Driven by the wave of globalization and the technological revolution, pop culture is like a prismatic mirror, which reflects the trajectory of social change and, at the same time, quietly alters the landscape of our lives. This study takes the phenomenon of Chinese and global pop culture as an observation sample, and combines big data analysis and real cases to explore the two-way construction mechanism between social process and pop culture. The study discovers that pop culture reconfigures social cognition via symbolic production and dissemination. It reflects structural conflicts, such as those between generations and genders, and also empowers disadvantaged groups. Moreover, it reshapes urban - rural relations and national cultural identity by means of symbolic power. This shows that popular culture is not only a mirror of social phenomena, but also a pusher for social change. While it mirrors social conflicts, it also injects new vitality into society and builds bridges for more inclusive development in a unique way. This study helps us to see the close connection between popular culture and social development, and to understand that popular culture is not just an entertainment pastime, but also an important participant in social change. At the same time, it also provides practical ideas and directions for us to better utilize popular culture to promote social progress and foster understanding and integration among different groups.
Zixian Wang (Wed,) studied this question.