This document discusses Strinati's theories on mass culture and popular culture. It defines mass culture as culture widely disseminated through mass media, and popular culture as activities or products aimed at the general public. There are three main themes in popular culture: its origins, the influence of commercialization and industrialization, and its ideological role. Popular culture is seen as both atomizing individuals and being shaped by mass production and consumption through new media like cinema and radio. Critics argue mass culture theory ignores the diversity and active role of audiences.

1. A Summary of Strinati’s ‘Mass culture and popular culture’

2. Firstly, some definitions: Mass culture – the culture that is widely disseminated via the mass media. Mass media – any means of communication which reaches a large number of people. Popular culture – cultural activities or commercial products reflecting, suited to or aimed at the general masses of the people.

3. Popular culture There are 3 main themes which are central to popular culture: Where does popular culture come from? The influences of commercialisation and industrialisation on popular culture What is the ideological role of popular culture?

4. Williams Popular culture is a culture made by people for themselves, as popular culture has led to ATOMISATION Atomisation is where people lack meaningful/morally coherent relationships, which wasn’t evident in the previous ‘high’ or ‘folk’ culture

5. Commercialisation & Industrialisation effects popular culture. MASS culture began in the late 1920’s and is very important when looking at popular culture. Due to the coming about of CINEMA and RADIO, which was mass consumption and production, this became a problem as.. This couldn’t be ‘folk culture’ as it was not from the people or ‘High Art’ as it was not authentic

7. Destabilised societies/values

8. Less land based work

9. Development of large cities = absence of moral integration = ATOMISATIONIndividual left more to own devices, fewer communities to find identity/values

11. Mass produced for a mass market

12. Standardised, formulaic, repetitive and superficial culture

14. America embodies all that is wrong with mass culture

15. “Americanisation was often seen as the epitome of what was most dangerous in the development of the modern industrial society”

17. Theory over estimates the past and under estimates the present

18. Lacks an adequate understanding of social and cultural change

19. Tends to see the audience as passive, exploitable and vulnerable ignoring they may be active consumers