What does culture have to do with politics?

When I think of culture, politics doesn’t always come to mind. Marxist theories and Structuralism are something I wouldn’t have associated with the study of culture. However, Rivkin and Ryan's article, “Politics of Culture, explored and explained the possibilities of popular culture.  It was described that “culture is both a mean of domination, of assuring the rule of one class or group over another” but also “a means of resistance to such domination, a way of articulating oppositional points of view to those in dominance”. What that mean in terms of popular culture was that with the use of media could be used as a tool to give short periods of distraction and fulfillment for those of the working class. However, other thinkers felt that culture could be used as a means of introducing information in secret that move the masses toward alternative ways of thought.

If I were to put this in a more personal view, by using my favorite book as an example, I feel like it could be a way to introduce rebellion to those higher in power. The book, Trickester’s Choice by Tamore Pierce allows youths to explore an archaic world where a conquered people are being oppressed by the privileged few. The main character makes a deal with a god and in exchange, is supposed to help the resistance eventually overthrow the corrupt monarchy government. Set in a fantastical world with magic and medieval knights, young adults are introduced to the idea that the government might not always be the one who’s “right.”

This could be a story to give the underprivileged a chance to see what they should fight towards. The seed of rebellion could be planted, ready to grow into a thorny rose against the gardeners of the government.