Jane Austen is one of the world’s most celebrated writers, but despite her fame and long-standing popularity, her works have in fact been hugely influenced by popular culture. By exploring the effect of popular culture on Jane Austen’s works, we can gain a better appreciation of her talent and craft as a writer, as well as improve our understanding of the way popular culture has evolved over time.
What is Pop Culture?
Popular culture, or ‘pop culture’ for short, is the prevailing worldview of a generation. It includes music, TV shows, books, films, art, fashion, and lifestyle influences that shape the way a particular group of people view the world. As such, popular culture acts as a window into the mindset of a certain era, and can provide valuable insights into the history and values of a specific society.
The Effect of Pop Culture on Jane Austen’s Works
Throughout her life and works, Jane Austen was greatly influenced by popular culture. From the words she used in dialogue to the people she wrote about, Austen was constantly inspired by the cultural norms and popular opinion of the day. Let’s look at a few specific ways pop culture impacted her writing:
- Popular Literature of the Time
Jane Austen was immensely well-read, and her works were often inspired by the popular literature of the time. Much of Austen’s dialogue, for instance, was directly influenced by the plays, novels and poetry prevalent in her era. Other authors, such as Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson, also left an indelible mark on Austen’s writing.
- Art and Music
Austen was also a lover of art and music and was highly influenced by them in her works. She was known to have a collection of paintings by well-known artists of the day, and often wrote of art galleries and the appreciation of art in society. Austen also made frequent references to the popular music of her era, particularly music hall songs and classical and opera music.
- Fashion
Fashion was an important part of Austen’s life, and it can also be seen in her works. She often wrote in detail about the clothing of the time, as well as the making of garments. In her novel Pride and Prejudice, for instance, Austen writes about how fashionable clothing had an effect on the characters’ social standing in society.
- Societal Standards
Much of the dialogue and plots in Jane Austen’s works were influenced by the prevailing social standards of her time. Austen was popularly known for satirizing the conduct of the upper classes in her works, and much of her dialogue was centered around making subtle social comments. She often wrote of the expectations, manners and customs of the upper echelons of society and how they affected people’s behaviour.
Popular culture had a strong influence on Jane Austen and her works. From art and music to literature and fashion, Austen was constantly inspired by the people and societies around her. By exploring her works in greater detail and considering the cultural influences, we can gain a better appreciation of the talent and craft of this remarkable author.
