Hello Gloria, greetings from Germany.

In the field of early European Ethnology , Hans Naumann suggested the theory of "Gesunkenes Kulturgut" in the early 1920s, saying that innovative powers in higher socio-cultural hierarchies create cultural aspects, which are then by time copied and adapted by what was then called "lower classes". Obviously, this theory didn't stand for long, as many examples of modern pop culture show us that culture may be transferred vertically bottom-to-top as well (Jeans, Tattoos, Boots with steel cabs, etc.). But nevertheless it is a considerable idea to begin with. It might also be worth discussing and adapting the Broken-Window-Theory by Wilson and Kelling or the characteristics of innovation diffusion stated by Hägerstrand for your work. Also defining the characteristics of the "Early-Adaptors" in diffusion processes and seeing different mechanisms in "vertical" and "horizontal" diffusion, using cultural expressions to include or exclude, might show a path to how a cluster of theories that might be helpful.

You might look at social network theory as well -- what are the networks through which the fiction genre is being disseminated and how do those networks legitimize or even enhance the genre and what it represents (e.g., what it may represent in terms of social identity). Also look at Dan Sperber and his approach to the spread of culture using a "contagion" analogy. And from a symbolic anthropological perspective, is there something about the underlying narrative(s) (the "plots", so to speak, and character types) within that genre that resonates across different groups of potential readers?

Dear Colleagues Markus Schreckhaas and Mark Edberg,

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my query. I would like to share the topical bibliography of my problematic cultural icon. I will message that to you. Without knowing the specs of this icon, it may be harder to you to see what I am dealing with and hopefully writing an article concerning.

Perhaps a further comment may occur on getting the specifics.

Vielen dank--and--Thanks,

Gloria

Dear Gloria,

I just want to specify Markus Schreckhaas' comment a little bit: Naumann's idea of "sinking cultural phenomena" was developped by Swedish and German cultural anthropologists to the theoretical model of "fixation of culture" (in German: "Kulturfixierungstheorie"; detailed publication by Günter Wiegelmann, Theoretische Konzepte der Europäischen Ethnologie, Münster 1991). Most of its evidence concerns material culture and therefore, it might not touch your topic.

Kind regards,

Markus Walz

Dear Colleagues,

I am noting the complaints that popular culture readers have regarding so-called "elite" media and institutions, holding back "due recognition" of their pop cultural writing heroes.

There seems a view that creating a bottleneck to one's favored cultural icon is undesirable. Having peer-edited journals and scientific societies that review nominations, say, of naming of features on planets is also undesirable to some in the public.

Certainly there have always been ethical naming issues in science. The most famous example of cautionary tropes come from the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, who foresaw the problems on other worlds when earthlings come and want to name previously named planetary features ( on planets with sentient inhabitants) after local earth heroes in his novel _The Martian Chronicles_.

There can also be issues of taste in naming even uninhabited planets. These are example sof the transmission of culture.

There are some notorious historical figures after whom features should never be named on even uninhabited other planets. Are these stable and generally-held standards today and in future?

Naming geographical and extraterrestrial objects after humans is a subcategory of transmission of culture.

Question to Marcus Schreckhaas:

Could you tell a little more about this?

"the Broken-Window-Theory by Wilson and Kelling"

Coming form the field of English rhetoric and teaching, I have never encountered the theory.

Thanks,

Gloria