Mass culture: the main characteristic

Mass culture in modern society is playingimportant role. On the one hand, it facilitates the integration of cultures, and on the other, it simplifies the understanding of their elements. This is a contradictory and complex phenomenon, despite the characteristic simplicity that the products of the mass culture possess.

Mass culture: the history of the emergence

Historians did not find a common point on whichtheir views on the exact time of occurrence of this phenomenon could converge. However, there are the most popular provisions that are able to explain the approximate period of the emergence of this variety of culture.

1. A.Radugin believes that the prerequisites for mass culture were available, if not at the dawn of the emergence of mankind, then certainly during the birth of Christianity, when the book "The Bible for the Poor" was widely distributed, which was intended for a wide audience.
2. Another provision implies laterthe emergence of mass culture, where its origins are associated with European literature of the 17-18 centuries. At this time, widespread detective, adventure and adventure novels due to a large replication.
3. In the literal sense, according to A.Radugin, it originated in the USA in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He explains this by the emergence of a new form of arrangement of life - the massivization, which found the mapping in almost all spheres: from political and economic to household.

Proceeding from this, it can be assumed that the pushthe emergence of mass culture was the capitalist view and mass production, which was to find the same scale implementation. In connection with this, a phenomenon such as stereotyping has become widespread. Identity and stereotypedness are the bright basic characteristics of the mass culture, which have spread not only to everyday objects, but also to views.

Mass culture is closely connected with the processGlobalization, which is carried out mainly through the media. This is especially evident at the present stage. One of the most striking examples is yoga. Yogic practices arose in antiquity, and Western countries had nothing to do with it. However, with the development of communication, an international exchange of experience began, and yoga was accepted by Westerners, beginning to take root in their culture. This has negative characteristics, because a Western person is unable to understand the depth and meaning that Indians understand by doing yoga. Thus, there is a simplified understanding of another's culture, and phenomena that require a deep understanding are simplified, losing their value.

Mass culture: signs and main characteristics

Its content has a daily nature of purpose. It is determined by the daily events, needs and aspirations of the majority of people. Mass culture is contrasted with the elite culture.

• It implies a superficial understanding that does not require specific knowledge and is therefore available to most.
• Stereotype is the main feature of the perception of the products of this culture.
• Its elements are based on emotional unconscious perception.
• It operates with average language semiotic norms.
• Has an entertaining direction and is manifested, more in an entertaining form.

Contemporary mass culture: "pluses" and "minuses"

At the moment, it has a number of shortcomings and positive signs.

For example, this type of culture allows close interaction of a large group of members of society, which increases the quality of their communication.

Stereotypes, generated by mass culture, if they are created on a truthful classification, help a person to perceive a large flow of information.

Among the shortcomings is the simplicity of the culturalelements, the profanation of foreign cultures and the propensity to remake (remaking once created and recognized elements of art in a new way). The latter tends to suggest that mass culture is not able to create something new, or is capable, but in small numbers.