The 4 differences between cultural democratization and cultural democracy

Different concepts that show different conceptions of culture and its dissemination.

It is well known that all human beings have duties and rights on equal terms; the right to decent housing, the right to feed ourselves daily, and in general terms, we have the right to lead a decent life.

This range of rights also includes the right to education and the possibility of accessing the cultural assets of the society in which we live. In this article we are going to learn the differences between cultural democratization and cultural democracyterms that lend themselves to much confusion and of which it is important to have a clear notion.

What is cultural democracy?

Cultural democracy refers to the idea that men and women are cultural entities that must be formed autonomously and freely, motivated by their particular interests with respect to the cultural issues within them.

Thus, taking into account the above, we can already get an idea of how the differences between cultural democratization and cultural democracy are outlined; cultural democracy emphasizes the need to let the individual himself be the one who participates in the cultural process. the individual to participate in cultural life without any limitations imposed on him or her..

In this order of ideas, when we speak of cultural democracy, we are referring to the fact that it is clearly the individuals themselves who are motivated to learn about certain cultural aspects, without the need for external direction or governmental or corporate impositions. There is no need for strategic plans to get people culturally involved in activities programmed by the state or by some other social group that promotes them. Incentives to get the population to participate in cultural activities can be seen as a form of manipulation or bias that discriminates against certain cultural expressions in order to give a voice to others.

While there is no harm in having diverse cultural alternatives available to the population, ideally, it should be the individual who freely decides which ones he or she prefers to participate in, without any external pressure.without any external pressure to become involved in any of these activities.

What is cultural democratization?

This position is the most common and widespread among the masses. From this perspective, it is believed that the greater the cultural diffusion from the point of view of public projection and institutional support, the greater will also be the incursion of the population in cultural activities born of the intellectual sensitivity of the elite.

The idea is that there can only be the maximum cultural development only if and when the population has the possibility of free access to elite culture.This is achieved through the implementation of a sophisticated publicity and communication machinery, as well as economic support that makes the diffusion of this culture possible. For some sectors of the population, this idea is somewhat invasive.

Cultural democratization is perceived by some as a form of manipulation, which pursues particular interests, which pursues particular interests, which go beyond the very purpose of bringing culture (that of the elite) to the masses.. From some sectors, this method is seen as misleading advertising, which prevents people from freely choosing which activities and forms of expression they prefer to participate in.

In this sense, people go from being an active and participative part of culture by their own means, to being a kind of spectators, who will only participate in the "elitist" cultural activities that the system offers them through the publicity it implements for some of these movements.

In short, the democratization of culture proposes to be a kind of guide towards an "ideal culture", which is planned by the system.which is planned by the state or by any other private entity that proposes it; this leads to a passive participation of the community, since it is not the citizens who decide freely.

Active participation can only occur when there is cultural democracy, where the subject is solely responsible for his choices and makes them from his own personal motivation, without any incentive or suggestion from external agents.

Differences between democracy and democratization in culture.

Now let's see a list with the differences between democratization in culture and cultural democracy.

1. The model

On the one hand, the model of cultural democratization promotes the diffusion of culture by means of propaganda and mass dissemination instrumentsOn the other hand, the cultural democracy model invites people to participate freely in activities depending on their particular interests in culture.

2. The way of understanding culture

Cultural democratization understands this as a good of the collective that by default is not available to all and that must be made available through some sophisticated methods. which by default is not within everyone's reach and which must be made available by means of sophisticated methods. On the other hand, cultural democracy understands that culture is more of a personal and spontaneous process, which is built from daily coexistence.

3. The origin of culture

In cultural democratization the origin of culture comes from officialdomIn other words, it is elaborated according to the criteria of public employees who are dedicated to creating cultural strategies for the people. On the other hand, in cultural democracy it is the subject himself who decides in which activities he participates according to his motivation.

4. The proposal for citizen participation

As far as the democratization of culture is concerned, people participate as a kind of spectator-audience; they are subject to other people's decisions about what kind of content to experience.

In contrast, in cultural democracy, each person is an actor-participant in his or her own cultural experience. in his or her own cultural experience; there is no dependence of any kind regarding the content in which the citizen wishes to participate.

Bibliographical references:

• Gombrich, E. H. (2004): Brief history of culture. Península. Barcelona.
• Hoult, T.F., ed. (1969): Dictionary of Modern Sociology. Totowa: Littlefield, Adams & Co.