Popular Culture Flashcards
1
Q
Was there a Popular Culture?
A
Peter Burke:
- Said that popular culture was the beliefs, customs and practices of the majority of people
- Thought there was a secondary, Elite Culture, for the nobles and churchmen
- Criticised by other historians because they don’t believe there is a binary division of only Popular and Elite Cultures
It is now generally agreed that there were many cultures because Early Modern Europe was so diverse:
Diversity in Elite Culture:
- Different noble cultures in different parts of Europe, they enjoyed different privileges in different territories
- Reformation: no unified culture between clerics
Middling Group:
- Emerging middle class, merchants and professionals
Geographic Diversity:
- Southern Europe more exuberant, outdoor culture, Northern more restrained and indoor culture
- North richer, South more restrictions on Women’s freedoms
Urban and Rural Diversity:
- Rapid population growth and Urbanisation, Cities growing due to migration
- London Population > 60,000 to 1,000,000 from 1500-1800
- Growth in literacy level
Gender:
- Women expected to be subservient to men, thought to be weak-willed and vulnerable to passion
- Universally patriarchal society
- Southern Europe more Patriarchal
2
Q
Challenges: Political Change
A
Burke argues that between 1500 and 1800, there was a politicisation of popular culture and a development of political consciousness:
Peasants:
- German Revolt 1520s: Germany experienced major peasant rebellions against privileges of clergy and lay landlords
- Authorities acted to clamp down popular culture, carnivals seen as potential causes of revolt
Rebellions and Civil Wars:
- French Wars of Religion 1562-98: Around 3 mil perished because of famine and disease
- English Civil Wars 1642-51: Fought between Parliament and Crown, caused huge divisions as people’s loyalties were split
- Rebellion and Civil Wars caused a breakdown in communities > breaking down popular culture
Pamphlets:
- Levellers 1642-46: Political movement during English Civil War, emphasised popular sovereignty, equality before the law and religious tolerance
- Pamphlets increased politicisation of population
- New political ideas made people critical of status quo
3
Q
Popular Culture: Common Culture
A
- 9/10 people lived off the land, would have had similar experiences e.g. hardships, crop failure, famine, injury from agricultural work
- All social classes faced plague, illness, death
- Women faced dangers of childbirth, all had similar roles s wives and mothers
Festivals of Misrule and Holy Days:
- Provided a much-needed break for hardworking people, season of excess, suspension of usual rules governing moral behaviour
- Part of common culture because people would be able to gather and discuss beliefs, hardships etc.
- Some historians think it acted as a safety valve, allowing controlled release of tensions, festivals an outlet for disruptive behaviour
- Natalie Zemon: thought carnivals more than a safety valve, could underpin rebellion and couldn’t always be safely contained
4
Q
Challenges: Religious Change
A
Reformation and Counter-Reformation were the biggest Religious challenges to Popular Culture.
What was Reformation:
- Began in 1517 when Luther protested about Catholic church, Luther hated the superstition and wealth & corruption of the church
- Split Christian Church- Reformers heavily criticised some of Catholic practices
Causes of Reformation:
Criticisms from WITHIN Catholic Church:
- Erasmus: believed in importance of the humanities and translated new testament of bible back to greek to show how corrupted latin version had become
- Erasmus: didn’t challenge Catholic Doctrine or Pope’s Authority
- Erasmus: wanted a simpler version of catholicism based on more accurate version of bible
- Erasmus: In Praise of Folly- book where he made fun of superstitions of Catholic Church
Criticisms from OUTSIDE Catholic Church:
- Lollards: Critical of Pope and hierarchal structure of Church authority, Lollard Theologians attacked rile of Priests as an intermediary between man and God
- Lutherans: Criticised Church for giving indulgences and Luther published 95 theses which made 95 criticisms on the condition of Catholic Church
Anti-Clericalism:
- A growing resentment and criticism of Clergy during 16th century, many thought they were corrupt
- Wealth of Clergy: Catholic Church owned 2/3 of Europe’s land, many Clergy incredibly wealthy
- Pluralism: Many Clergy had more than one office, people questioning how well they performed in roles
- Non-Residence: Due to holding more than one office, Clergy failed to visit their sees (Posts)
- Non-Celibacy: Clergy supposed to be celibate
5
Q
Challenges: Social and Economic Change
A
In most local communities order was upheld by a Social Hierarchy, those who challenged order were punished through public humiliation (especially women who challenged Patriarchal Culture)
Humiliation: Often carried out in a ritualised way. Punishments included; reciting crimes in market place, skimmington
Legal Punishments: Ducking Stool, harsher punishments included Branding and Whipping, serious crimes may have received a public execution
Reasons for Social Change:
- In 16th and 17th Centuries, people thought they were experiencing a ‘crisis of order’, people thought society as breaking down
- Could have been due to economic pressure as a result of population growth or civil strife due to civil or religious wars
Religion and Social Change:
- Protestants: Piety shown by living life of simplicity and humility, frowned upon elaborate rituals of the church, Puritans saw Saint’s Days as remnants of Paganism
- Catholics: Responded to threat of Protestants by trying to reform church, 1545 Council of Trent implemented reforms- clamping down on superstition and exuberant festivals
- Other Sects: Diggers- Protestant Radicals who wanted to set up communist farming society, Ranters- thought they didn’t need to follow laws if they had a strong enough connection with God
Social Changes:
- Population: 1500-1800, population went from 80 Million > 190 Million
- Urbanisation: 1500 only 3 cities, 1800 23 cities
- Trade: Expansion of trade between Europe and wider world, new ideas breaking down Popular Culture
- Communications Revolution: Ships made, Canals dug, Roads built- increased travel and sharing of cultures
6
Q
Challenges: Withdrawal of Elite
A
Withdrawal of Elite:
- Burke argues that by 1800, elites had abandoned popular culture
- Although has been said that this was not universal and elites had always shunned popular culture
Clergy:
- In 1500 clergy were of similar social and cultural level as parishioners
- Catholic and Protestant ‘Godly Reformers’ demanded a learned Clergy
- Protestant Clergy tended to be university graduates, after Council of Trent Catholic Clergy tended to be trained in seminaries
Nobility:
- Burke thought Renaissance was important influence, nobles became more self-conscious of behaviour
- Learned to speak and write correctly, treatises on dancing, eating in separate rooms
- Distancing themselves from ‘vulgarity’ of commoners
Bourgeoisie:
- Officials e.g. lawyers and merchants wanted to imitate nobility to seem more elite
- Abandoned local dialect and adopted ‘ruling’ language of state
- Withdrew from Popular Culture
Learned Elite:
- Adopted ideas from Renaissance and Scientific Revolution
- Abandoned belief in magic and superstition
7
Q
Print Revolution
A
Impact of Printing:
- Press made in 1440s by Johannes Gutenburg
- In England 400 titles published in 1510s, by 1710s figure was 21,000
- Printing seen as a potential challenge to popular culture
- By 1500, most Europeans were illiterate so culture was passed on orally, press allowed mass distribution of information
Was There a Print Revolution?
Yes:
- Suggested that press enabled Renaissance, Scientific Revolution and Reformation
- By late 16th century merchant may own several hundred books, used to only be clergy who owned books
- Around 5 million Bibles printed in Europe in 16th century
- Reading considered social activity, literate read to illiterate
No:
- Press less important than improved transport and communication networks
- Printing could be used by elites to spread propaganda that enforced status quo
- Index Librorum Prohibitorium was list of books Catholics prohibited from reading
- Oral tradition still prominent, print could either enrich or undermine oral cultures
