South Africa, Nov. 4 -- Advertising is sometimes described as a "mirror" of society, reflecting our existing values and norms, and other times as a "moulder" or shaper of society, actively influencing how we behave and what we believe.

Defining culture

One strong definition of culture comes from Unesco, which defines it as "the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group," encompassing not only art and literature but also lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.

Popular culture, A.K.A. pop culture is a more specific idea. It refers to the common ideas, entertainment and trends that are widely liked or accepted by the majority of people in a ...