Cultural studies: foundations and shortcomings. A theoretical and critical review of the popular culture field

Abstract

This study is a conceptual revision of the background of cultural studies and the popular culture field in Great Britain in the 1950s. This academic domain was defined by mass society in the middle of the 20th century, and by those who, like Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer, spoke about mass culture. Modern artists and their critics then created an insuperable divide between art and the
commercial objects of popular culture. The former claimed the sphere of art and knowledge, whereas popular culture belonged to the social market. Based on this division, the modern notion of mass culture set the precedent of Raymond Williams’ popular culture concept, and the theoretical formulation of other authors who developed the British cultural perspective. It was a project which tried to overcome
this modern vision of culture.