internet has achieved the distribution of a world wide popular culture that is shared within and between countries. The paper looks at cyber-culture today and concludes that the future shape and forms of popular culture will be influenced by the Internet and its emerging modes of communication.

From the Paper:

"The view of popular culture as being somehow inferior to 'higher' forms of culture can be traced back through history and to the sense of elitism and divisions in society between the rich and poor, the powerful and the less-powerful. The foundations of the term "popular culture' and its definition in a contemporary context, can be related to influential thinkers like Mathew Arnold and the Nineteenth Century in Britain. "The idea of popular culture, as we know it, only came about in the second half of the nineteenth century and for the first fifty years or so was viewed very negatively by those who dared to acknowledge its existence." (Popular culture)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bell, David, Brian D. Loader, Nicholas Pleace, and Douglas Schuler. Cyberculture: The Key Concepts. New York: Routledge, 2004. Questia. 4 Apr. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=107383708>.
• Bell, David. An Introduction to Cybercultures. London: Routledge, 2001. Questia. 4 Apr. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102726866>.
• Betts, Raymond F. A History of Popular Culture: More of Everything, Faster, and Brighter. New York: Routledge, 2004. Questia. 4 Apr. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=107497022>.
• Budde, Michael L. "Embracing Pop Culture the Catholic Church in the World Market." World Policy Journal 15.1 (1998): 77-87. Questia. 4 Apr. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=95688187>.
• Ebo, Bosah, ed. Cyberghetto or Cybertopia? Race, Class, and Gender on the Internet. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1998.

More papers on Popular Culture:

• Term Paper # 125650 : "Definition of Popular Culture"
• Analytical Essay # 142474 : "Georgia in Popular Culture: An Analysis"
• Analytical Essay # 135395 : "Popular Culture's Progressive Elements"
• Essay # 143764 : "Academic Journal Report: Journal Of Popular Culture"

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