Week 1 – Cobb Chapter 1

Cobb’s introduction to popular culture was helpful and thought-provoking. His reflections on media and pop culture, and how both influence society as a whole, was insightful. I particularly like this comment by Iris Murdoch: “Man is a creature who makes pictures of himself and then comes to resemble the picture.” The assertion suggests an oft-disregarded interplay between what we produce/perceive and how we interact as a society. I agree with Cobb’s assertion that the Frankfurt school’s approach to popular culture seems both elitist and somewhat paranoid, though I also admit that their approach likely contains some element of truth.