Key Characteristics of Popular Culture

1. Key Characteristics of Popular Culture Mrs B

2. Four distinguishing characteristics • Commercial Products • Local – National – Global • Access • Changing and Evolving

3. Commercial Products • Generation of money is critical to the ongoing success of any Popular Culture • Increasing the variety of products sold is also key • Paraphernalia is the odds and ends that are often sold in association with a Popular Culture – badges, chocolate bars or the ultimate – the Pez dispenser.

4. Local – national - global • The is the least rigid of the characteristics, especially in modern times, where the internet can catapult genre’s, films, toys into global acceptance almost instantaneously. • Generally though most artists/toys etc move through these phases.

5. Access • Consumers need to be able to interact with the popular culture – touch it, use it whenever they want. • The greater avenues of access the more likely the public is to adopt and connect with the Popular Culture

6. Changing and Evolving • To maintain interest and maintain $$$$ the popular culture must change and adapt over time. • This can be to reflect social shifts, to appeal to a wider audience, or to generate new publicity

7. Task For two examples of popular culture describe the key characteristics giving specific examples

8. ICONS activity • Using the icon that you have been given describe its key distinguishing characteristics