ACFM ACFM Trip 56: The Mainstream
Dec 7, 2025
Explore the shifting definition of 'mainstream' as hosts delve into whether 'woke' is now at the forefront of culture. They examine access inequalities in the digital age and how platforms like Netflix influence trends. Music and femininity standards are analyzed through The Slits' 'Typical Girls,' while concepts from Raymond Williams clarify cultural dynamics. The discussion challenges notions of coolness, highlights the political weight of popular media, and calls for reclaiming creativity in leftist movements. Tune in for thought-provoking insights!
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Mainstream Is Ambiguous
- "Mainstream" is ambiguous and used differently across politics, culture and lifestyle.
- The term functions as noun, adjective and verb, including as an active project of 'mainstreaming' ideas.
Access And Tech Reshape Mainstream
- Access and technology reshape what counts as mainstream culture today.
- Fragmented streaming and social media mean a single unified mainstream is weaker than before.
Pop Stars Shift Cultural Authority
- Charts are narrower yet cultural authority has waned; mainstream artists no longer map cleanly onto politics.
- Taylor Swift exemplifies liberal feminism's cultural hegemony rather than a full political program.
