Artist as Genius and High vs. Pop Culture

A. Social, Cultural, Historical Context

1. 16th-18th centuries -- birth of "modern" societies:         
                   2. population
                   3. technological innovations: agriculture --> labor-intensive --> capital-intensive enterprise

a. (= "redundant labor")

4. mass production -- the rise of the factory system;  mechanization of manufacturing

5. [3 + 4] --> toward urbanization

6. aristocracy on the decline

B. Artists

1. response to sudden downward mobility

2. ideology of ressentiment

C. High vs. Mass (Pop) Culture emerged from same conditions

 II. Elements of Mass Culture Critique

A. "Pop Culture is solely and purely a commercial  enterprise"

1. pop culture = industry

2. products are commodities; standardized

3. creative minimized

4. high culture is:

a. non-commercial

b. unique, non-standardized, heterogeneous  products

3. innovation and individual creativity

B. "There is a huge difference between creators of high and popular culture"

1. HC: geniuses; educating the masses; art for art's sake

2. Pop C: creators pander to masses