The Significance of The Circuit of Culture in Understanding Popular Culture
Popular culture plays a significant role in shaping society in terms of values, beliefs, and behaviors. It encompasses different facets of human expression such as music, fashion, art, and entertainment. However, understanding how and why something becomes popular is not an easy task. One of the most effective ways of studying popular culture is through the Circuit of Culture theory. This article explores the significance of the Circuit of Culture in understanding popular culture.
What is Circuit of Culture?
The Circuit of Culture model is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding cultural production, reception, and consumption. It comprises five interrelated elements: representation, identity, production, consumption, and regulation. The framework argues that all cultural phenomena go through these five elements, leading to their creation, circulation, and interpretation.
Representation refers to the way in which cultural products, such as films and advertisements, create meaning. Identity refers to the ways in which individuals and groups identify with cultural products. Production and consumption are self-explanatory, referring to how cultural products are produced and consumed. Regulation refers to the way in which cultural products are subject to social, political, and cultural constraints.
The Significance of Circuit of Culture in Understanding Popular Culture
Using the Circuit of Culture model, we can better understand how a cultural product becomes popular. For example, let’s consider the viral TikTok dance challenge to Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage”. The song’s popularity instantly became a global phenomenon on social media, TikTok, and Instagram. What made the dance trend so popular?
Using the Circuit of Culture model, we can analyze each element and how it contributed to the trend’s success. Representation: Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” had a catchy beat and memorable lyrics, making it an ideal song for dance challenges. Identity: The dance trend was fueled by influencers who posted videos of themselves participating in the challenge, making it a trend amongst millions of fans. Production: The accessibility of TikTok, a platform that lets anyone participate in the challenge, facilitated the trend’s reach and adoption. Consumption: The virality of the trend prompted more people to participate, and more content to be created, fueling a feedback loop. Regulation: The social acceptance of dance trends on TikTok allowed the trend to flourish without any external regulation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding and analyzing popular culture through the Circuit of Culture model offers a comprehensive framework that can be used to analyze cultural trends, products, or artifacts. By looking at the ways representation, identity, production, consumption, and regulation interact with one another, we can gain insights into how cultural products are produced and consumed, and people’s relationships with them. By actively studying the Circuit of Culture, we can unlock the secrets to what makes a song, film, or product “popular” and better understand its impact on society.
