Question

Difference between the 'archaic' and the 'residual'

Answer 1

In short, his main ideas of importance are right in the title. There are dominant, residual, and emergent parts of any cultural group. Interestingly enough, while dominant is the most powerful shaping force as obviously indicated by the name, it does not get its own section of the essay, but is mostly shown as the sort of cultural mass that he pokes at with his other types of culture. Dominant culture oversees the whole essay, without ever being explained outright. I suppose Williams thought readers would have enough cultural awareness to understand the dominant group in their own cultures without direct explanation. It is valid that the reader’s dominant culture, clearly visible through practices and ideas they themselves are immersed in require no broad explanation. In our case consumerism and a focus on individuality are two examples that I would consider part of the dominant in American culture. Williams does however, clearly explain the other two ideas, residual and emergent.