Abstract This paper answers the topic question: "what do you understand by the term MassCulture?" The definition is provided at the end after a discussion of what this term might mean and what it includes.
Abstract This essay answers the question: how does America figure in the creation and propagation of 'massculture'? It uses works by notable cultural theorists and media scholars, and explains the intertwining cultural and economic systems that allow US goods, ideas, and information to become a part of the cultures of all industrialized, and many 'third world' nations.
Abstract The paper begins by introducing Adorno's theories on massculture and commoditization, which were one of the fundamentals of post-modernism as it appeared in the 20th century. It then looks at how the tango dance is one of the most representative forms of manifestation of the Argentinean spirit and people. Born in the mid-1800s, tango was quickly exported to Europe and became a true success story, until its downfall in 1955. It was reborn in 1983 and has been a success ever since. This paper investigates Adorno's theories and applies them in the case of tango, and looks at whether this is the best example we may choose to argument the truth in Adorno's statements. It explains that, while on one hand, tango can be considered an element of massculture because, in many ways, it has partly embraced the mercantile character of massculture that Adorno insists upon, in many other ways, tango is still something in its own, a form of art, a form of expression.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
Adorno's Theory of MassCulture History of Tango History of Tango Adorno's Theories applied to Tango Conclusion
From the Paper "Tango is still too imaginative and too expressive to be assimilated as a product of mass culture and classified as a commodity. If we were to pursue on this theoretical path, we would tragically arrive to the conclusion that feelings, emotions and passion are all for sale. However, there were inspired people, like in any other forms of cultural manifestation, that were keen to partly transform tango into a form of entertainment. As any for of entertainment, it could be sold and profit could be obtained by promoting something that was well received in its audience and segment of consumers. Passion sells, many might say. While this argumentation may work in some occasions, passion isn't always understood and passion only addresses a certain category of people. Passion is not a mass culture product."
Abstract The question, What is popular culture and how does it relate to Eastern and Western societies? is an apparently simple query that conceals a complex range of social cultural and economic aspects. This essay examines this question, beginning with a provisional definition of popular culture and an attempt to distinguish it from other cultural forms such as high culture and massculture. The thesis is argued that popular culture is, in its fundamental elements, a commercial culture that is dependent to an extraordinary degree upon the mass media as a technological vehicle for its messages and products.
Abstract This paper shows that although Tango music symbolizes the idealized sophistication of high society, with men in trendy suits and women in sparkling gowns, its origin lies within the dark corners of Argentine society. It discusses its overwhelming impact on Argentina's cultural identity, society, and economy is irrefutable; and explains how it is used to channel artistic expression and to share cultural customs.
From the Paper "Music historians have traced the word "Tango" to European lineage; it is allegedly ?from the Spanish "Ta"ir?, or a deformation of the word "tambo" used by the (Spanish) colonizers.? Some believe the word was borrowed from the Portuguese ?and that it would have reappeared at the slave plantations.? (http://www.traveltango.com.ar/) Pronunciation of Tango is said to have an African origin. It ?is a phonetic deformation of the name Shango, black God of the tempets who eats fire, wears lightening bolts and speaks with thunder.? (http://www.traveltango.com.ar/)
In the Nigerian language of Nago, ?the name of that God is written Sango. The ?S? sound is not as the French CH or the English SH. Opposite to what it is usually assumed, it is similar to a Spanish S, whistling sound, so that the articulation from SANGO to TANGO is made with a minimum degree of difficulty.? (http://www.traveltango.com.ar/)
While there is no definitive birth of Tango music, there are many theories about its beginnings. It is speculated that Tango began in turn-of-the-century brothels. Valente suggests its origins lie in the dances and music of the African slave communities in the Rio de la Plata region. (Valente)"
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that in today's world, the mass media has an impact in almost all we do as people. The writer notes that media affects everything from what clothes we wear to what television programs we watch. The writer discusses that James Lull, in his book 'Media, Communication, Culture' explains how media interacts and affects the communication among people and how culture changes with advances in media and technology. The writer concludes that 'Media, Communication, and Culture' informs an audience of how the mass media and modern forms of communication have affected the development of culture and the ways of society. Further, the writer maintains that James Lull uses a distinctive style and a logical structure in order to properly educate his audience about the influence mass media has on today's world.
From the Paper "Within each chapter, he inserts an article on a real life example of events where mass media, human communication, and culture were involved and had an effect. Such events as the Chinese student rebellion at Tiananmen Square in 1989 and the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal in the mid-1990's are included along with explanations of how media, communication, and culture had an effect on these historical events. Along with modern events, Lull includes historical changes in media and communication to emphasize his argument that mass media and technological advances have had major effects on societies across the world. His structure also allows for any member of his audience to follow and understand what he puts forth. Lull avoids implication and instead tells the audience what he wants them to know to avoid letting them infer it on their own. An informed audience will also understand an author's purpose more readily than an audience which inferred the author's intentions. Lull also tends to end discussions by putting more emphasis on his own ideas and support of others that follows what he believes about media, communication, and culture."
Abstract This paper explains that, when presenting material about science and technology, mass media (1) treats its audience as if they were elementary school children so that science still retained its 'sacred status', (2) judiciously ignores the social, cultural and political factors of the world in which the 'great discovery' was made and (3) avoids any reference to what made the individual scientist and individual. The author includes in the paper the growing impact of the internet as mass media on society today and points out that this information technology is rapidly evolving into a continuous spectrum of tools and methods for the creation, delivery and presentation of information on a personal basis. The paper concludes that what has separated man from other animals has been neither his ability to communicate nor his ability to use tools but his ability to use tools to communicate in a cultural context.
From the Paper "Given that science is difficult to separate from scientism, Gardner and Young conclude in their article, they would like to see the domain of science opened up in three ways. First they would like to know what forces evoke the questions, frameworks and specific priorities of science. How does man frame the manifold of nature in the ways he does? For them this could include questions as to why biology uses its taxonomy structure to who paid for the grant for the project.
Second they would like to see discussion of the labor process of the production of science, technology and medicine. What is the social or managerial process behind the production of knowledge and research?"
Abstract This paper examine the influence of the mass media and the power of the media to shape lived experience such as violence. The author review violence in Hollywood films, television and reality shows and in the public schools. The paper demonstrates the linkages between violence, culture and the mass media.
From the Paper "This research examines whether and to what extent cultural representations of violence are portrayed realistically. The research will set forth attributes of the pervasive influence of the mass media on the shape and content of culture in general and ..."
Abstract The first part of this essay analyses the relation between advertising, culture, and the commodification process involved in the "creation" of a massculture market. The second part of this paper considers the significance of Walter Benjamin's "Age of Mechanical Reproduction" with regards to contemporary news and information resources, and argues that the social and political significance of a current event is easily - if not dangerously so - manipulated by contemporary technologies, and mass media strategies.
Abstract The author studies the give and take relationship between the media and our society to determine which is the cause and which is the effect. The author continues by showing a connection between the main icons of Western culture and the effects of the media. The fast food industry is highlighted and the author shows the great effects it has had on our trends and ideals, with conformity a notable outcome. After studying the diverse effects of our fast food culture today, the author concludes that only a corrupt society can allow the mass media such power.
From the Paper "In the Classical Greco-Roman era, it was believed that Pygmalion, a sculptor, brought Galatea to life. However, today it seems to be a more common belief that Galatea creates Pygmalion. The question of whether members of our society create the media, or if the media influences members of the society to such a degree that it essentially creates the society, is a prominent one in the study of modern anthropology. Pop culture artifacts reveal a great deal about the modern society, including social trends, values, ideals, and more. The relationship between consumers and the mass media is a complex one that may not be simple enough to evaluate as a directional give-and-take diagram. There are many issues relating to social responsibility and the often clashing pursuits of individual wealth and greater good that come to play when discussing popular media, culture, and society."
Abstract 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)"
Abstract This paper analyzes the historical contribution of the role of media by looking at the theories of Noam Chomsky and Marshall McLuhan. The author covers several different topics in this paper, including the role that the internet and television have contributed to the globalization of news and how the world is viewed by the masses. The author details the theories of Chomsky and McLuhan on mass media and its affect on the new world order. The author feels that both of these men feel that it is the role that mass media has changed the world in the last half of the twentieth century and in many cases, for the worse. In Chomsky's case, he feels that the media is manipulating society and for McLuhan, it was the nature of mass media itself that he felt was so dangerous.
From the Paper "The theories of Marshall Mcluhan and Noam Chomsky provide an in-depth view of the role of media in our lives; Marshall Mcluhan was a media guru who developed theories about the role of media in mass popular culture. Mcluhan became famous and fascinated the scholarly world through two of his renowned books on media "Understanding Media" (1964) and "The Medium is the Message" in which he developed his critique of media and provided some fruitful analysis in understanding the role of media. Noam Chomsky is a well-known scholar, who has been very critical about the US policies; his theories concentrate on how government uses media to control the masses, diverting their attention from real issues and concerns."
Abstract This paper demonstrates how mass media plays an important role in communicating to individuals what other people in their society think and enable leaders to broadcast their messages to large audiences. It explains in depth that public opinion is shaped both by relatively permanent circumstances and by temporary influences. The paper intelligently displays how mass media in the United States facilitates cohesive public opinion for a large population spread over wide geographic area.
From the Paper "When we ask to what extent the mass media influence our perceptions of who belongs and who doesn?t, on the role of race in America, on the "deviance" of certain groups within American society, a large measure of what we are asking falls under the more general rubric of how public opinion is formed, as Riggs suggests. Public opinion is shaped both by relatively permanent circumstances and by temporary influences. Among the former are the ideas that characterize the popular culture of a given place at a given time. In the U.S., for example, the youth-oriented culture of the early 21st century affects the attitudes of many people toward aging and the elderly and the images of whites vis-?-vis other groups within the mass media certainly affects American perceptions of race."
Abstract One of the most fascinating aspects of the Canadian cultural identity is the degree to which government policy and free enterprise economic principles converge and frequently collide in the field of the mass media. In large measure this is a consequence of Canada's geographic position next door to the world's last remaining superpower and predominant popular culture engine, the United States. This paper explores how the Canadian government, in order to maintain cultural distinctiveness in terms of national identity, has adopted a range of policies that promote the Canadian identity in the mass media and restrict the reach of foreign media and foreign media ownership.
Abstract This paper examines the globalization of culture and how the American popular culture shapes it. It investigates how economic dominance, communications technologies, social and political events influence global mass media. The paper also describes the role of the English language in creating a single world culture.
From the Paper "When we look at the dominant form of culture that characterizes our society today, it is often referred to as "globalization". But to many, this idea of a unified world is characterized by the concept of "Americanization". To a large extent, the shared culture around the world is becoming more and more influenced by American culture. There are many reasons for this, but primarily these are the result of the economic dominance of that nation, the development of global systems of communication, and the spread of English as the new international language. The following paper will address all of these issues in order to fully understand the reasons why the United States has a stranglehold on the global market in mass culture."
