What is popular culture?

Popular culture is defined as activities or commercial products that reflect, or are aimed at, the tastes of the masses. It is often shortened to pop culture and include ideas, perspectives, attitudes and memes.

The term "popular culture" was coined in the 19th century. Traditionally, the term referred to education and the general cultured-life of the lower class. This was opposed to what was known as the "official culture," which referred to the more educated, more dominant class. It was around the end of World War II that the term popular culture began to overlap with mass media and develop its more modern definition.