Oh October, you are my happy month of the fall harvest, full of reds and oranges, pumpkins and the crisp crunch of apples. How did you get here so quickly?
No, really? Last I checked it was September. You're early. October is the time that I turn to my recipes of pumpkin/squash soup and I try to add parsnips to just about everything. Sadly, that cannot be at the moment. I'm so tangled up in papers and readings that I don't have time to cook just yet. I've been relying on mushroom soup and omlettes for the most part these days. That and oatmeal. Pumpkin soup/pumpkin pie will just have to wait.
I have been thinking, though. Much as I want to post about my baking/cooking exploits I have nothing to say so far, so I will instead wax philosophically about my studies and my opinions (isn't that what the great void of the blog-o-sphere is for?). On my mind at the moment is a swirl of thoughts about mass/commercial/popular culture. That which is made up of rom-coms, top 40s charts and marketing.
I have been doing many readings about mass culture, if only to be able to understand how folklore is different from mas culture - and what I have learned is this: academics can be dicks. Don't believe me? Look up the various essays on popular/mass culture from the past hundred years. They mostly seem to have this one thing in common, which is that the writer assumes that those who indulge in mass culture are slipping into hell fire. Perhaps not literally (although a few really do), but the sentiment is there. There's this notion that enjoying one blockbuster movie too many will lead to brain-numbing-escapist-societal-suicide!
And I'm sorry, but after reading pages and pages of all this moaning I have ask: wtf?
I genuinely cannot see the link between mass-societal-passivity and 'the romance novel'. Is that we're allegedly so wrapped up in enjoying the creations of others (specifically designed to suit the majority of pallets) that we'll somehow cease any personal efforts of creativity? Are 'bad pop songs' going to brainwash us into following a totalitarian regime? There seems to be this never-ending association between mass/commercial culture and stupidity.
Well thank you wise armchair academics for you lofty opinions, but I highly doubt that my indulgence in the occasional Britney Spears song will transform me into some sort.... I'm sorry but WHAT is that you theorist think is coming? You've all speculated that an un-named evil will arise from this passivity and these indulgences, but you don't go beyond that basic fear.
In my humble opinion, you theorist, you scoffers at mass culture are passing the same judgment as the xenophobic. "Oh no, it is new and different. I don't immediately connect or relate to it, therefore it must be EVIL."
Congratulations. You'll forgive me if I don't applaud.
oh, this is awesome!
ReplyDeletealthough, I spent an entire semester doing a history course that was ENTIRELY focused on popular, mass culture. So, it was a semester of my nice lecturer going 'academics privilege high culture, but mass culture has just as much merit and we should study that as well'
Agreed! I def. know this sentiment of high vs. low culture vs. mass culture vs. popular culture. Fine Arts Cultural Studies delves into it brilliantly. I have tons of Textbooks from my york days if you want to look at them. One is is even in comic book form with a Worhol style Mona Lisa on the cover and you get to be introduce of all the "Grammar School Boys" of England of the 1960s who turn Humanities, Anthro, Art Hist and a few others on their ears. Pretty Brilliant and super super Left.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having fun though, and if it isn't I don't believe you. Reading something for uni and not agreeing fully is always a plus and a sure sign that your brain is working.
Too bad about the soup. I am looking forward to more baking blogging. I made cupcakes on Sunday. Sadly with writers in the house the pastries never last long, ... same with the wine. Oh, we finally opened our Rossingnol (sp?) Maple wine, there is some left for you K. I see to be the only one who likes it. Delicious and maybe Diabetes inducing but whole heartily makes me glad to be Canadian.
I think I miss you as I've been typing a reply to your blog akin to being on the phone. See you soon!!!
ARC