The simplest definition of pop culture (popular culture) comes from the roots of the term itself: Pop culture is “culture”—arts, media, entertainment, and other forms of creativity and expression—that is “popular” to a wide range of people.

In short, pop culture refers to content that is produced not just for artistic but also for commercial purposes, distributed at mass scale for broad consumption. Because it is intended to appeal to as many people as possible, pop culture tends to reflect society’s standards and beliefs—what sociologists refer to as “norms” and “mores”—while also helping to shift them by embedding new ideas among mass audiences. Audiences then grow accustomed to these changes in the relatively safe space of the imagination. 

This module is a brief overview of the significance of Asian American pop culture.