Postmodern Turn in Mass Culture Theory

Author: Jiang Hua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: This book is completed based on the author's doctoral dissertation. The research topic of popular culture studies was determined after pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Heilongjiang University in China. The selection of this research topic was encouraged and supported by the supervisor Yi Junqing. The primary motivation for studying popular culture stems from my own cultural experiences. In the context of globalization, popular culture has become a way of life and the main cultural form of contemporary society. Its relentless advancement has increasingly subtly influenced and shaped people's emotions, thoughts, and moral choices, providing models for lifestyles. Therefore, understanding and interpreting popular culture has become increasingly significant in both practical and theoretical terms. It is precisely because of this that I developed a strong desire to study it academically, despite the field now being rich with achievements. Nevertheless, I took the courage, effort, and perseverance to delve into it. People living in today's urban environments are constantly influenced by the subtle effects of popular culture. It shapes their emotions, thoughts, and ideas, provides models for lifestyles, and becomes an integral part of their daily lives. In the environment of popular culture, our clothing, body language, speech, consumption, leisure and entertainment, our reliance on media, and the way we arrange our lifestyles—all of these unconsciously adapt to the changing times. Thus, understanding and interpreting popular culture has become an important aspect of understanding and interpreting ourselves.