The Rational Thinking On The Present Condition Of Mass Cultural Research In China

"Mass culture", appearing in the Western industrial society and meaning a new pattern of culture had come out, brought an unprecedented change to people's ways and conceptions of life and occupied the leadership of culture. The rapid development of "Mass culture" obtained the attention of scholars in the West. They did theoretical research from multiple scientific fields and developed several influential cultural research schools among which the Frankfurt School was one of the most effective schools. China's reform and opening was not only an economic change but also an earthquake in the cultural area. The rising of marketing economy, innovation of science technology especially media information technology and the strike of globalization brought an abruptly rising and new developing tendency to "Mass culture". Meanwhile, the research on mass culture brought to the attention of academic circles and became a focus of humane studies. But the condition of this hot research topic is embarrassing: one hand, "Mass culture" was born in the West which had mature marketing economy. When it came to China, it would change because of the China's complicity of reality and numerous and jumbled cultures and histories. On the other hand, because of lack of knowledge about the present condition of mass culture and shortage of theoretical resources, Chinese scholars applied the western mass cultural research theory mechanically, mainly the critical theory of Frankfurt School. This essay focuses on two angles: first, the developing condition of mass culture under China's complicated social background; second, the special social historical background in which the western mass cultural research theory appeared and the limitations of the theory itself were totally different from the present condition in China. It can't be applied directly. Although the reflection began at the end of the 90's in the 20^th century, it wasn't enough. The continuous development of China's mass culture raised new tasks on theoretical research. Only theoretical research rooted in the soil of reality could the theory form critical theory. This is the only way that China's mass cultural theoretical research can get rid of the predicament.The first chapter defines the core conception of "Mass culture". Deviation on definition of "Mass culture" will occur because of the differences on social historical background between original place and China and the discrepancy between the translator and the writer emerged in the process of translation. Any theory is established on the basis of series of core conceptions which are the foundation of theory and decide the structure of the whole theory. To define the "Mass culture" in the context of China is necessary.The second chapter points out that theoretical research should be based on a plenty of facts. The applicability and legitimacy of theory should accord to the reality, which requires the Chinese scholars to know about the present condition of China's mass culture precisely. Everything is in the process of development and every development forms on the basis of previous one. To know about the developing situation of China's mass culture needs to have basic knowledge about the developing condition of before and then, the angle will turn to present inevitably.Because of the development of China's politics, economy, culture and advancement of scientific technology, "pre-industry, industry, pro-industry" societies appear simultaneously in China. Development of culture is connected closely to the pattern of society. The complicated pattern of society in China makes the China's mass culture similar to while different from that in the West.The third chapter analyzes the present China's mass cultural research condition. There have been three stages from the 80's in the 20^th century: in the early days, Chinese scholars applied the western theory mechanically, mainly the theory of Frankfurt School; from the middle of 90's to the transition from the 20^th century to the 21^st century, they began to reflect on applying the western critical theory; at present, scholars begin to analyzes mass culture in China's context from different angles.The fourth chapter reflects the problems in the mass cultural research in China today and tries to find out a way of China's mass cultural research.