Identify issues and debates around how popular culture is constructed, marketed and consumed in Asia. Describe and apply a range of theoretical and historical perspectives on Asian popular culture. Discuss the local and global aspects of culture with reference to Asian social, economic and political contexts. Illustrate and analyze the relationship of popular culture to the practice of the everyday and ordinary within Asia.
In this section, we will revisit the assignment's expectations and the steps necessary to complete the assignment effectively.
1. Assessed criteria:
● Identify issues and debates around how popular culture is constructed, marketed and consumed in Asia.
● Describe and apply a range of theoretical and historical perspectives on Asian popular culture.
● Discuss the local and global aspects of culture with reference to Asian social, economic and political contexts.
● Illustrate and analyze the relationship of popular culture to the practice of the everyday and ordinary within Asia.
2. Assignment details:
● Requirement: interactive screen based reflective presentation contextualizing a popular culture topic using the theme: "Intersecting High, Mass, and Folk Cultures." Each group's topic will be selected by the students, taken from their group's individual submissions for Assessment 1 & 2
● Format: 12-minute reflection presentation + pitch deck
● Objectives:
- Conduct a reflection oriented analysis focusing on one's professional journey and the topic selected.
- Apply appropriate academic theories to deepen the reflection.
- Provide a range of examples and/or information to support the reflection.
- Suggest two points for further research/consideration.
● Suggested tools: for your interactive activity, have a look at this list for tools to design one. Slido will be chosen for this instruction as an example.
● Assignment structure (suggested): The DIEP model for reflection will be used as a framework, with modifications to be made toward turning it into a presentation
- Opening slide
- Team profile (members, names, roles, responsibilities)
- Agenda/Table of content
- Interactive activity
- Description of the popular culture topic: 3-5 slides
- Interpretation of the popular culture topic: 3-5 slides
- Evaluation: 4-5 slides
- Planning: 2-3 slides
- Recommendation: 2-3 slides
- Ending slide
For the DIEP model, please visit this link (Reflective writing by RMIT Learning Lab for a closer focus).
In this segment, we will take another look at the terminology associated with assignment that is discussed within the context of the course.
|
Term |
Definition |
|
Popular culture |
According to Storey (2012), popular culture manifests itself as daily and accepted social activities, ideas and structures. In contrast with high and elitist culture, these instances enjoy the common society’s embrace. |
|
Mass culture |
Mass culture is often characterized by everyday-ness, rituals, ease of accessibility and ease of reproducibility. |
|
High culture |
High culture is often characterized by being enjoyed by an elite minority and possessing a privileged place (considered traditional). |
|
Folk culture |
Folk culture is the collective set of traditional beliefs and customs shared within a community or among people with the same cultural background, often by oral means (passed down through storytelling). |
|
Cultural homogenization |
Often considered as a result of globalization, this notion concerns the phenomenon of multiple cultures merging together and sharing similar aspects, from moral values to traditional practices. In this concept, the commercial benefits usually prove lucrative for nations to engage in “similarizing” their values with those of others. This breeds a new wave of ideologies, perspectives and desires, even to the point of citizens being considered as customers. |
|
Cultural hybridity |
As the name suggests, this idea revolves around different cultures fusing their lifestyle elements together to create new expressions and norms. From physical (food, fashion, etc.) to intellectual (religions, literature, etc.) forms, hybridization can occur throughout the societal construct. The constantly improving networks of communication act as a key player in driving this notion forward. |
|
Consumerism |
Goods, services and possessions act as consumerism’s core subjects, because this ideology is a cultural way of thinking that emphasizes their accession and usage of these items. This heightened importance on possession and consumption of materialistic means is thought to bring about fulfillment, identity and high social status. |
|
Soft power |
Usually used in the context of international relations, a country that “possesses” soft power can affect the behavior of other entities without being forceful while doing so (hence the word “soft”). It is through means like cultural attractiveness, media influence, or economic dominance that soft power is practiced. |
|
Cultural imperialism |
Discussing cultural imperialism is discussing the assertion of a culture over another. This unequal power dynamic stems from certain trends, beliefs and traditions that push those of the influenced culture out of favor among its people. |
|
Hegemony |
Gramsci’s (2019) notion of hegemony features an influential societal class that steers a society forward based on rationality and virtue. However, hegemony is not imposed by the dominant, but rather negotiated and merged with the subordinate classes’ consent. Within this concept, there are also processes of naturalization and categorization of classes, genders and ages. |
|
Gender performativity |
Rather than an innate and predetermined idea, gender identity manifests via repetitive behavior and actions. Using terms like “man” or “woman” implies social expectations that one is accustomed to. |
In this step, we will discuss in detail each component and its requirements within the assignment.
1. CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC:
You are asked to choose a topic among your team members’ topics for assignment 2. While you can obviously select any one suitable to your taste and research capability, it is recommended that you go for a subject that happens in Vietnam or relates to Vietnam as you are already accustomed to the sociocultural landscape here. Keep in mind that it has to also connect with the overall theme of “Intersecting High, Mass, and Folk Cultures”. This idea refers to the discussion of how these elements blend in and mesh together.
As the assignment allows previous works to be adapted, you need to revise the chosen work as a team. This entails going through the comments of the lecturer regarding that work, locating strengths and weaknesses in it and developing it into a completed, thorough version.
For this assignment, the “Dreamy Voyage - Symphony of Heritage” symphony which took place in the evening of the 22nd of December, 2023 and more broadly, the attempts to bring symphonic music to the masses will be the topic.
Charge your account to get a detailed instruction for the assignment