1. Mass Media & Popular Culture
Understanding how media messages have an impact on your behaviour

2. What is Mass Media?
Methods of communication that can transmit messages to a large number of people
“One-way” forms of communication, unlike telecommunication devices
Examples…

3. What is Popular Culture?
It is culture that is produced and shared through the mass media to large numbers of people over wide areas
Examples:

4. Elements of Popular Culture
Mass production, distribution, and consumption of ideas and/or products
Large populations that can afford to be a part of the popular culture
Quick and frequent changes
Other kinds of culture:
Folk Culture
Elite Culture

5. Issues Related to Mass Media
Media Advertising
Ownership Concentration
Social Change
Does Television Promote Violence
In small groups, select one of the above issues relating to the mass media. Using your textbook as a guide (pp. 357 – 363), discuss the issue with your group and present your findings to the rest of the class.

6. Mass Media and Culture CULTURAL FAMILIARITY
Through media, Canadians can share ideas and images from all parts of the country, which allows for cultural familiarity
PRO – cultural familiarity helps to create a common culture
CON – if one culture is more dominant, cultural familiarity can threaten local cultures through different regions of the country

7. Mass Media and Culture CULTURAL DIFFUSION
Mass media helps in cultural diffusion (the spreading of cultural ideas and behaviours from an original source to other places)

8. Mass Media and Culture THE GLOBAL VILLAGE
A current trend is the spread of the global village (an international community where people are tied together by mass media, popular culture, and telecommunications)
ADVANTAGES: enable us to know more about the lives of people in places we might not otherwise know about
DISADVANTAGES: enables industrial countries to export their culture, which swamps local cultures

9. In what ways do media messages have an impact on your behaviour?
Answer the above questions in a ½ - ¾ page personal reflection.