1. Why Is Access to Folk and Popular Culture Unequal? Electronic Diffusion of Popular Culture – Principal obstacle to accessing popular culture is lack of access to electronic media. Most important electronic media format to popular culture is TV for two reasons. 1.Watching TV is most popular leisure activity in the world. 2.TV is most important mechanism for rapidly diffusing popular culture around the world.

2. HOW AMERICANS SPEND THEIR WEEKENDS

3. Electronic Diffusion of Popular Culture – Diffusion of TV: Mid-Twentieth Century TV technology originated simultaneously in multiple hearths in the early twentieth century— e.g., UK, France, Germany, Japan, Soviet Union, and the United States. Over the course of the twentieth century, the United States went from dominating the world share of TVs to being nearly equal in rates of ownership with most developing countries. Why Is Access to Folk and Popular Culture Unequal?

4. Government Control of Television In the United States most television stations are owned by private corporations. Some stations, however, are owned by local governments or other nonprofit organizations and are devoted to educational or noncommercial programs. In most countries the government(s) control TV stations to minimize the likelihood that programs hostile to current policies will be broadcast—in other words, they are censored. – Operating costs are typically paid by the national government from tax revenues, although some government-controlled stations do sell air time to private advertisers. – A number of Western European countries have transferred some government- controlled television stations to private companies.

5. Reduced Government Control In the past, many governments viewed television as an important tool for fostering cultural integration. In recent years, changing technology—especially the diffusion of small satellite dishes—has made television a force for political change rather than stability. Governments have had little success in shutting down satellite technology. The diffusion of small satellite dishes hastened the collapse of Communist governments in Eastern Europe during the late 1980s. Portable video recorders and cellular telephones have also countered government censorship.

6. Electronic Diffusion of Popular Culture – Diffusion of the Internet: Late Twentieth Century Diffusion follows pattern established by TV but at a more rapid rate. In 1995, Internet users in the United States accounted for more than half of the global users. By 2011, 77 percent of the U.S. population accessed the Internet. – Accounted for 10 percent of the global users. » Global share decreased by roughly 40 percent in less than 10 years. Why Is Access to Folk and Popular Culture Unequal?

7. Electronic Diffusion of Popular Culture – Diffusion of Social Media: Twenty-First Century Same diffusion pattern as TV and Internet – Facebook » In 2008, Facebook users in United States consisted of 1/3 of all global users. » By 2011, global share decreased to 1/5. – Twitter » United States was source of 1/3 of all tweets in 2010. » Second leader of tweets is India. Why Is Access to Folk and Popular Culture Unequal?

8. With globalization, popular culture is becoming more dominant, threatening the survival of unique folk cultures. The disappearance of local folk customs reduces local diversity in the world and the intellectual stimulation that arises from differences in background. When people turn from folk to popular culture, they may also turn away from the society’s traditional values. Why Is Access to Folk and Popular Culture Unequal?

9. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media – External Threat: Developed Countries Control the Media TV industry dominated by Japan, UK, and United States. Leaders of developing countries could view dominance as impressing American values upon viewers. – Losing cultural tradition in clothing. – Upward social mobility – Freedom for women » The global diffusion of popular culture threatens the subservience of women to men that is embedded in many folk customs. » The concepts of legal equality and availability of economic and social opportunities outside the home have become widely accepted in more developed countries, even where women in reality continue to suffer from discriminatory practices. – Glorification of youth – Stylized violence

10. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media – External Threat: Developed Countries Control the Media News – News media in developing countries dominated by the government, whereas media in the United States is largely private commercial stations. – Lesser-Developed Countries consider pop customs of More-Developed Countries a threat – Associated Press (AP) and Reuters domination of news » Criticized for non-accurate and unbalanced news reports Why Is Access to Folk and Popular Culture Unequal?

11. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media – Internal Threat: Social Media Limiting Access to TV – Satellite dishes enable people to access information that would otherwise be censored by their governments. Some governments attempt to limit Internet content including: 1.Political Content » Opposition to local government 2.Social Content » Socially sensitive material, such as gambling or sex 3.Conflict and Security » Armed conflict, border disputes, or militant groups 4.Internet Tools » Email, Internet hosting, and Internet searches

12. CULTURAL TRIBALISM

13. Rolling Stones

14. Marilyn Manson

15. The Casualties

16. 50 Cent

17. Dolly Parton

18. Jennifer Lopez

19. Merle Haggard

20. ZZ Top

21. Iron Maiden

22. Kiss