Capitalism and Popular Culture

From first glance it may seem that capitalism and pop culture are linked directly and work “side by side” to strive into the mainstream. The logic is that capitalism is similar to pop culture in core value of free competition and rewarding those who work the hardest. Simultaneously, the pop culture sorts out only the most relevant, up-to-date and popular songs, movies, TV shows and other cultural products, so that to fit the target audience’s needs. Capitalism implies that the competition among networks, recording labels and motion pictures companies is transparent and fair. Likewise, capitalism is an engine that makes pop culture truly massive, as it is massively advertised, produced and purchased by society. Conversely, the dominant ideas presented in media are commonly belong to the ruling class for two reasons. First, access to education and leisure to become immersed into all manifestations of culture is traditionally privilege of the ruling class, and, second, capitalists uphold roughly full control by the media sources due to their outright membership or due to the ownership of the pop culture production/dissemination (art galleries, satellites, TV stations, print releases, etc.). The example of that assertion is the biggest American retailer Wal-Mart dictates creative artists what it will or will not stock. So, the prevailing number of pop culture products, films, books and art pieces reflect ideas and attitudes of their creators, members of ruling class, whose output is alternately masking, promoting and justifying the kind of social from that fulfills their privileges.