Types of Culture

Question 1

Define Mass Culture

Answer 1

Mass Culture is simple, low-quality cultural products which are created in vast quantities by businesses who aim to generate a profit from their audience.

Question 2

Define High Culture

Answer 2

Products of High Culture are generally considered to require intellectual engagement in order to access. Historical knowledge, musical literacy and cultural awareness is needed to understand the meaning and intricacies of High Culture.

Question 3

Which social class is linked to the consumption of Mass Culture?

Answer 3

The Working Classes are typically associated with Mass Culture; these products tends to be inexpensive, easily accessible and un-challenging which is said to appeal to people who may lack the knowledge and awareness to enjoy High Culture.

Question 4

Give some examples of Popular Culture.

Answer 4

• Songs which make political comments. (Bob Dylan, Neil Young)
• Widely appreciated artwork

Question 5

Give some examples of Mass Culture.

Answer 5

• Action movies
• Low quality romance novels
• Soap operas

Question 6

According to Economic Marxists, what is the purpose of Mass Culture?

Answer 6

Marxists argue that Mass Culture is designed to be simplistic and easy to interpret, this leads the audience to develop an uncritical mindset which doesn’t analyse the content they’re presented with. As a result, companies can easily exploit their customers by selling them products which they don’t need (false needs) which allows them to profit off people who don’t criticise the information they’re presented with.

Question 7

According to a cultural explanation, what is the purpose of Mass Culture in the eyes of a Marxist?

Answer 7

Cultural Marxists argue that Mass Culture has the ability to perpetuate a culturally hegemonic perspective which upholds the status quo and maintains the ruling classes’ balance of power. The exploitation of the lower classes becomes invisible and hidden by the content of the mass culture, whilst subliminal messaging reinforces their own societal position which they come to accept as normal.

Question 8

Give some examples of High Culture.

Answer 8

• Theatre Productions
• Opera
• Historic Literature
• Complex Artwork