Introduction to Popular Culture

Language Focus: Vocabulary Building and Word Formation

Lecture 2
Learning Outcomes:
• Define and frame the concepts of “culture,’ “popular,”
and “popular culture”
• Identify the different branches of popular culture
• Discuss the relationship between Media and Pop
Culture
WHAT IS CULTURE?
• Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular
group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine,
social habits, music and arts.
• It encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it,
our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or
wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we
behave with loved ones, and a million other things.
• The word "culture" was derived from a French term, which in
turn derives from the Latin "colere," which means to tend to
the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture.
ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
Culture combines many elements to create a unique way of
living for different people.

• Symbols
• Language
• Values
• Norms
SYMBOLS
• A symbol is anything that is used to stand for something else. People
who share a culture often attach a specific meaning to an object,
gesture, sound, or image.
• For example, a cross is a significant symbol to Christians. It is not
simply two pieces of wood attached to each other, nor is it just an old
object of torture and execution.
• To Christians, it represents the basis of their entire religion, and they
have great reverence for the symbol.
• Another example is Mano or Pagmamano.
LANGUAGE
• It is a system of words and symbols used to communicate
with other people.
• This includes full languages as we usually think of them,
such as English, Tagalog, etc. But it also includes body
language, slang, and common phrases that are unique to
certain groups of people.
• Another example of how cultural languages differ beyond
vocabulary is the fact that eye contact represents different
meanings in different cultures.
Examples: Lip Pointing, Nodding and raising eyebrows with a smile, Silent looks.
VALUES
• It is the culture’s standard for discerning what is good and just in
society.
• Values are deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and teaching
a culture’s beliefs. It helps shape a society by suggesting what is good
and bad, beautiful and ugly, sought or avoided.
• Values often suggest how people should behave, but they don’t
accurately reflect how people do behave.
• Values portray an ideal culture; the standards society would like to
embrace and live up to.
NORMS
• Cultures differ widely in their norms, or standards and
expectations for behaving.
• Norms are often divided into two types, formal norms, and
informal norms.
• Formal norms, also called mores and laws, refer to the
standards of behavior considered the most important in any
society.
✔Mores are the most specific, clearly stated, and strictly enforced
norms that carry corresponding punishments for those that break
them or fail to follow it.
Examples: Rules in school, offices, society, etc.
• Informal norms, also called folkways and customs, refer to
standards of behavior that are considered less important but
still influence how we behave.

✔Folkways are patterns of repetitive behavior which becomes

habitual and conventional part of living, but these norms may
be easily broken and don’t have serious consequences.
Examples:
• Taking a bath/shower
• Praying after waking up
• Brushing teeth after meals, etc.
✔Taboos are very strong negative norms. These refer to
the prohibition of certain behavior that is so strict that
violating it results in extreme disgust and even expulsion
from the group or society.

Examples:
• Incest
• Cannibalism
• Pre-marital sex
• To be a homosexual/gay
• Eating pork among Muslims, etc.
LAYERS OF CULTURE
• The national level: associated with the nation as a whole
• The regional level: associated with ethnic, linguistic, or religious
differences that exist within a nation
• The gender level: associated with gender differences (female vs.
Male)
• The generation level: associated with the differences between
grandparents and parents, parents and children
• The social class level: associated with educational opportunities and
differences in occupation
• The corporate level: associated with the particular culture of an
organization. Applicable to those who are employed.
WHAT IS POPULAR CULTURE?
• It is also called mass culture and pop culture) is generally
recognized by members of a society as a set of the practices,
beliefs and objects that are dominant or ubiquitous in a
society at a given point in time.
• Heavily influenced in modern times by mass media, this
collection of ideas permeates the everyday lives of people in
a given society.
• Therefore, popular culture has a way of influencing an
individual’s attitudes towards certain topics.
ETHNOCENTRISM vs. CULTURAL RELATIVISM
Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more
prevalent than cultural universals.

It is the belief or attitude It is the idea that a person’s

that one’s own culture is beliefs, values and practices
better than all others, and should be understood based
should therefore serve as on the person’s own culture,
the standard frame for rather than be judged against
reference. the criteria of another.
Some called it “cultural ignorance”.
Question

What are the common

Filipino culture and values?
 • The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish
Catholic traditions, with influences from America and other parts of Asia. The
Filipinos are family oriented and often religious with an appreciation for art,
fashion, music and food.

Filipinos are very resilient.

• In times of calamities and
catastrophes, Filipinos always
manage to rise above the
challenge.
• Instead of wallowing, they manage
to pick themselves up and smile.
Filipinos take pride in their families.
• In the Philippines, it is family
first. So whether you are part of
the immediate family or you
belong to the fourth generation,
you are treated as a family
member. Sometimes, even the
closest of friends are considered
family, too.
Filipinos are very religious.
• In all corners of a Filipino
house, you can find brazen
images of crosses and other
religious paraphernalia.
They go to church every
Sunday, or sometimes even
twice or three times a
week.
Filipinos are very respectful.
• From the moment they are
born into this world, they are
already taught how to be
respectful by using these
simple catchphrases—po and
opo, words that end sentences
when addressing elders.
• They have a culture of
pagmamano, which is where
they raise the backs of the
hands of their elders to their
foreheads as a sign of respect.
 Filipinos help one another.
• More popularly known as
bayanihan, Filipinos help
one another—without
expecting anything in return
—so that undertaking their
tasks and responsibilities
become much easier.
Sometimes this is called
“community spirit.”
Filipinos value traditions and culture.
• For Filipinos, traditions in their home and in their family are
important. They usually set aside a specific day for a certain
celebration like festivals, birthday parties, reunions, etc. And
of course, every gathering is dedicated to keeping up with
each other over sumptuous food.
Filipinos love to eat.
• Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Filipinos manage to
squeeze in a little meal in between, too. Whether they eat
every hour or every three hours, they savour every bite.
Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebrations.

• Even as early as August, you

can hear Christmas songs and
jingles being played in the
malls or in the restaurants in the
Philippines.
• The mood becomes festive,
with many people shopping and
in good spirits. Christmas
celebrations last until around
the first or second week of
January.
Filipinos love to sing.
• This is the reason why
karaoke has become so
prevalent. As part of
their recreation,
Filipinos spend some
quality time with their
families or friends
singing or belting out
new and old songs.
Other Filipino Culture
• Filipino Concept of Shame
• Filipino Family Values

Etiquette & Customs

• Initial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting the
eldest or most important person first.
• Use academic, professional, or honorific titles and the person's
surname until you are invited to use their first name, or even more
frequently, their nickname.
If you are invited to a
Filipino's house:

• The best time to arrive is 15 to 30

minutes later if they are invited
on a large party.
• Dress well. Appearances matter
and you will be judged on how
you dress.
• Compliment the hostess on the
house.
MEDIA
• Refers to the groups that communicate information and news to
people. Most Americans get their information about government from
the news media because it would be impossible to gather all the news
themselves.
• Media outlets have responded to the increasing reliance of Americans
on television and the Internet by making the news even more readily
available to people.
• There are three main types of news media: print media, broadcast
media, and the Internet.
Relationship Between Media and Pop Culture
• Culture in the developed world is spread through mass media channels.
• Cultural products and their popularity can influence which media channels
people prefer.
• The media play a critical role in informing citizens, influencing attitudes and
even touting the latest trends.
• The media's role in our everyday lives is critical because often the information
they provide shapes public opinion and influences our choices — from what
music we choose to purchase to the candidates we elect.

• INFLUENCE OF
• Television
• Radio
• Music
• Online recreation [games]
What is the role of
media in culture?
• Mass media is communication—
whether written, broadcast, or
spoken—that reaches a large
audience.
• Mass media is a significant force
in modern culture, particularly in
America.
• Sociologists refer to this as a
mediated culture where media
reflects and creates the culture.
 Fashion
Influence of fashion on
• Prediction of Trends
• Revival of “old looks”
• Cosmetic surgery
Literature
Kinds of written media
• Comics
• Manga
• Books
• websites
Influences:
Japan America South Korea
• Comics • Music • Music
• Manga • Fashion • Fashion
• Fashion • Entertainm • Entertainmen
• Food ent t
• KPop
• KDrama
Additional References:
• Philippines - Culture, Etiquette and Business Practices
https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/phillippin
es-guide
Assessment:

What are the different cultures that you

are practicing at home, in school, and in
your community?
Language Focus:
Vocabulary Building and Word Formation
 WORD FORMATION
AND
VOCABULARY BUILDING
 • -tion/-sion = action (demonstration, expansion,
admission, exploration, authorization)
• -ment = action or its result (punishment, argument,
development, enlargement, unemployment)
• -al = action or its result (denial, refusal, trial, renewal,
proposal)
• -ance/-ence = action or result (dependence,
attendance, acceptance, interference)

Noun suffixes (1)

 • -ship = state or condition (friendship, citizenship,
leadership, authorship, membership)
• -cy = state or condition (bankruptcy, constancy,
decency, accuracy, normalcy)
• -ry/-ery = action, condition, occupation (slavery,
foolery, dentistry, cookery, chemistry)
• -ility/-ity/-ty = state or condition (ability, simplicity,
cruelty, readability, visibility, stability)

Noun suffixes (2)

 • -er = profession, purposeful device, origin of persons
(banker, bookseller, container, locker, Londoner)
• -ee = sb affected by sth/sb (employee, chatee,
interviewee, evacuee)
• -ant/-ent = sb who carries out (servant, inhabitant,
informant, solvent)
• -ing = result (building, clothing, painting)

Noun suffixes (3)

• -ify = to make, to cause (simplify, prettify, classify,
exemplify, justify)
• -ize/-ise = to make, to treat in the way of (civilize,
organize, Americanize, legalize, nationalize, popularize)
• -en = to make, to make become (shorten, blacken,
darken,
harden, weaken, widen, sadden, deafen, deepen)
• -ate = to add or provide with (urinate, ventilate,
dehydrate, duplicate, differentiate)

Verb suffixes
 • -able/-ible = sth that is/can be (drinkable, available,
breakable, portable, reliable, responsible, audible)
• -al = of the nature/origin of (natural, tidal, accidental,
musical, criminal, educational, editorial, continental)
• -en = materials (wooden, woolen, golden/gold)
• -ese/-an/-ian/-ish = origin (Japanese, Portuguese,
British,
Turkish, German, Russian)

Adjective suffixes (1)

 • -ful = full of, of the nature of (doubtful, powerful,
careful,
useful, helpful, spoonful, handful, tactful)
• -ic = of the nature of (comic, domestic, aristocratic,
dramatic, phonetic, systematic, energetic)
• -ical = of the nature of (economical, biological, comical,
historical)
• -ing = sth experienced like (amazing, amusing, shocking)

Adjective suffixes (2)

 • -less = devoid of (homeless, endless, careless, spotless,
thoughtless, jobless, nameless)
• -ly = periodic occurrence (daily, monthly, yearly,
quarterly)
• -like = behaving like (childlike, gentlemanlike, godlike)
• -ward = in the direction of (homeward, eastward, onward,
backward, forward)
• -y = of the nature of (funny, rusty, bony, nervy, catchy,
sticky, headachy, classy)

Adjective suffixes (3)

 • a- = not, lacking in, not affected by (amoral, atheist,
asymmetry, asexual, apolitical)
• dis- = not, absolute opposite (disloyal, distrust, disabled,
dislike, disagree, disadvantage)
• non- = lacking in (non-fiction, non-political, non-
neutral)

Negative prefixes (1)

 • un- = opposite (unhappy, unfair, unreal, unexpected,
unproductive)
before words of French origin:
in- (insane, injustice, intolerance, inconvenient) il- =
before l- (illegal, illogical)
im- = before p- (imperfect, impatient, improbable,
immature)
ir- = before r- (irregular, irresponsible, irreplaceable,
irrelevat)

Negative prefixes (2)

• Economic – deals with economy
• Economical – less wasteful
• Economically is the adverb form of both words

• Historical – took place in history, it is from the past

• Historic – has significance in the history (event,
person)
• Historically is the adverb form of both words

Beware the
 • Alternate = /ɔːlˈtɜː(r)nət/ adj. following by turns, one
after the other, a substitute or second, every other in a
series
• Alternately is the adverb form
• Alternate /ˈɔːltə(r)neɪt/ = verb related to the adjective = to
go back and forth

• Alternative = adj. /ɔːlˈtɜː(r)nətɪv/, noun /ɔːlˈtɜː(r)nətɪv/,

refers to be able to be used instead of sth, the other choice
• Alternatively is the adverb form

Beware the differences (2)

 • Bad = adjective, describes nouns or pronouns, often used
with verbs like look, feel, sound, or to be.
• Incorrect: She felt badly about missing the date.
• Correct: She felt bad about missing the date.

• Badly = adverb, describes verbs and should be used

with all verbs other than linking verbs. It usually
answers the question "How?"
• Incorrect: Mudville played bad last night.
• Correct: Mudville played badly last night.

Beware the differences (3)

 • Continual = repeated again and again
• Continuous = uninterrupted

• I was continually interrupted by the telephone.

• It rained continuously for forty-eight hours.

Beware the differences (4)

 • Different from X Different than?

• Different from is standard English – proper use

• Different than is nonstandard – improper use

Beware the differences (5)

 • Special = adj. = particular, designed for a particular purpose
• Specially = adv. = particularly, for a particular purpose

• Especial = adj. = exceptional, noteworthy, particular

• Especially = adv. = exceptionally, in a noteworthy
manner,
or particularly
• In the sense of particular or particularly - synonyms
• Stressing the exceptional quality = especial/especially
• Stressing the distinctive purpose of something =
special/specially
• This program has specially designed macros for word
processors. X He did especially well in All-Star Game.

Beware the differences (6)

• Farther = length or distance = comparative form of
far
• when referring
Further to distance
= to a greater degree, additional, additionally. It
refers to time or amount = comparative form of far
when meaning much
• London is farther north than Juneau. (distance)
• This plan requires further study. (additional study, refers to
amount)
• According to my timetable, we should be further along.
(time)

Beware the differences

• Good = adj. = describes nouns or pronouns, used also
with verbs like look, feel, sound, taste, or be to describe
the subject
• Incorrect: The coffee tasted well this morning.
• Correct: The coffee tasted good this morning.
• Correct: The pitcher is looking good today.
• Well = adv. = describes verbs (sometimes
adjectives), used with most other verbs
• Well as an adj. means healthy
• Correct: He pitches well.
• Incorrect: I do not feel very good.
• Correct: I do not feel very well. (healthy)

Beware the differences

 • Number or Amount?
• Use the word amount with quantities that cannot be
counted and number with quantities that could be
counted one-by-one.

• He had a small amount of ammunition left.

• He had a small number of bullets left.

Beware the differences (8)

 • Perspective = noun = point of view, especially the
ability
to seedimensional
three the whole ofobjects
something
using(intwo
artdimensional
- the ability to
draw
ones)
• The prefix per- means completely

• Prospective = adj. = future or potential

• The prefix pro- means forward
• Prospect = noun form

• The Latin root of both words, -spect-, means to see. So

perspective literally means seeing completely and
prospective means seeing ahead.

Beware the differences (9)

• Quote = verb = to repeat the words of a writer or speaker
• Quotation = noun = words quoted, the act of quoting
• Quotation marks = punctuation marks used to highlight
a
written quotation

• Correct: He quoted Shakespeare frequently.

• Incorrect: We listened to a long quote from the government
report.
• Correct: We listened to a long quotation from the
government report.
• Incorrect: You need to put this part in quotes.
• Correct: You need to put this part in quotation marks.

Beware the differences

 • Raise = to make higher, to build, to nurture and cause
to grow. It is normally transitive, that is, the action is
done to something or someone else. It is a regular verb.
• Rise = to get up, become elevated. It is never
transitive. The past tense is rose; the past participle,
risen.

• They raised the barn in two days.

• He was raised by his grandparents.
• The sun rises and sets every day.

Beware the differences (11)

 • Real = adjective, modifies only nouns or pronouns
• Really = adverb, modifies verbs, adjectives, or other
adverbs

• Correct: He stayed at hotels with real class. (Class is a

noun. The adjective modifies it.)
• Incorrect: He stayed at a real classy hotel.
(Classy is an adjective. It should be modified by an adverb.)
• Correct: He stayed at a really classy hotel.
(The adjective classy is modified by the adverb.)

Beware the differences (12)

 • Sure = adjective, modifies nouns or pronouns
• Surely = adverb, modifies verbs, adjectives, or adverbs

• Correct: It is a sure thing.

(Thing is a noun. An adjective modifies it.)
• Incorrect: It is sure hot outside.
(Hot is an adjective. It should be modified by an
adverb.)
• Correct: It is surely hot outside.
(Hot is an adjective. An adverb modifies it.)

Beware the differences (13)

 • Borrow = from someone
• Lend = to someone
• Can I borrow your bike, please?
• I can lend you my bike if you want.

• Bring = to carry to a nearer place from a more distant

one
• Take = to carry to a more distant place from a nearer one
• Bring that file over here.
• Take this package to the post office.

Beware the differences (14)

 • Learn = to educate oneself
• Teach = to educate others
• I am a student and I am learning about adjectives.
• She is teaching us how to use adjectives.

• Try And or Try To?

• Try and followed by a verb is nonstandard = improper
use
• Always use try to
• Incorrect: Try and do it again.
• Correct: Try to do it again.

Beware the differences (15)

References:
• https://www.scribd.com/document/375481801/Word-Formation
• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/word
-formation_2
• https://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-politics/american-
government/the-media/section1/