Types of Culture

Types of Culture

1. High culture

   • Cultural characteristics enjoyed by those with a higher status in socciety
   • Examples include opera, ballet, classical music and fine art
   • Assoiciated with wealth and so called higher 'intellect'
   • Leavis argued it is an exclusive group, not avaiable to 'outsiders'
     • Bourdieu suggested it gives people greater opportunities

2. Popular culture

   • Every aspect of culture which is not high culture
     • Activities enjoyed by the masses, 'mass culture'
   • Some use it as a negative thing. They argue it is mass produced, by the mass media, for an unthinking mass of people
     • Others argue it gives a voice to ordinary people and that it can bring everyone together
   • Some forms of high culture were once popular culture, some forms of popular culture were once high culture

3. Subculture

   • A smaller group within society.
     • A minority part of a majority culture.
     • A culture within a culture
   • Subcultures have their own distinct norms and values

4. Cultural diversity

   • The way society contains a variety of different cultures within
     • Linked to subcultures
   • Parekh points out some groups, who have distinctive ways of life, can still fit in with mainstream society
     • Multiculturalism is the belief that diversity is a good thing and to be celebrated