A Deeper Look Into the Cultural Industries
How can culture be industrialized, and what are its implications?
“Culture is not only beneficial to cities; in a deeper sense, it’s what cities are for. A city without poets, painters, and photographers is sterile.”
— Rebecca Solnit
You may or may not realize it, but we’re all users of cultural products.
The easiest examples would be music and movies — who doesn’t listen to music and watch movies? We all do. Cultural products are a visceral part of our lives. They influence our living environments from small to large, from houses to cities.
And like the word suggests, “product” is a result of “production.” Just as cars are produced by the automobile industry, or food by the food industries, cultural products are produced by the cultural industries.
Now, wait a second. Cars and food are tangible items, and obviously, they can be manufactured in an industrial setting. But how can “culture” be an industry? And what makes a product “cultural,” anyway?
