👩‍👩‍👦intro to sociology review

Popular culture

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Popular culture encompasses the set of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, images, and other phenomena that are within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture from the late 20th century to the present. It is heavily influenced by mass media and tends to appeal to a wide audience across different demographics.

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