--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Commercial jazz, soap opera, pulp…" description: "\"Commercial jazz, soap opera, pulp fiction, comic strips, the movies set the images, mannerisms, standards, and aims of the urban masses. In one way or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/c-wright-mills-9475_aim_commercial-jazz-soap-opera-pulp-fiction_1970394.jpg" --- # Commercial jazz, soap opera, pulp fiction, comic strips… ![“Commercial jazz, soap opera, pulp fiction, comic strips, the movies set the images, mannerisms, standards, and aims of the urban masses. In one way or another, everyone is equal before these cultural machines; like technology itself, the mass media are nearly universal in their incidence and…” quote by C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/c-wright-mills-9475_aim_commercial-jazz-soap-opera-pulp-fiction_1970394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/c-wright-mills-9475_aim_commercial-jazz-soap-opera-pulp-fiction_1970394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/c-wright-mills-9475_aim_commercial-jazz-soap-opera-pulp-fiction_1970394.jpg) > “Commercial jazz, soap opera, pulp fiction, comic strips, the movies set the images, mannerisms, standards, and aims of the urban masses. In one way or another, everyone is equal before these cultural machines; like technology itself, the mass media are nearly universal in their incidence and appeal. They are a kind of common denominator, a kind of scheme for pre-scheduled, mass emotions.” [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mass media shape urban culture, creating shared symbols and emotions that equalize people before pervasive cultural forces. **In simple terms:** Media make city life feel the same for everyone. Key Takeaway Recognize how media influence your values. Themes culture media urban life equality emotion Mood reflective critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - political campaigns - advertising - social media trends - public opinion formation Key Concepts sociology mass communication cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - How do you see media shaping your daily choices? - What media messages challenge your assumptions? A Different Perspective Media can also reinforce stereotypes and limit critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Appeals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeals/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic strips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-strips/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common denominator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-denominator/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal Cultural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-cultural-3305140/) [Everyone is equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone-is-equal/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Images Mannerisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/images-mannerisms-3305139/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Mass Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-emotions-1976035/) [Mass media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-media/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera/) [Pulp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulp/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) [Soap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soap/) [Soap opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soap-opera/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban/) [Urban Masses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban-masses-3064206/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The industrial revolution has tended to produce everywhere great urban masses that seem to be increasingly careless of ethical standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-babbitt/the-industrial-revolution-has-tended-to-produce-everywhere-great/) [Irving Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-babbitt/) > [“Anyone who reads history at all knows that the passionate and powerful convictions of one century usually seem absurd, extraordinary, to the next. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/anyone-who-reads-history-at-all-knows-that-the-passionate-and/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Often the mass emotions are those which seem the noblest, best and most beautiful. And yet, inside a year, five years, a decade, five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/often-the-mass-emotions-are-those-which-seem-the-noblest-best-and/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I'm Death, and I make sure that everyone is equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-death-and-i-make-sure-that-everyone-is-equal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone is equal - a strange Swedish mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/everyone-is-equal-a-strange-swedish-mentality/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [Johan was more than just a great soccer player. He was a role model who promoted world peace. He brought the values of education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-milla/johan-was-more-than-just-a-great-soccer-player-he-was-a-role-model/) [Roger Milla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-milla/) > [It was important for the Supreme Court to say it’s a matter of constitutional law that everyone is equal, to say everyone is entitled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boies/it-was-important-for-the-supreme-court-to-say-it-s-a-matter-of/) [David Boies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boies/) > [On the field, everyone is equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-milla/on-the-field-everyone-is-equal/) [Roger Milla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-milla/) > [In private matters everyone is equal before the law. In public matters, when it is a question of putting power and responsibility into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pericles/in-private-matters-everyone-is-equal-before-the-law-in-public-matters/) [Pericles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pericles/) > [It was only when I got to college that I realized that the rest of the world didn't run the way my world was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/it-was-only-when-i-got-to-college-that-i-realized-that-the-rest-of/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [You cannot say you've achieved equality until EVERYONE is equal and has equal opportunities!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/you-cannot-say-you-ve-achieved-equality-until-everyone-is-equal-and/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [Everyone, everyone is equal. Everyone has a place. No one is written off because there is worth and goodness in every life. Straight from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/everyone-everyone-is-equal-everyone-has-a-place-no-one-is-written-off/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Develop a sense of the brotherhood of man. Look upon each person as your own brother. There is only one caste, the caste of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/develop-a-sense-of-the-brotherhood-of-man-look-upon-each-person-as/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Everyone is equal and everyone is forced to participate; you can't just be a spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/everyone-is-equal-and-everyone-is-forced-to-participate-you-can-t/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [It's really a pity that there are observers who view political events like comic strips. There has to be a Zorro, there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sankara/it-s-really-a-pity-that-there-are-observers-who-view-political-events/) [Thomas Sankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sankara/) ## More by C. Wright Mills > [As a social and as a personal force, religion has become a dependent variable. It does not originate; it reacts. It does not denounce;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/as-a-social-and-as-a-personal-force-religion-has-become-a-dependent/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Every revolution has its counterrevolution - that is a sign the revolution is for real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/every-revolution-has-its-counterrevolution-that-is-a-sign-the/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [For the first time in American history, men in authority are talking about an 'emergency' without a foreseeable end... such men as these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/for-the-first-time-in-american-history-men-in-authority-are-talking/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Prestige is the shadow of money and power. Where these are, there it is. Like the national market for soap or automobiles and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/prestige-is-the-shadow-of-money-and-power-where-these-are-there-it-is/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [America is a nation with no truly national city, no Paris, no Rome, no London, no city which is at once the social center,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/america-is-a-nation-with-no-truly-national-city-no-paris-no-rome-no/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [What we experience in various and specific milieux, I have noted, is often caused by structural changes. Accordingly, to understand the changes of many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/what-we-experience-in-various-and-specific-milieux-i-have-noted-is/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [The nearest the modern general or admiral comes to a small-arms encounter of any sort is at a duck hunt in the company of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/the-nearest-the-modern-general-or-admiral-comes-to-a-small-arms/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [IBM Plus Reality Plus Humanism = Sociology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/ibm-plus-reality-plus-humanism-sociology/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [You can never really understand an individual unless you also understand the society,historical time period in which they live,personal troubles, and social issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/you-can-never-really-understand-an-individual-unless-you-also/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Fate has to do with events in history that are the summary and unintended results of innumerable decisions of innumerable men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/fate-has-to-do-with-events-in-history-that-are-the-summary-and/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Whatever sociology may be, it is the result of constantly asking the question, what is the meaning of this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/whatever-sociology-may-be-it-is-the-result-of-constantly-asking-the/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [The mass production of distraction is now as much a part of the American way of life as the mass production of automobiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/the-mass-production-of-distraction-is-now-as-much-a-part-of-the/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [If we accept the Greek's definition of the idiot as an altogether private man, then we must conclude that many American citizens are now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/if-we-accept-the-greek-s-definition-of-the-idiot-as-an-altogether/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Seldom aware of the intricate connection between the patterns of their own lives and the course of world history, ordinary people do not usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/seldom-aware-of-the-intricate-connection-between-the-patterns-of/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/neither-the-life-of-an-individual-nor-the-history-of-a-society-can-be/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) [Explore all 70 C. Wright Mills quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Commercial jazz, soap opera, pulp fiction, comic strips, the movies set the images, mannerisms, standards, and aims of the urban masses. 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