Is popular culture on the decline?

[terrya]

I have this pet theory (maybe it's bullshit, I don't know) that you can judge what a civilization is like by its popular culture. And I'm a bit concerned, shall we say. Popular culture, nowadays, is pretty much Disney. The corporatization of culture.

And that can't be good news for us, to put it mildly.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. yeah, i disagree with the theory

The lowest common denominator shouldn't be used to judge a society. There are always going to be people you can't do a damn thing about.

[skooooo]

2. ....except when the lowest common denominator..

...is also the most prevalent denominator, which in this case, it certainly is.

[Solly Mack]

3. Popular culture (music, movies,clothes, books) does reflect the times

Lots of studies out there on this...and courses taught. It's a guage..

[noonwitch]

4. I think we're in the period preceding a cultural renaissance

I see hints of what's coming. More people are recording music that combine styles, electronic music is fusing with other styles (Prince's new cd is an awesome example)and world music is increasing in popularity.
Plus, we have some singers with appeal to all ages singing classics and new songs-like Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, among others. We have Loretta Lynn making a cd with a heavy metal star.
Independent movies are really starting to get noticed and nominated for awards.
There are some architechturally cool new buildings around-the Campus Martius (Compuware world headquarters) building and the newer Veteren's Hospital in Detroit are two good examples.
Ford Motor is starting to make hybrid cars, which has broken down the decades old barriers and will hopefully lead to new technology and research into alternative and renewable fuel sources. Not only will it improve mankind's future, it could mean more profits for the first american company to mass produce an affordable and dependable car that uses a fuel source other than oil.

Yes, we have a seamy underside to our culture. Every free society does.

[johnnie]

5. Same as it ever was

Some advancements, some backpedaling, but not much different. Maybe having mass media and things like the Internet has made pop culture much more accessible, but the basics are still there. For an example...music. The backbone of most of the music is still someone beating something with a stick.