The Study Of Hall’s Theory Of Popular Culture

As an important part of cultural studies, the study of popular culture has been paid great concern by the majority of theorists, about which we have a rich theoretical works. Before Hall, a lot of factions and theorists have already conducted a lot of research on popular culture, but because of different position, there are all kinds of different views. Marx has not discussed the role of culture systematically, but in the his elaboration on the relationship between the economic base and the superstructure, as a part of the superstructure, the development and operation of culture have to be subjected to the constraints of the socio-economic development; and superstructure will be counterproductive in the social and material life. Because the majority of Marxist theory was formed in the social context of the debate or to guide revolutionary practice, Marx didn’t in-depth discuss the role of culture. When stressing the counteraction of superstructure, Marx analyzed with a focus on the law, the politics and the state apparatus. Then the vulgar Marxists emphasized a decisive role of the economic base to the superstructure on Marxist theory, but did not give culture too much attention. Western Marxist scholars generally opposed to economic determinism, calling the consciousness of the working class. In British elite traditions, Arnold and Leavis elitism believed that culture existed only in the excellent literary tradition and the elite who few can enjoy them, they strictly distinguished between civilization and culture. In the culture industry theory of the Frankfurt School, they deeply critiqued the paralysis of awareness of popular culture and the negative impact of false needs. Culturalism in the UK gave a broad sense definition of the concept of culture, that culture is the human way of life. They consciously resisted the mainstream elitism cultural traditions, bringing popular culture in the field of research. Hall studied the theory of Marx’s critique of ideology, and investigated in the factions of cultural theory and the theories of mass culture, then gradually formed its own mass culture attitudes. In this process, Gramsci’s theory of cultural leadership caused great concern in the Hall, playing an essential role in the formation of his views. After further criticizing and absorbing Gramsci’s theory of cultural leadership, Hall asserted his own opinions of mass culture.Specifically, the first chapter of this article expounds the academic experience of the Hall and the ideological origins of the popular culture theory, and the researches on Hall thought briefly at home and abroad are reviewed. This chapter focuses on the analysis of the origins of his theory of mass culture, which the origin of Marx’s discussion on the relationship between the economic foundation and the superstructure, and which caused different factions of cultural theory. In this process, his immediate goal is to criticize the tradition of elitism, so as to arouse public consciousness. Finally, after critiquing and absorbing of Gramsci’s theory of cultural leadership, he formed its own mass culture theory.The second chapter is that we analyze the ideological content of the Hall theory. Including his definition of mass culture and how the mass culture works, which is the main part of the article.In the third chapter, we discuss the significance and influence of the Hall’s Theory of Mass Culture. We mainly analyze from the theoretical and practical two levels. Hall’s theory of culture is rich and promotes the cultural theory of Marxism, and the development of cultural industry in China also has certain reference significance.Hall’s study of popular culture for cultural studies has been far-reaching affect in the UK and worldwide, and he has left behind the endless knowledge wealth for later generations and tireless pursuit of the spirit of truth, both from the theoretical and practical. His theory, of course, everything has also sparked some about the theoretical foundation is weak, the lack of concern and not the fundamental solution of postmodern discourse paradigm crisis and so on.