Culture can be specified as the patterns of activities or way of living of individuals that has symbolic significances making the activities significant. There are different sort of culture from different kinds of individuals or group of individuals. Because of these, there are lots of factors to think about in studying a culture and its results to its society. The culture of an offered society is dictated by people of the provided location. Culture depends also on the environment where individuals are living.
In some cases, if a catastrophe occurs to a provided culture, there is a big possibility to have a modification of their culture. (Forsberg, 2006) Such modification of culture due to a catastrophe is the change of culture of Japan after the World War.
Since of this, mass culture or popular culture was specified by many cultural theorists. According to them mass culture is a kind of culture that is an item of turmoil and social disorder. Mass culture will trigger some cultural activities like media communication, music, art, science, and technology.
(Robert Drislane, 2002).
Lots of cultural theorists believe that mass culture played a crucial role in the redefinition of identity of Japan specifically after the World War. After the war, numerous Japanese cultural sociologist borrowed techniques and processes from American sociologist. As what took place likewise on mass culture of Japan was it was influenced generally by the culture of United States. To better explain the role of mass culture on the redefinition of identity of Japan, it is good to compare the culture of Japan before and after the World War. Japanese culture is understood to have deep historic root.
Much like when speaking of Japanese mass culture. Japanese mass culture highlights the redefinition of the identity of the nation specifically the local and regional identity. Great attributes of the regional identity of Japan that is distinct and has pride that are frequently expressed in the type of popular local products. Almost every village of Japan has its own pride of something; these may remain in the form of an item, craft, procedure, or art. Among these is the folk culture which was originated from old farming practices.
Some of the known practices from rural areas are when rice planting on farms is simultaneously done with cultural and religious ceremonies like dancing. This is to have good luck in the planting season of the crops. In some places, a shrine is built where a virgin will dance for the said purpose. The said folk culture does not only hold on people working on farms but also on the Japanese in the agricultural sector. But the introduction of mass culture to the agricultural sector of Japan made them change their old folk culture after the World War.
Mass culture made a modification of the old folk cultural practices by introducing technology. Loud speakers were used in the dancing ceremonies and this result to have more viewers compared to the traditional ceremony. With the combination of these local pride, Japan was successful in redefining its identity. (Hidetoshi, 1992) Another major change of identity of Japan due to mass or popular culture is the capitalism of the country. To best explain this, the example to be used is the theater industry of Japan. Kabuki, which is a form of theatrical drama, means to do something abnormal or extraordinary.
Kabuki is characterized with plainness and stoicism. This is because the society of Japan wants to hold the culture on moral standards. But at the end World War, the old kabuki transformed in to an extravagant, brilliant, dazzling color of costumes of the actors of the play which is a contrast on the old kabuki. Today, Japan is known to its new and modified Kabuki style. (Hidetoshi, 1992) The emergence of mass culture really changes the identity of Japan. The country borrowed many forms of culture from the western countries.
After the war, Japanese has few sources of resources to be used in the development of their country. Because the United States donated money for the reconstruction and development of Japan, the citizens of the said country made their best in helping their country. After the war, modernization and industrialization was made in Japan in response to the effects of war. Mass culture or popular culture was useful in forming the urban areas of the country. They borrowed the technology of other countries which was brought through mass culture.
And this made Japan known to be one of the top producers of high technology gadgets. (Igarashi, 2007)
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