The definition of what constitutes ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture has been a point of contention for many years, not just among cultural theorists but among individuals. When one attempts to define these terms, they’re met with a range of difficulties; things like context and cultural hegemony need to be considered. With public and illegal art practices as reference points, the concepts of ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture and whether they’re culturally constructed will be explored.
Context plays a very large part in determining whether something is considered ‘high’ or ‘low’ culture. In a study based in the Papua New Guinean village of Gapun, it was discovered, through the villagers’ interpretation of a Rambo film, that no text has a one universal meaning (Kulick & Willson, 1994). This concept is relevant beyond juxtaposed cultures; it applies to texts within the same overarching cultural context. There are many variables that help form the cultural meaning of something, meaning that seemingly everyone in certain contexts seem to …show more content…
Illegal art carries cultural baggage; it is, by its very nature, anti “high” culture. Reasons why some may choose to bypass lengthy, competitive, and often discriminatory processes of getting art into a public sphere could be down to deviance and limited opportunity. Boredom is certainly a branch of deviance and may well be a reason to produce illegal art but my focus is more on unsanctioned art being a statement of anti-establishment. An extension of this is limited opportunity; many artists may feel restricted by regulations attached to work being publically consumed and therefore unable to showcase their work in a legal way; their work may be considered inflammatory and political. In many instances with this kind of art, the art itself wouldn’t have the same impact if it wasn’t presented in a way that is considered a part of ‘low’
Context plays a very large part in determining whether something is considered ‘high’ or ‘low’ culture. In a study based in the Papua New Guinean village of Gapun, it was discovered, through the villagers’ interpretation of a Rambo film, that no text has a one universal meaning (Kulick & Willson, 1994). This concept is relevant beyond juxtaposed cultures; it applies to texts within the same overarching cultural context. There are many variables that help form the cultural meaning of something, meaning that seemingly everyone in certain contexts seem to …show more content…
Illegal art carries cultural baggage; it is, by its very nature, anti “high” culture. Reasons why some may choose to bypass lengthy, competitive, and often discriminatory processes of getting art into a public sphere could be down to deviance and limited opportunity. Boredom is certainly a branch of deviance and may well be a reason to produce illegal art but my focus is more on unsanctioned art being a statement of anti-establishment. An extension of this is limited opportunity; many artists may feel restricted by regulations attached to work being publically consumed and therefore unable to showcase their work in a legal way; their work may be considered inflammatory and political. In many instances with this kind of art, the art itself wouldn’t have the same impact if it wasn’t presented in a way that is considered a part of ‘low’