Grazian argues that attributing meaning and significance to songs, movies, and other kinds of media and popular culture are not only drawn from personal memories or individual psyches, but an audience’s social circumstances as well. Furthermore, the author defines interpretive communities as those consumers whose common social identities and cultural background inform their shared understandings of culture in patterned ways and that they often materialize during public debates surrounding the value or potential harm of certain types of popular culture.

Are you aware of (or have you experienced) a culture war in popular culture, as Grazian describes? These exist in music, film, and other forms. If so, what interpretive community(ies) were involved, if they can be identifiable? If you have not experienced one yourself, do some research into a culture war in popular culture of your choosing. Whichever you choose to write about, please describe the culture war, the interpretive communities involved, and how it was received and/or resolved in popular culture (if it was). How does the social climate of the time influence the culture war you are describing?

*Note: this discussion is meant to be fun and informative, but you are welcome to kindly provide your opinion on the culture war – but this should be done respectfully and with understanding.