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module 1 and 2

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Jan M.
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Module 1: Pop Culture and the History of Philippine Pop Culture

What is Pop Culture?

● Pop/Popular Culture: Refers to the set of practices, beliefs, and objects that
embody the most widely shared meanings in a society (Bautista, 2020).
● Mainstream Society: Cultural experiences and attitudes that are common and
widespread (Rodriguez, 2018).
● Reflects the mass population's interests and preferences.
● Generational Influence: People tend to have similar likings based on their
generation, which becomes part of pop culture.
● Well-liked Culture: Defined as culture that is widely favored by many people
(Garcia, 2021).
● Contrast with High Culture: Popular culture is sometimes seen as inferior to
"high culture" and is a marker of social class.
● Popular Interests: Anything people are talking about or interested in (Gatcho,
2018), including movies, music, TV shows, clothing, books, toys, and tech.

Examples of Pop Culture Events:

● Concerts, sports events, film premieres, TV series releases, and festival


celebrations.

History of Philippine Pop Culture

Pre-Colonial Period (Cultural Foundations)

● Oral Traditions: Storytelling of epics, myths, and folktales featuring ancestral


heroes, mythical creatures, and deities.
● Music and Dance: Use of instruments like the kulintang (gong ensembles) and
dances like Tinikling (bamboo dance) in rituals and celebrations.
● Craftsmanship: Indigenous weaving, pottery, and body adornment reflected
ethnic artistic skills and cultural values.

Spanish Colonial Period (Introduction of Western Influences)

● Religious Influence: Christianity impacted local customs and festivals, such as


the Pabasa (chanting of Christ’s Passion) and town fiestas.
● Theater: Introduction of sarswela (musical plays) and moro-moro (dramatic
performances), reflecting Christian-Muslim conflicts and local tastes.
● Literature and Art: Spanish missionaries produced literature in local languages,
and colonial architecture emerged with distinct Spanish styles.

American Colonial Period (Emergence of Modern Media)

● Film Industry: Early 20th century saw the birth of the Philippine film industry,
heavily influenced by Hollywood.
● Radio and Print: The 1920s and 1930s introduced mass communication through
radio and newspapers.
● Music and Dance: Introduction of jazz and Western music blended with local
genres, creating new forms of popular music.

Post-War Era and Martial Law (Cultural Flourishing and Repression)

● Television Boom: TV programs became an integral part of daily life.


● Political Censorship: Martial Law brought media control but also gave rise to
underground cultural expressions.
● Cultural Renaissance: Despite repression, popular music and local theater
flourished.

Contemporary Era (Globalization and Digital Transformation)

● Media Diversification: The rise of digital media and social platforms like YouTube,
TikTok, and streaming services greatly influenced Philippine pop culture.
● Global Influences: International pop culture elements, such as K-pop, are
blending with local traditions, creating a hybrid cultural landscape.
● Cultural Icons: Contemporary Filipino culture is a mix of local and international
influences, with celebrities and social media playing central roles.

Conclusion: The Evolution of Philippine Pop Culture

Philippine pop culture is a continuous blend of indigenous traditions with external


influences, from Spanish and American colonial periods to modern globalization. It
remains a dynamic reflection of the country’s diverse heritage and changing social
trends, especially in the digital age.

Future Trends in Philippine Pop Culture:


● Digital & Social Media: Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube will
increasingly shape pop culture.
● K-pop & Global Influence: International pop culture collaborations with Filipino
artists may rise.
● Revival of Local Traditions: A resurgence of traditional arts and performances
is expected, blending with modern aesthetics.
● Film & TV Innovations: The evolution of storytelling in local cinema and
international recognition of Filipino films.
● Social Issues: Pop culture will increasingly reflect social issues like sustainability
and mental health.
● Interactive Experiences: Technology such as VR and AR may play a role in pop
culture experiences.

Module 2: Popular Culture in the Philippines

Historical Background of Popular Culture in the Philippines

● Bienvenido Lumbera (National Artist for Literature, Revaluation: Essays on


Philippine Literature, Theatre, and Popular Culture, 1984) highlighted how
Philippine popular culture developed distinctly from folk and nationalist culture.

Differences between Folk, Nationalist, and Popular Culture:

1. Folk Culture:
○ Reflects the way of living in a specific place and time.
○ Focuses on the practices of certain groups and how they adapt to nature.
2. Nationalist Culture:
○ Formed through resistance to colonization.
○ Collectively represents the people's experiences in a given place and time.
3. Popular Culture:
○ Emerged during the Hispanization of the Philippines.
○ Spaniards used literature and plays to win the hearts of native Filipinos
(Indios).
○ Often served the interests of the Church and State.
Spanish Colonial Influence on Popular Culture:

● Pasyón, Senakulo, Korido: Used to promote Christianity.


● Komedya and Awit: Promoted the monarchy.
● Popular culture was a simplified version of Spanish-European culture
introduced to pacify the general Filipino populace.
● Native Intelligentsia: A class of educated Filipinos (ladinos) helped translate
European literary forms into the vernacular, further spreading these colonial
ideas.

Use of Popular Culture as Propaganda:

● In the 19th century, the Propaganda Movement used popular culture to


challenge colonial power.
○ Marcelo H. del Pilar: Used parodies of Catholic prayers, like:
■ Ang Aba Ginoong Barya (a parody of Hail Mary)
■ Ang Amain Namin (a parody of Our Father), mocking the Spanish
friars' abuses.

American Colonial Influence on Philippine Popular Culture:

● American colonialism introduced liberal policies regarding media:


○ Increased circulation of popular culture via radio, television, film, and print.
○ Hollywood films dominated the Philippine market due to the absence of
European movies during WWI.
● Concerns arose about the commercialization of art, with mass-produced popular
literature being seen as a threat to serious artistic work.

Mass Media and Popular Culture:

● Popular culture was seen as a tool created by the ruling elite or intelligentsia for
the consumption of the populace, aimed at making a profit or reinforcing power.

Examples of Philippine Popular Culture Forms:


Komiks:

● Kenkoy: The first Filipino comic strip, created in 1929 by Antonio Velasquez for
Liwayway magazine.
● Other notable characters and series include Kulafu, Saryong Albularyo,
Dyesebel, Darna, Phantomanok, and more.

Radio:

● After WWII, Philippine radio developed comedies, variety shows, soap operas,
and popular music programs.
● Radio soap operas and popular music became the central forms of radio-based
popular culture.

Popular Magazines:

● Liwayway: A magazine printed in the vernacular, starting in 1923. Sister


publications like Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Bannawag, and Bicolnon were also created.
● Women's magazines: Provided "escape literature" for women from various
walks of life.

Popular Music:

● Kundimans, Zarzuelas, and children's songs were common, but not widely
commercialized.
● American pop culture, from pop to rock, dominated Philippine music, influencing
radio and television.
● The Pinoy trend emerged when Rolando Tinio translated American songs into
Pilipino for Celeste Legaspi.
● Metro Manila Pop Song Festival (Metropop) became a prominent songwriting
competition promoting Filipino music.

Popular Literature:

● Popular literature includes news features, film reviews, TV show reviews, and
academic studies on mass media.
● Popular culture has been examined by scholars to determine its effects on
Filipino identity and society.

Realizations and Reflections on Philippine Popular Culture:


● Mass media commercialization: Writers adapted their work to fit publishers'
demands, compromising artistic quality.
● Power of Popular Culture: Popular culture, though created by elites, can be
used as a political weapon when the masses realize its potency.

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