Last Updated on April 3, 2026 by Karl Thompson
This is a question which appeared on the June 2024 AQA A Level Sociology topics on sociology (paper 2), the media section.
I include below an answer which should get 10/10.
The trick here is to make sure you read the Item and pick up on the two main points:
- One = accepting mainstream culture
- Two = rejection or rebelling against mainstream culture.
You then need to use theories and examples to discuss ways in which popular culture affects an individual’s sense of self (or their identity).
This material is mainly relevant to the media studies option within A level sociology
For more exam practice see my exams, essays and short answer question page.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways that popular culture may affect an individual’s sense of self (10 marks)
Note – you MUST use the item!
Possible full mark answer (10/10)
One way popular culture may affect an individual’s sense of self is by shaping identity through dominant norms and values, as highlighted in Item A, which states that popular culture “reflects mainstream norms and values of society.” From a functionalist perspective, shared cultural products help socialise individuals into common values, contributing to a stable sense of self. For example, media representations of gender roles or success (e.g. wealth, attractiveness) provide templates for identity.
However, this process can be better explained by interactionist theories, such as Erving Goffman’s concept of impression management. Individuals may construct their sense of self based on how they believe others perceive them, using popular culture as a resource. For instance, young people may curate their social media profiles to align with dominant trends, shaping a “front stage” identity. This shows that popular culture not only reflects norms but actively influences how individuals perform and understand their identity in everyday life.
A second way popular culture affects identity is by enabling resistance and the creation of alternative identities, which links directly to Item A’s point that “some people may reject” mainstream values. From a postmodern perspective, identity is no longer fixed but is fluid and fragmented. David Gauntlett argues that the media provides a “toolkit” of images and ideas that individuals can draw upon to construct their identities. For example, involvement in subcultures such as punk or online communities allows individuals to reject dominant norms and create a sense of self based on difference and individuality.
Furthermore, this can be linked to neo-Marxist ideas, such as Dick Hebdige, who argues that subcultures use style (e.g. fashion, music) as a form of symbolic resistance to mainstream culture. This suggests that popular culture is not simply imposed but is actively reinterpreted, allowing individuals to construct oppositional identities.
Overall, popular culture has a dual effect: it can shape identity through dominant cultural norms, but also provides the resources for individuals to actively construct and resist identities, demonstrating that the relationship between popular culture and the self is dynamic and negotiated.
Sources
The main material for this could be:
Mark Scheme can be found here:
file:///Users/karl/Downloads/AQA-71922-MS-JUN24.PDF