English 2017 Final: English 2017 Final Notes

• School: Western University
• Department: English
• Course: English 2017
• Professor: Nigel Joseph

Document Summary

For many theorists, technology is the crucial element in the genesis of popular culture: [(cid:862)i(cid:374) p(cid:396)i(cid:374)(cid:272)iple a (cid:449)o(cid:396)k of a(cid:396)t has al(cid:449)a(cid:455)s (cid:271)ee(cid:374) (cid:396)ep(cid:396)odu(cid:272)i(cid:271)le. Ma(cid:374)-made artifacts could always be imitated by men. One of the most enduring cultural distinctions has been that of high vs. low, or high vs. popular. High culture is assumed to be difficult, complex, demanding, and, ultimately, deeply satisfying. It is assumed to have a moral effect on the listener: it makes him/her a better person, more disciplined, focused and restrained. Popular culture, on the other hand, is assumed to be easy to absorb, simple, formulaic, repetitive, unchallenging and shallow. It can be consumed with little effort: in fact, it encourages its own passive consumption. It is also (especially in its musical manifestations) overtly sexualized, claim many of its critics, its pounding rhythms imitating suggestively the rhythms of the sexual act (though.