Culture, Justice, Culture, Justice, SocietySociety

Benkler, Chapters 8 – 10Benkler, Chapters 8 – 10

Part I: CulturePart I: Culture

We are embedded in a We are embedded in a cultureculture

► Culture = stories, practices, customs, Culture = stories, practices, customs, habits, language, religion, etiquettehabits, language, religion, etiquette

► Culture isCulture is produced by produced by -- -- Your familyYour family Your town, village, city, tribeYour town, village, city, tribe Hollywood, TV, epic poemsHollywood, TV, epic poems Traditions, leaders, documents, ritualsTraditions, leaders, documents, rituals Artists, architects, you and meArtists, architects, you and me

Does one equal the other?Does one equal the other?

► Black American Black American cultureculture

►Muslim cultureMuslim culture► Jewish in IsraelJewish in Israel► American cultureAmerican culture► Latin AmericanLatin American► AsianAsian

►Hip Hop cultureHip Hop culture► Arab cultureArab culture► Jewish in Brooklyn, Jewish in Brooklyn,

N.Y.N.Y.►Miami cultureMiami culture► Ecuador? Cuba? Ecuador? Cuba?

Chile?Chile?► Thailand? China? Thailand? China?

Malaysia? Japan?Malaysia? Japan?

Mattel’s letter to an ISPMattel’s letter to an ISP

““Culture Industries”Culture Industries”

►Organizations in arts, entertainment, Organizations in arts, entertainment, news and information news and information

►Commercial, government and NGOsCommercial, government and NGOs►They They produce, displayproduce, display and and

distributedistribute cultural goods and services cultural goods and services►They thereby They thereby controlcontrol – at least in part – at least in part

– the culture of a society– the culture of a society►Frankfurt School: The culture Frankfurt School: The culture

industries reproduce the dominant industries reproduce the dominant ideologyideology

Brands as CultureBrands as Culture

TransparencyTransparency

► Assumptions can be questioned Assumptions can be questioned Product exits the “closed” system of Product exits the “closed” system of

television and enters the “open” system television and enters the “open” system of the Internetof the Internet

Culture is re-writable Culture is re-writable Audience can participate in production of Audience can participate in production of

meaningmeaning

► The act of remixing teaches the The act of remixing teaches the individual to be more critical, less individual to be more critical, less passivepassive

Adbusters.orgAdbusters.org

Culture is more than mediaCulture is more than media

► How much freedom do you have?How much freedom do you have? What options in life are open to you, or What options in life are open to you, or

closed?closed? To what degree can you participate?To what degree can you participate? What are your expectations for justice?What are your expectations for justice?

► ““Culture is not the barrel of a gun or Culture is not the barrel of a gun or the chains of a dungeon” (p. 298)the chains of a dungeon” (p. 298)

““Cultural Capital”Cultural Capital”

►A term coined by Pierre Bourdieu A term coined by Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002)(1930-2002)

►Refers to the knowledge, Refers to the knowledge, accomplishments, credentials, and accomplishments, credentials, and qualifications that a person hasqualifications that a person has

►Based on these, you might be Based on these, you might be grantedgranted or or denieddenied entry into certain social entry into certain social circles, organizations, and professionscircles, organizations, and professions

Culture, Justice, Culture, Justice, SocietySociety

Part 1: CulturePart 1: Culture

Presentation by Mindy Presentation by Mindy McAdamsMcAdams