I tried to identify the key distinguishing features that support the idea of "high culture" being superior:

1. The need for prior knowledge about the context of the work, including:

• The history of the art form's development. • Structural traditions and rules that the creator either follows or challenges. • Symbolism within the work.

2. The work should be sophisticated or serve as a form of protest.

3. First recognized by critics, then by the public.

4. Exclusivity, meaning it is aimed at a select group of connoisseurs rather than the masses.

However, if you think about it, all these characteristics can also apply to pop culture, with only slight differences. Whether it's a video game, anime, or pop music - with some exceptions, the same patterns emerge.

Yes, engaging with pop culture often doesn’t require knowledge of its context, but the same can be said about "high" art. One doesn’t necessarily need to deeply analyze a classical musical composition to enjoy it.

And yet, there are distinctions: pop culture is sometimes less refined but frequently sparks controversy and scandal. However, in the gaming industry, for example, there are plenty of truly sophisticated works.

In pop culture, critical approval is less important - here, the public itself plays the role of the critic.

Ultimately, the only major difference that remains is mass appeal.

And here, I believe the reason lies in the fact that many traditional art forms simply haven’t managed to adapt to the modern era of mass information while maintaining their identity.

Visual arts and sculpture, much like academic music, have remained niche - accessible to critics but largely ignored by the broader public.

But if mass appeal is the only significant distinction between these two worlds, should it really make us view pop culture as inferior to "high" culture?

Why do we still hold "high" culture in greater esteem? Is it just inertia, or perhaps the desire to feel part of an elite circle? What do you think?

Got a weird, out of the blue question. How Romanian 'pop culture ' looked in the Soviet era? I specifically mean movies, tv programs, tv series. Romania differs a lot politically from other Soviet block countries. I bet it had an impact on the culture, too. If you have any culture-related memories from that period, interesting links, names of cult classics, cultural milestones to share, it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.🙂

Greetings! I am currently making a project for my anthropology class about societal systems and how they effect the cultures around them. I would be glad to know how your place differs from others and what may cause that uniqueness.

Hey people, so for context, I’m 1/2 German(ethnically) and my grandfather spoke German. But regardless, my great or great great grandparents immigrated from Germany so my family and I are disconnected from our roots. So, I want to know, would it be time well spent trying to gain a deeper connection with my ethnic culture? Any thoughts, opinions, and advice are welcome🙃

My school has a day called culture day, where different groups of different cultures present with food, music, etc. My group was going to do Mexico since the majority of the group is Mexican, but we decided against it since we think there will be many Mexican tables. Does anyone have any ideas that we can use? We want any culture, with easy to make food, fun music, and easy to learn and write about.

Do you celebrate? Where do you live and how do you celebrate in your country or where you are from? #yearofthesnake

Hi all! I’m a high school student in the US, and for a project we have to interview people on their experience in education. I thought it would be fun to get an international perspective on education around the world! I’m looking for people high school-aged (14-18 or so, and you don’t have to be in school!) to interview virtually via video chat for only 5 minutes each!! I’m happy to work around time differences and schedules, and am excited to learn a little about your culture, language, and maybe even form friendships from this! Any gender, any country, decent understanding of English (and this would help you to work on it, too!) Looking forward to hearing from you all!

What are the personal stories and experiences of those who were affected by the stampede at Mahakumbh Mela ?

hii i’m a mixed girl. my mother is white and my father is african, and i have type 3 hair!! idk which one exactly, i bleached my hair a bit ago and my curls feel looser, but its still type 3. i wanna know if i could wear box braids? i’m light-skinned, because melanin wise, my mother’s genes drain it from me unless i get sunlight. but i still have black features - idk if i have to be black enough or something? all my life i’ve been told i was whitewashed or not black enough for the culture. but i really want a break for my hair, and to protect it. also, since my curls arent type 4 i’m scared of losing hair LOL. please send help. i don’t wanna be morally wrong or bald 🥲

i just thrifted this shirt bcs it looks pretty and wondering where is it actually from.

I'll go first. In Algeria there's an idiom that says : حتى واحد ما زاد معلّم that literally means : no one's born knowing. We say it to reassure someone (or oneself) and insist about the fact that basically we all have to start somewhere and that we all have to learn, be it a skill or anything.

Hello everyone,

I’m conducting interviews about the role of the English language in various countries and would love to hear from people in the Outer Circle or Expanding Circle, as per Kachru’s Three Circles model.

Who I’m Looking For:

Outer Circle Examples: India, Singapore, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, etc.

Expanding Circle Examples: China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Brazil, etc.

Requirements:

Must be willing to:

1. Be recorded during the interview (audio or video).

2. Share basic details like your name, age, occupation, educational background, and the country you live in.

3. Able to speak English fluently

Topics We’ll Cover in the Interview:

1. History, Development, and Current Progress of English in Your Country

How and when did English arrive in your country?

How has its role evolved over time?

How is it currently used in society (education, business, media, etc.)?

2. Your Reaction to the Expanding Power of English

How do you feel about the growing influence of English in your country?

Do you see it as an opportunity, a challenge, or a mix of both?

3. Localized Features of English in Your Country

Are there unique pronunciations, grammar rules, or words/phrases that have emerged in your country’s English?

Please share examples to illustrate!

Hello everyone,

I’m conducting interviews about the role of the English language in various countries and would love to hear from people in the Outer Circle or Expanding Circle, as per Kachru’s Three Circles model.

Who I’m Looking For:

Outer Circle Examples: India, Singapore, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, etc.

Expanding Circle Examples: China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Brazil, etc.

Requirements:

Must be willing to:

1. Be recorded during the interview (audio or video).

2. Share basic details like your name, age, occupation, educational background, and the country you live in.

Topics We’ll Cover in the Interview:

1. History, Development, and Current Progress of English in Your Country

How and when did English arrive in your country?

How has its role evolved over time?

How is it currently used in society (education, business, media, etc.)?

2. Your Reaction to the Expanding Power of English

How do you feel about the growing influence of English in your country?

Do you see it as an opportunity, a challenge, or a mix of both?

3. Localized Features of English in Your Country

Are there unique pronunciations, grammar rules, or words/phrases that have emerged in your country’s English?

Please share examples to illustrate!

If you’re from one of these circles and are open to participating, please comment below or send me a message. I’d love to learn more about your perspective and your country’s relationship with English!

Thank you so much for considering this!

Hello everyone,

I’m conducting interviews about the role of the English language in various countries and would love to hear from people in the Outer Circle or Expanding Circle, as per Kachru’s Three Circles model.

Who I’m Looking For:

Outer Circle Examples: India, Singapore, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, etc.

Expanding Circle Examples: China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Brazil, etc.

Requirements:

Must be willing to:

1. Be recorded during the interview (audio or video).

2. Share basic details like your name, age, occupation, educational background, and the country you live in.

Topics We’ll Cover in the Interview:

1. History, Development, and Current Progress of English in Your Country

How and when did English arrive in your country?

How has its role evolved over time?

How is it currently used in society (education, business, media, etc.)?

2. Your Reaction to the Expanding Power of English

How do you feel about the growing influence of English in your country?

Do you see it as an opportunity, a challenge, or a mix of both?

3. Localized Features of English in Your Country

Are there unique pronunciations, grammar rules, or words/phrases that have emerged in your country’s English?

Please share examples to illustrate!

If you’re from one of these circles and are open to participating, please comment below or send me a message. I’d love to learn more about your perspective and your country’s relationship with English!

Thank you so much for considering this!

Does anyone know what kind of music this is? It is always used in a religious context such as in many old indian logos/dedication cards, and people call it the "Sham Ralhan Choir". I'm looking for the name of this piece of music, and where it comes from. Maybe identifying what type of music this is, is key to discovering its name.

https://youtu.be/h4rRMdpTbmc?si=rmTXM84dC5s5ekga

https://youtu.be/FcA04BXfyRI?si=0C7Vh2EZswVFHjIu

I'm currently doing a master's program at NTU, and one of my courses is Cultural Intelligence. Our professor shares many cross-cultural communication examples in class and organizes engaging activities. For instance, today we were grouped randomly by drawing the same numbers for a group discussion. The goal is to enhance our global leadership and adaptability to different cultures.

Today's theme was "Understanding Your Motivation to Lead Globally," and one point that stood out to me was when the professor said, "The best way to improve a skill is to coach others first." During the group activity with my teammates from different cultural backgrounds (Singaporeans and Chinese), I tried coaching them, which gave me a lot of insights. Although I realized coaching others is quite challenging, it helped me identify my own weak spots, which I can work on to improve more precisely.

This experience made me curious: have you ever encountered cultural conflicts in your work or personal life? Maybe I can use the knowledge and inspiration I gained in class to help you out! 😊😊

Also, Reddit is such a great place to feel the diversity of cultures. 😊

Hello everyone,

I’m conducting interviews about the role of the English language in various countries and would love to hear from people in the Outer Circle or Expanding Circle, as per Kachru’s Three Circles model.

Who I’m Looking For:

Outer Circle Examples: India, Singapore, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, etc.

Expanding Circle Examples: China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Brazil, etc.

Requirements:

Must be willing to:

1. Be recorded during the interview (both audio and video).

2. Share basic details like your full name, age, occupation, educational background, and the country you live in.

Topics We’ll Cover in the Interview:

1. History, Development, and Current Progress of English in Your Country

How and when did English arrive in your country?

How has its role evolved over time?

How is it currently used in society (education, business, media, etc.)?

2. Your Reaction to the Expanding Power of English

How do you feel about the growing influence of English in your country?

Do you see it as an opportunity, a challenge, or a mix of both?

3. Localized Features of English in Your Country

Are there unique pronunciations, grammar rules, or words/phrases that have emerged in your country’s English?

Please share examples to illustrate!

If you’re from one of these circles and are open to participating, please comment below or send me a message. I’d love to learn more about your perspective and your country’s relationship with English!

Thank you so much for considering this!

I’ve recently gone down the rabbit hole of Japanese stationery culture. It is cute and quirky while also being practical and highly engineered.

What other examples of can you suggest for a fun deep dive? Bonus points if I can collect gizmos and widgets.

We invite you to participate in our research study examining identity, relationships, and well-being among bicultural/multicultural individuals. This study is being conducted under the mentorship of Mijin Kim, Ph.D. at Texas Woman's University (TWU). Please feel free to share this invitation with others who might be interested in participating.

 We would greatly appreciate your participation in an anonymous online survey if the following statements apply to you:

• You are 18 years or older
• You are a United States Resident
• You identify as bicultural or multicultural*

* Being bicultural or multicultural means having the ability to navigate and embrace the values, customs, and traditions of multiple distinct cultures.    

For example:

• A Mexican American who identifies with both Mexican and U.S. American cultures
• A Black and Pakistani American who connects with both cultures
• A Kenyan immigrant to the U.S. who embraces both cultures

The survey is completely online and will take about 15 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and this study is being conducted for research purposes. Upon completion, participants may enter their email address into a drawing for a chance to win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards!

This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Texas Woman’s University (FWA00000178). 

There is a potential risk of loss of confidentiality in all email, downloading, electronic meetings, and internet transactions. 

This study is conducted by Zoe Dipert, Cassandra Hernandez DeLa Cruz, and Madison Vidican, Counseling Psychology Doctoral Students at Texas Woman’s University, with support from their research team faculty member, Mijin Kim, Ph.D. Feel free to contact Mijin Kim, Ph.D. (mkim20@twu.edu) with any questions. 

Please click the following link if you are interested in participating:  

https://twu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_basI6yTPfYni7UG

Thank you for your time and consideration!