Popular Culture: Past, Present, and Future

The first in the series on the structure, history and influence of US popular culture.

[@Duivenzijnfascisten]

And the preroll add was . . . A Disney one

[@tomasmiller5502]

Hi Wes, (I call you by your first name as I watched about 90% of your lectures, some of them several times) Thanks for starting this series, and I hope that you will cover also Edward Bernays in sufficient detail (maybe in a separate lecture) in this series. I dropped TV about 20 years ago, and so I have practically a similar attitude to popular culture as you do. It is unbelievable to watch up to 15 minutes of average TV, say once in three months, when visiting somewhere - one can perceive it as an absurd caricature. It is fascinating to see how enthusiastically people recaptured their consumer role after covid. I must add "fortunately" because this is the essence of our current civilization, which cannot change as a revolution without pain (my guess is that the value of more than 50% of people is more consumer rather than creator). I look forward to your next lectures. Tomas, Prague

[@thomasjdk]

Hi my name is Thomas, almost the same just wanted to wish an almost identical name buddy a good day

[@larrasket]

Do people get to use the first name when they konsume lots of someone's kontent?

[@thomasjdk]

@@larrasket quite honestly i don't think wec gives a fuck if people use his firstname. He probably cares more about a billion other things. But idk aint him

[@santtukantsila8669]

Great video series idea. It is very important to understand who and how our culture is being formed for us to understand where we are right now.

[@Vicky-zr1pb]

Excellent and mind opening as always. Love your work.

[@AustinStarr191]

Yay more Wes Cecil!

[@sebastianlopez503]

awesome and fascinating lecture! thanks!

[@xbluebells]

Hi, I started a new habit last year-- I try to spend most of my day in what I call "prime experiences" rather than created experiences. This has been such a fantastic experience. :) But I do allow myself a streaming music because it supports my art which I call a prime experience. And I listen to a book streaming from the library while I use my recumbent I also consider that a prime experience. KZbin is about the only time I use "non prime" experience. This is a treat. :) I look forward to listening to this.

[@cheri238]

Wes, I abhor thses companies. I do all I can to stay away from them. I am very concerned about our post office right now and how the employees are being cheated. I have lots of albums that I have had for years. I still may venture and buy a CD. My cellphone, I never wanted one, I have library of old books, my papa left me, I still go to libraries and Books a Millions to buy books of interest on many subjects that may help my mind grow. I am not a spendthrift, although I had a journey that taught me otherwise. Popular culture, I guess I am an old foggie. I would like to explore Hurrel and Leo Strauss. (Lol) These are two philosophers I am learning about. We have Neo-liberalism and neo-cons in this capitalist society, and now we have an inverted Tolertarism that is tipping over. I do love great books of literature, poetry, music, and creative arts. I live on a farm out in the woods and have made many gardens, milked cows, and goats as small child, my grandpa taught me about nature. He was Cherokee Indian. My parents were farmers, and many animals.I did take a journey to big cities and lived, and I acquired much information about the big world. I do love artistic movies. What more can I say? Our country has many problems right now. The sky is not looking so bright. I do get up with a good attitude most days, for meditation is part of my life. I am more of a Krishnamurti, Alan Watts Ram Dass explorer, although I love do philosophy and history. I am a wonderful cook and have many books on that. Have a good day!!! Most of my money goes to books, food, I drive a very old car, I love flowers, my clothes fŕom thrift stoŕes. They did have quite a selection in Las Angeles after I turned my nose up to designer clothes. And the stupidity of all of it.

[@youThadz12]

Dr. Cecil why do these practices, especially Disney’s marketing to children, feel so duplicitous? What’s the cure?

[@rcmrcm3370]

This lecture is a start. Spread it.

[@MrJamesdryable]

14:14 DreamWorks...