PH POP CULTURE

Lecture 1 - 2/ Pre Mid First Semester

POPULAR 1. Popular culture is simply culture that is
● Well-liked by many people, widely favored or well-liked by many
CULTURE people
● A particular way of life, whether of a ○ it has no negative connotations.
people, a period, or a group. 2. Popular culture is whatever is left after
● works and practices of intellectual you've identified what "high culture" is:
and especially artistic activity. ○ pop culture is considered inferior,
● Nasasalamin sa wika, kung anong wika and it functions as a marker of
mo, nasasalamin ito sa kultura mo status and class.
POPULAR CULTURE High Culture
● In modern west, it refers to cultural ○ encompasses the cultural objects
products such as music, art, literature, of aesthetic value, which a
fashion, dance, film, society collectively esteem as
cyberculture,television, and radio that exemplary art.
are consumed by the majority of society's ○ the culture of an upper class
population. (anaristocracy) or of astatusclass
● types of media that have mass (the intelligentsia).
accessibilityand appeal. 3. Pop culture can be defined as
● term "popular culture" was coined in the commercial objects that are produced for
mid-19th century, and it referred to the mass consumption by non-discriminating
cultural traditions of the people consumers.
THE RISE OF POPULAR CULTURE ○ popular culture is a tool used by
● origins of the rise of popular culture to the the elites to suppress or take
creation of the middle class advantage of the masses.
generated by the Industrial Revolution. 4. Popular culture is folk culture,
● People who were configured into ○ something that arises from the
working classes and moved into urban people rather than imposed upon
environments far from their traditional them: pop culture is authentic
farming life began creating their own (created by the people) as
culture to share with their co-workers, as opposed to commercial (thrust
apart of separating from their parents upon them by commercial
and bosses. enterprises).
Different Definitions of Popular Culture Folk culture
● by John Storey ○ culture traditionally practiced by
1. Is widely-favored or well-liked by many small, homogenous groups living
people in isolated rural areas.
2. as high culture 5. Pop culture is negotiated: partly imposed
3. Can be defined as commercial objects on by the dominant classes, and partly
4. Is Folk culture resisted or changed by the subordinate
5. Is negotiated/negotiable classes.
6. Authentic v.s commerical ○ Dominants can create culture but
the subordinates decide what they
keep or discard.
PH POP CULTURE
Lecture 1 - 2/ Pre Mid First Semester
6. The last definition of pop culture discussed ● They became the means for appeasing
by Storey is that in the postmodern world, the natives through vernacular literary
in today's world, the distinction between forms.
"authentic" versus "commercial" is blurred. ● One such popular form was the
○ In pop culture today, users are free representation of Jesus Christ’s suffering
to embrace some manufactured and resurrection through plays or drama.
content, alter it for their own use, or ● This form served as a vessel for the spread
reject it entirely and create their of Christianity while the songs and
own. comedy were vessels for the Spanish
POPULAR CULTURE AND MASS CULTURE monarchy.
● Cultural products that are both Popular culture
mass-produced and for mass ● was introduced to the Philippines to
audiences. win the Filipino populace to the
● Ex: mass-media entertainments ideology of the Spanish regime.
films,television, programs, popular books, ● It was created to promote the Church
newspapers, magazines,popular music, and the State’s interest.
leisure goods, household items, ● When the Americans came to colonize
clothing, andmechanically-reproduced the Philippines, the appropriately-called
art. popular culture was introduced to the
Mass culture Philippines.
● Culture that is mass- produced, ● The printing press, radio, television, and
distributed, & marketed. film paved the way for the speedy
● Ex:Music produced on an industrial scale circulation of popular culture forms.
and made available through a plethora ● Hollywood films reigned over the
of apps and sites such as Apple Philippine market.
Music,Spotify & soundcloud are ● popular culture is not caused by the
indicative of mass culture populace but instead, it is caused either
● but the specific artists and songs that by the ruling elite or members of a chose
rise to the top are indicative of the few who are under the employ of those
popular culture elite for the consumption of the populace.
popular literature
Philippine Popular Culture ● by Bienvenido Lumbera,
● Popular culture can be traced back to ● considered a commodity and it is
the Spanish period of the Philippines. intended for a mass market.
● It was employed and brought by the ● As a commodity, it was seen as a threat
Spanish to the native Filipinos through to “serious artistic work” because the
literature and plays to capture their writers favored the desires of publishers
hearts and editors who were more concerned
● It began as a replacement of the native with sales rather than aesthetics.
culture with a Christian and European
tradition through the children of the
native elites.
PH POP CULTURE
Lecture 1 - 2/ Pre Mid First Semester
Popular culture is in question because of the major areas of Philippine popular culture.
following reasons. Komiks
1. The Philippines is a third world country. “Kenkoy”
2. The Philippines has many indigenous ● was the first Filipino comic strip.
ethnic groups that are still not urbanized. ● Its first appearance was in 1929.
3. The Philippines has a long history of ● Its main character was created by
two major cultural influences: Spanish Antonio Velasquez.
and American. ● It was only made with four frames and was
4. The Philippines is still predominantly used as a filler for a weekly popular
agricultural in its present socio-economic magazine Liwayway.
status. ● In 1931, Kenkoy was joined with other
5. The Philippines is still dependent on foreign characters and they are:
economies. Kulafu
Popular culture in the Philippines ● He roamed the mountains of Luzon similar
● is a culture generated by mass media with Tarzan who did Africa.
that consists of film, radio, television, and Huapelo - He is a Chinese store owner.
press. Saryong Albularyo
● introduced in the twentieth century but ● barrio doctor with a last name that
are still exclusively urban. actually meant “quack”.
● The earliest form of popular culture Goyo and Kikay
research in the Philippines is mass ● local counterparts of Jiggs and Maggie.
communication research. ● Jiggs and Maggie are the main characters
mass communication research in an American comic strip named
● It is concerned with content analyses and Bringing Up Father.
effects on the audience. Dyesebel
● In the mid 70s, literature scholars began ● She is a mermaid created by Mars Ravelo,
examining film, television, radio, and ● the same legendary cartoonist who
comics as modes of fiction and drama. created Darna.
● Their main concern was the cultural values Darna
and the way the transmission of these ● She is a Filipino super heroine created by
values are being done. the legendary cartoonist Mars Ravelo.
● This concern was brought up by the Valentina
so-called “serious” literature, ● She is the arch enemy of Darna, also
“serious” literature created by Mars Ravelo
● which are the novel, the short story, the Petra - He is a horse-bodied character.
poem, and the play Karina
● because these were not reaching the ● A magical agent of good with a flying
majority, not even the urban masses, and kariton (pushcart).
definitely not the rural masses. Phantomanok
● character who is a combination of a
phantom and a rooster.
PH POP CULTURE
Lecture 1 - 2/ Pre Mid First Semester
komiks ● There were a total of 214 movie houses in
● During the Martial Law, it have been used the Philippines in 1924.
by government agencies to deliver ● In 1939, the Philippine movie industry
message of development like the Green became fifth in world rank when it came
Revolution, family planning, and housing to the number of talkies produced.
programs. The Philippine movie industry
● The content reflects dreams, hopes, ● moved from the big-studio syndrome to
values, vision of life, escape from reality, the present proliferation of small
and problems and solutions. independent producers with challenges
● created by artists who favor the public ● such as high taxes, high production costs,
voice and dreams. raw material scarcity, no aid from the
● has an extensive reach and graspwhich government, little or no professional
makes them entirely “of the people.” training for actors and technical staff, and
● are reading materials that are cheap and ● the greatest challenge was the
accessible for Filipinos and are a substitute competition from foreign movies.
for serious literature. Bakya
● It has such an extensive reach and grasp ● is a derogatory term used by Filipino
because they are being swapped directors in the late fifties to characterize
between neighbors and workers and their such films.
relatives. That is a form of circulation in ● wooden shoe worn by the lower classes in
itself and it is not expensive. the Philippines that symbolizes low taste
● has different roles suitable as a or low quality.
phenomenon of popular culture. ● Much debate has happened about who
● a “purveyor of entertainment and moral really are bakya, whether the directors
lessons, disseminator of values and and producers or the audience.
attitudes, and a source of practical ● The directors and producers are the “taste
knowledge on farming, government makers” while the general audience can
policies, medicine, and science.” accept commendable films when
Film presented in a language familiar to them.
Cinematrografo ● Literature about Filipino films is limited.
● are short-featured films that were first ● Some of it is mainly film reviews, feature
shown in the Philippines. articles, commentaries in magazines or
1909 newspapers.
● The first feature films that were produced ● Academic studies are engrossed with film
locally were in, featuring the life of Jose history like the works of Nicanor Tiongson
Rizal. and Bienvenido Lumbera.
Jose Nepomuceno’s “Dalagang Bukid” ● an American named Henry Hermann.
● was the first full-length feature film shown These stations were for demonstrations
in 1919. primarily and provided music for two
“Ang Aswang” years.
● was the first talking picture made in 1932 ● In the 30s, radio stations were owned by
by Musser. department stores for advertisement of
their commodities.
PH POP CULTURE
Lecture 1 - 2/ Pre Mid First Semester
1932, ● The transistor radio became a revolution in
● radio advertising was began by 1959 and President Carlos P. Garcia asked
companies other than the radio station CARE for the donations of such radios to
owners. the barrios to fight subversive elements.
Second World War (Japanese occupation) ● The transistor radio brought news of the
● all radio stations were closed except for government and of the city as well as pop
KZRH, which was then renamed to PIAM. music, thus bringing popular culture into
● Short-wave reception was prohibited but the rural domain.
many have risked their lives to listen to the popular music and the radio soap opera.
broadcasts of “The Voice of Juan de la ● Two central forms of popular culture
Cruz” and the “Voice of Freedom” from communicated by radio are __ and __
Corregidor and the Voice of America Popular Magazine.
● Underground newspapers relied greatly on The Philippine Magazine
such hidden radio sets for information ● was the first magazine circulated in the
about the war. Philippines in 1905.
At the end of the Second World War, ● However, it was not popular yet because
● came the birth of Philippine radio. it was in English, since the teaching of
● There were 30 operating radio stations five English has just begun in 1901, so it has not
years after the war. reached the majority just yet.
The Bolinao Electronics Corporation Philippines Free Press
● was formed in 1961. ● On the other hand, perhaps it was teh ___
● largest broadcasting chain in the which should be named the first
Philippines magazine.
● which then became the Alto ● Although it was in English, it was printed on
Broadcasting System, then the Chronicle cheap newsprint and it was read by the
Broadcasting Network, which then English-speaking Philippine public by the
● became the Kanlaon Broadcasting System time its publication ceased in 1972.
after the Martial Law. Liwayway
After the Second World War ● A real popular magazine would have
● programming in radio was mostly been printed in the vernacular and the
American. one “true” popular magazine was ___
● However, DRZH launched the first local ● Its publication began in 1923.
shows. In those early times, a recipe for ● It had sister publications in different
Philippine radio was developed based on vernaculars, namely Bisaya for Cebuano
satires, comedies, and variety shows. Visayan, Hiligaynon for Ilonggo,
● It consisted as well of soap operas, Bannawag for Ilocano, and Bicolnon for
popular music program, public service, Bicolano.
“advice-to-thelovelorn” programs, and Popular Music.
news. ● At the beginning of the 70s, Philippine
● Radio sets have become a common pop music was certainly American.
household item especially in the urban ● However, Philippine popular music was
centers. also present in the form of kundimans, love
songs, zarzuelas, street songs, and
PH POP CULTURE
Lecture 1 - 2/ Pre Mid First Semester
children’s nonsense songs but these were
not sung on stages or even played in the
airwaves.
● Philippine pop culture was basically
American, from pop, to rock, and even
Broadway, to variety shows in television.
Literature of Popular Culture.
Popular culture literature consists primarily of the
following:
● Reportage and feature stories in daily
newspapers and weekly magazines;
● Reviews of films, TV shows, pop concerts or
performances, radio programs;
● Studies done by mass communication
undergraduates, thesis writers, and
scholars;
● Studies done by literature students and
scholars;
● Studies done by scholars who are
interested in popular culture as a field of
research.
Mass Culture –
● The concept of mass culture defines all the
power, behaviors, mythos, and
phenomena which are difficult to resist
and which are produced by industrial
techniques and spread to a very large
masses.
Folk Culture-
● refers to the products and practices of
relatively homogeneous and isolated
small-scale social groups living in rural
locations.
● Thus, folk culture is often associated with
tradition, historical continuity, sense of
place, and belonging.
Indigenous Culture-
● refers to the unique characteristics of a
society of indigenous people.
● These cultures have been developed and
cultivated for generations and have deep
historical roots.