​An Analysis of John Storey's Popular Culture in Friends 

     The other fundamental concept taken from John Storey is his analysis of ideology. The five definitions that fall under ideology include-system of ideas of a particular group, false consciousness, ideological forms, material practices that bind us to the social order (Althusser) and mythology (Barthes).

     The first definition of a system of ideas of a particular group refers to the ideals which inform the practices of particular professional groups. The second definition of false consciousness indicates how some texts and practices present distorted images of reality. These distortions symbolize a capitalist ideology concealing the reality of domination from those in power. The third definition of ideological forms draws attention to the way in which texts always present a particular image of the world. Storey states, “a site where collective social understandings are created; a terrain on which the politics of signification are played out in attempts to win people to particular ways of seeing the world.” The fourth definition is taken from Althusser correlating to how certain rituals and customs have the effect of binding us to the social order; a social order which is marked by enormous inequalities of wealth, status and power. Then, the final definition is taken from Barthes concept of mythology. Mythology is an attempt to make something this is cultural as something that is natural.

     In the next slide of this presentation, I will analyze all of Storey’s definitions and apply it to the first episode.  

 

Source: John Storey: Popular Culture