Meaning of Mass Culture (What is it, Concept and Definition)

Meaning of Mass Culture (What is it, Concept and Definition)
Posted on 22-02-2022

What is Mass Culture:

Mass culture is an expression that refers, on the one hand, to the universe of cultural consumer goods that are distributed massively and hegemonically in the market; on the other, it refers to the social values ​​promoted by said hegemony, considered superficial and light.

Although this expression has existed since the massification of society began in the 19th century, it made its systematic appearance in sociology during the 1940s. From this decade on, it was associated with the concepts of mass society, consumer society, and culture industry.

It follows, therefore, that the expression mass culture has a pejorative character, at least in its origin. This derives from their modes of production and distribution.

The modes of production of mass culture are of an industrial type. This implies that they are conceived by marketing specialists and not by cultural producers and that they are mass-produced or mass-produced to capture a sales niche in the market.

The distribution of mass culture occurs strictly in the field of mass media, that is, television, radio, press, and digital platforms, under advantageous conditions for the large corporate groups that dominate the spaces through paid advertising.

Characteristics of mass culture

Among the characteristics of mass culture we can mention the following:

  • Born with industrialization and massive migration to cities, therefore,
  • It is consubstantial with the consumer society and the cultural industry.
  • It spreads through mass social media.
  • It tends towards the uniformity of cultural assets and social values, thus blurring the boundaries between elite and popular culture.
  • The information is usually simplified, which works as an ideological amalgam of society.
  • It presents reality as spectacle and consumption.

 

 

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