Connecting on Different Cultural Levels

Dr. Vrooman

Social Media and Society

Emma Taylor

February 9, 2019

Connecting on Different Cultural Levels

Raymond Williams, a cultural theorist, argues that there are four types of cultural practices that occur in our society.  He defines these four practices as emergent, dominant, residual, and archaic. Emergent is something that is coming up in society, something that not very many people know about, but that is going to be very popular in a sense that everyone will about it soon.  Emergent culture is lead by people that sway the market and even manufacturers to know what future decisions to make. This could be the newest form of technology that is destined to come out or a new fashion trend. Dominant is something that has already become popular, something that if you mentioned it in conversation most everyone would know what you were talking about.  Dominant culture is something that sweeps the society. Marvel Residual is something that our culture has passed by maybe even the phrase “passed its prime” suits the term. Williams describes it as an, “areas of human experience, aspiration, and achievement which the dominant culture neglects, undervalues, opposes, represses, or even cannot recognize” (96-97). I have a lot of interest in the residual aspects of our culture because I love basically love everything retro.  Polaroid camera, vinyl record, thrift shopping, classic rock, jazz and other music, the list could go on for ages as far as i am concerned. Archaic is something that no longer has any kind of substantial value in our society. Williams says, “archaic refers to historical forms that no longer serve any recognized cultural functions” (96). Things like traditional clothing from medieval times and old music no one listens to or knows about anymore, something that if it was brought up in conversation no one would no what it was.  I also I an interest in archaic things. I love exploring antique shops and old houses. Figuring out what old unidentified gadgets were made for is extremely entertaining to me, but maybe I’m just crazy.

I think our culture right now has a bit of a fascination with the residual.  Between hipster culture and retro style trends it would seem that many people of this young generation is circling around to some older cultural practices.  The age of hipsterism began in the 90’s and became increasingly popular throughout the 2000’s and early 2010’s. Hipsters are generally in their 20’s and 30’s, which I think perfectly accentuates why this age group would be interested in things that they had never experienced before.

We live in the age of technology, screens and virtual reality, I think this is one reason all these vintage, retro items are so infatuating  to young people of this generation. Everything seems so virtual that the idea of having something tangible is exciting, new, and different. In the hipster lifestyle one might use things like typewriters, instead of keyboards, where you get to see the ink hitting the page and things like vinyl records that have imperfections and scratches and things like polaroid cameras where you can watch the image developing on the film right in front of you are definitely prime examples of people trying to connect to the past while feeling more present in the now.             

People are also so fascinated with vintage clothing and accessories.  The millennial generation loves to dress in thrift store styles and outfits hinting to different areas, such as the 90’s, 80’s, 70’s, 60’s and beyond.  People are grasping and pulling from things that will allow them to be more unique and different than others. Mom jeans, high waisted everything, platform shoes, bell bottoms, and windbreaker jackets are all examples of retro trends that are taking over our fashion world right now.  It’s all different from people dressing from department stores and chains where you could easily see ten other people that are buying the same shirts or shoes or pants that you are. The residual is a rabbit hole to the past with it’s slower paced, less abrasive atmosphere and its more hands on, face to face life styles.  

In our age of technology and screen time it can be important to reconnect with the physical aspects of real life.  We spend so much time online and off reality that we end up needing the feeling of residual culture. Technology and social media are dominant culture in the present day.  Something that nearly everyone in the world has some form of access to and participates in. Technology makes the world spin around with basically everything being connected through it, everything working through it and with it.  It gives us whole new way to connect to people in a different way than residual culture does. Dominant culture connects people on a different level than any of the other three cultural practices because it’s what everyone is heavily using at the same time.