An Interdisciplinary Approach, Essay Example

Law and Order Criminal Intent is an effective example of popular culture television episodes. This show is one of the most popular television series for years to come. The show brings the interest of human mechanism and human intent into a drama filled hour series that comes to light developing a plot filled with realistic criminal patterns of spontaneity coupled with mystery. The show presents itself as a combination of a criminal show and a psychological mind thriller which is top of the line hit show topic to audiences.  The storyline is continuous therefore a plot is enchanting, always adding drama to the next episode bringing the audience back for more. Law and Order Criminal Intent is a very well liked program of which the producers of the program purposely set out to find a program that the viewers could relate to. This is what defines popular culture by stories eyes. Once a program is put into motion and is found favourable “it is highly sanctioned by the audience and is run in continuous episodes.” (Storey 2006, 5). The culture becomes clear and identifiable across America. American researchers and critiques call this a “benign version of mass cultural perspective.” (Storey 2006, 14). Popular culture is further sanctioned with high regard by industrialization and urbanization across America with favourable rights and values attached to it. Storey (1996) believes the word culture alone is empty and has no meaning. It becomes meaningful as people attach significance to the word by defining its character. This is true as seen with television, films, music and other items that often become so ever popular across Europe, America and other countries across the globe. Many shows commence in the states and are often viewable in the United Kingdom with certain cable channel pay per view. There are many lovely shows viewable in the United Kingdom only similar to Law and Order Criminal Intent such as Who Get’s the Dog which is very intense and highly rated in Great Britain.

Popular culture commenced historically in Britain and made its way across America. “In America a popular culture is dependent upon a capitalist market for survival.” (Storey 2006, 29). We are not viewing popular culture as Arnold viewed it as anarchy but as a personal choice of people. There is simply the idea to expose the reader to the way popular culture has been historically viewed and has developed over the years. The theory of culture popularity obeys capitalism. Every economic group has the chance to participate in a popular cultured society hence this is why we refer to it as a capitalist dominated society.

“Cultural segregation was at its best with the Manchester, England industrial urbanization civilisation.” (Storey 2006, 31) New capitalism established clear boundaries for certain working classes of the area. History goes back to the establishment of the popular culture in Britain and how the history of the culture laid the grounds for the popular culture establishment. E.P. Thompson spoke of this cultural segregation in The Making of the Working Class where Britain had no restraints on culture prior to this segregation in Manchester, England. It is the American culture that found it necessary to industrialize and urbanize popular culture through segregation in order to capitalize on the gains. It was more profitable for the Americans to do so and America is known for its profitability and its segregation throughout the nation.

Marxism has been a major point of studies for the culture in the United Kingdom. Marxism attacks essentialism, economies and further attacks left wing politics. Marxism politically dominates a nation with its reverence.  It is a result of the Soviet Union aftermath and takes a toll on the popular culture of the Western world. “Frederick Jameson (1984) agrees that a return to the post-modern Marxism would prioritize economic relations and economic determination over cultural and popular cultural relations with Western and Eastern European countries giving both countries a more transparent role.” (McRobbie 1994, 34). There is a need for displacement with the sudden impact of a Marxist role in the political and economic agenda of the world. Theorists question in the era of post- Marxism who will be teaching who? There are severe interruptions of gender and race and feminism through the crisis of Marxism which cannot go unrestrained.  This is a clear reminder that the study of initial studies of culture must have emerged from a “radical inquiry against reductionism and feminism of a true Marxist economy.” (McRobbie 1994, 45).

Storey’s book argues “the concept of popular popular culture is in effect an empty conceptual category, one which can be filled in a wide variety of often conflicting ways depending on the context of use.” (1993). “He first looks at Raymond Williams’ three broad definitions of the word ‘culture.’ First, it could be understood as “‘a general process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic development,’ ” or perhaps high cultural pursuits. Second, it could propose ” ‘ a particular way of life, whether of a people, a period or a group.” Thirdly, it could “refer to ‘the works and practices of intellectual and especially artistic activity’”. (Storey 1993). Next Storey analyzes the ideologies of the theory behind culture which he believes to be a false consciousness, a body of ideas thought up by people, a certain distortion by mankind and unconscious meanings. They are all material to the thoughts of mankind.

The theory is very strong with relation to how the cultural derived and its power over the political and economic communities of long ago. However the Marxist theory was governed based upon the strength that the government possessed over the people. Once the cultures began to form in Britain the theory began to demise. Thus a theory is only as strong as it can be proven. There was a great struggle between the social classes. Of course the working class was considered the lower class of society to the rich aristocrats and the very poor were the lowest on the totem poll. Britain did not want to designate classes but they were forced to. Just as there are classes of people there are classes of television shows and films and justly so they are classified by what people watch them. Popular culture is the designated name given to a show or film that attracts the most watchers.

Marxism was based on a materialist based social change with dialectical influences as well. Karl Marx believed that this influence could shape a new economy and stimulate growth. Materialism is the basis that all things could be understood through a scientific principle where as dialectical influence was based on the principle of idealism. Together these two principles focused on the history of struggles and how they could be brought together to make a better social class and more productive society. This gives reference to popular culture because popular culture is a distinction of classes but on an entertainment level. Anything is given a class and normally with popularity of the public’s eye. Everything in this world is given a hierarchy according to social standing or class according to principles.

In conclusion the word ‘culture’ comes with no meaning until the people develop social norms and standards by which to apply a meaning. As Storey stated, “it is with the application of a social order that the word culture is given value and principles, otherwise popular culture is empty.” (1993). It is the consumers hope that popular culture is achieved without the discrimination of mass media against the consumer and any violations of consumer media laws. Segregation of the people is not a necessity in order to establish the popularity of the culture as established by the theory that all consumers can contribute to the popular economy through the presence of popularity cultural equality (autonomy).

Works Cited

Storey, John (2006) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture Retrieved December 18, 2009 from, http://books.google.com/books?id=hQmV1M5H-qEC&dq=John+Storey%27s+Cultural+theory+and+popular+culture%28Fourth+edition%29&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=GZ4rS6CsJIeongfMpIyNCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

McRobbie, Angela (1994) Postmodernism and Popular Culture Retrieved December 18, 2009 from, http://books.google.com/books?id=NxoTs8Xq3vsC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false

John Storey Theorist (1993) Retrieved December 17, 2009 from, http://www.newhorizons.ab.ca/leeann2/new_page_4.htm