Week 2 Flashcards
What is the function of culture?
Tells us how to behave and how to adapt to our surroundings. Gives expectations.
What are 5 elements of culture?
religion, history, values, social organizations, language
What is high culture?
The fine arts that can only be enjoyed by an elite minority.
What were the beliefs of the Chicago school of thought?
Founded in the early 20th century it focused on a positive view of human nature and believed that language gave people empathy and foresight. But the lack of face to face communication got rid of community shared experiences.
When was the Frankfurt school of thought founded and who founded it?
1930’s. Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse, Benjamin and Habermas.
What were the main beliefs of the Frankfurt school of thought?
That media culture reproduced existing society and manipulated audiences into obedience. That cultural products are produced just like other products. Looked at how audiences consumed the media.
What were the main criticisms of the Frankfurt school of thought?
That consumers are not passive and the approach is too one sided. Also not all media culture is homogenous or ideological.
What is hegemony?
The idea that the dominant class dominates cultural and ideological relations, but it is constantly changing and some different values can get mixed in.
Who coined the term public sphere?
Habermas
What is the public sphere?
A place between the public and private where we can discuss issues and criticize the state. Not everyone is included. Came from the bourgeois who had more access to knowledge and wanted to discuss it.
What are some key facts about British Cultural Studies?
1960’s. Raymond Williams. Interested in working class and wanted to get rid of the division of high and low culture.
What were the main beliefs of British Cultural Studies?
Culture is situated within a theory of social production and reproduction. Audience is active and there is a hierarchy of society. Looked at how cultural forms allowed for social domination or for people to resist.
What were the main criticisms of British Cultural Studies
They believed that all audiences are active. They overlooked the concentration of ownership and high culture.
Define political economy
It is the study of the social relations that mutual constitute the production, distribution, and consumption of resources.
What are the main beliefs of the Toronto school of thought? Who founded it?
Harold Innis. Development of communication can result in profound cultural disturbances and in major social, economic and political transformations. All communication has bias.
