Stuart Hall's 'Notes On Deconstructing' The Popular

The definition of the term, popular culture, is not definitive. Each individual’s feelings toward the term may differ depending on their own standard of beliefs, values, and social behavior. In general, culture has to be accepted by the majority of the particular community, depending on the ideas and phenomena it entails. In Stuart Hall’s “Notes on Deconstructing ‘The Popular’”, he defines popular culture in a unique, thoughtful way. Hall agrees that popular culture involves society accepting new visions, attitudes, images, and perspectives that have gone mainstream in a means of making profit. The term also represents the open desires, displeasures, and cultural struggles that are prevalent, especially in the Asian American society. Within
the cultural struggles that Asian Americans face, many are prone to partake in everyday acts of resistance that challenge the status quo. The common concept of popular culture that many people can agree on is: “the things which are said to be ‘popular’ because masses of people listen to them, buy them, read them, consume them, and seem to enjoy them to the full.” (Hall, 186).
Popular culture is shown everywhere; from social media, to commercials on the television, and even magazine stands at the local store. The impact of mass media and communications has played an important role in influencing the everyday lives of society. For instance, how people should look or dress a certain way has been a controversial topic amongst the public. This specific notion is heavily implied within television shows, social media, and magazines, in which many in the population are exposed to constantly. The famous public figures who appear on the various media forms seem to set a standard that men and women may strive to emulate. Especially in the Asian American community, young women, such as myself, are often culturally pressured to look thin, dress more modestly, and act fragile. Within the Asian American society, body image issues are prevalent because the expectation of being naturally slender is quite common. If people did not follow the norms of appearances, fashion, or behavior, they frequently feel a sense of ostracization from society. Though, not everyone feels subjected to the particular stereotypes or exclusions due to diverse experiences and
situations. A site of cultural struggle can be seen when there are groups of subculture within a dominant popular culture.
The distinct subcultures can challenge the principles of the parent culture by differentiation. Using the example of beauty and fashion in popular culture, there are subcultures that exist that do not follow the conventional standards that are expected in society. There are Asians who fall into the subcultures in which they have their own unique preferences in style, appearance, and behavior that do not fall into the category of popular culture. For instance, there are Asian Americans who are not thin, do not dress modestly, and do not act delicate. This relates to the everyday acts of resistance that people engage in that challenges the stereotypes and circumstances. According to James Scott’s Weapons of the Weak, everyday acts of resistance involves “continuous activities more subtle and nuanced -- grumbling and gossip, laughter and laziness, stupidity, and sabotage” (Scott, 89). Most people view an act of resistance as a mass of people joining together in a violent revolt against the powerful. But everyday resistance is usually subtle and can be in many different forms, whether it is taking a stance on an issue, not following the norms, or disobeying the rules. From my own observations of Asian American issues, I could see that body image issues and stereotypical issues of having high academic standards are pervasive. Personally, as an Asian American, I have
taken part in the everyday acts of resistance that goes against the strong effect of stereotypes. According to the Asian American principles, I am not considered thin or smart enough. I have family members who constantly make discourteous comments about my body weight and doubt my intellectual abilities, which I often ignore or laugh off. Presumably, the insults are a way of punishment from my environment for acting outside the structure of customs. Their perspective of me not following the Asian American norms may be true in that math is my worst subject and I have received substandard grades in the past. But the fact that I realize and accept that I do not have the ideal body type or the best grades has undermine and challenge the power of beauty and academic standards in the Asian American community. By participating in the everyday acts of resistance of not following the norms, it contributes to the fact that I do not let the Asian American ideals define who I am as an individual. The Asian American community must not allow the stereotypes to determine their lives and their place in the culture. They must be aware of and address the implications of the assortment of issues in order to challenge the status quo. In the future, I hope to see that the high standard of appearances and stereotypes in Asian American culture are subdued. I believe that culture has a way of evolving to become more accepting of modern ideas, values, and behaviors. Like Raymond Williams mentions in his passage, “culture is a process of cultivation and growth” (Williams, 37). One’s culture does not stay the same forever, it undergoes various adaptations as people become more open-minded and accept the distinctive differences that often originates from the subcultures. The culture in the past is different than present day, while today’s lifestyle and ideals will be different than the ones in the future. Although some traditions will stay, societal standards will change throughout the years due to the evolving contemporary ideas. In order to challenge the notions of struggle and to promote cultivation within the Asian American culture, the individuals must take on the responsibilities as members of society to make positive modifications through everyday acts of resistance. All in all, there is often a sense of cultural struggle in every society, whether it is breaking through the principles or ideals of one’s culture. It is through everyday acts of resistance in which people can weaken the dominating power of cultural or societal standards, especially within the Asian American community.