The Mainstream (Week 4)

In this blog I shall discuss what ‘mainstream’ is. Of course we have our standard definition which is quite “bland” however, with this in our minds one must understand mainstream as a topic is vast. It will not be possible to cover every single aspect of mainstream, however, I will devote a few sub-topics to better help understand what mainstream is all about.

(Mainstream, n.d.)

Let’s not talk about mainstream, what about popular culture and mass culture? According to Marbach (2015), popular culture is what we individuals consume where mass culture is what is being produced.

Hence, mass culture is how companies advertise themselves through various social media platforms and technological mediums. We as a society pick up on those aspects and create the popular culture, in turn producing a mainstream society (Dr. Taylor, 2019).

Mainstream in a general statement is how the public would accept certain norms and traditions. It was quite mainstream in Indian culture for a woman to be a housewife and a man to work, hence there is a shift, a “cultural shift” where the mainstream-traditional norms are not the same as before.

Mainstream has also been said to be contagious and can consume a weak-minded person (Dr. Taylor, 2019). I disagree because mainstream happens whether one likes it or not. Mainstream changes as time do, as decades pass, and newer generations are born. Popular culture changes, and hence in due time mainstream lifestyle changes too. Some individuals would like to have their roots grounded towards certain historical approaches and mindsets that lock in with their religious and ethical views, however, it is to only respect that idea and to understand it in a deeper and academical manner.

Muslims, for example, are generally very religious, it is a mainstream approach in the community that we can only respect and form a bond that is both professional and due regard.

There are many different types of mainstreams, some of them include

Folklore

Education

Media

Science

Medicine

Music

Film

And much more…

Mainstream in education is quite interesting as it deals with students with needs in a way that they are included with the “normal” students. However, there are certain subjects that can cause disruption in the class and during that time or subject, the students with needs are placed under care and supervision to ensure that they are given the correct education and study. And, usually, during the other subjects that are fun, they are placed with regular students (What is Mainstreaming in Education? Does It Work? n.d.). REFERENCES: Dr. Taylor, J. (2019). Making Sense of the Mainstream. Retrieved from https://moodle-dubai.axis.navitas.com/mod/page/view.php?id=142319

Mainstream. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/mainstream

Marbach, J. (2015). Mass Culture Versus Popular Culture. Retrieved from https://jmarbach.com/mass-culture-versus-popular-culture

What is Mainstreaming in Education? Does It Work? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/special_ed/mainstreaming.html APPENDIX: Maheshwari, L. (2017, September 25th). How Bollywood stereotypes the West: BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170922-how-bollywood-stereotypes-the-west Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/pop-culture-subculture-and-cultural-change/

Popular culture. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/p/Popular_culture.htm

The Room 241 Team. (2018). Mainstreaming Special Education in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/classroom-resources/mainstreaming-special-education-in-the-classroom/