Concepts of culture in society and planning in 20th to 21st Century Australia and Britain

Throughout the 20th century, the dominant concept of culture influenced the ideas of social and urban planning in both Great Britain and Australia. The conception of culture, however, changed after World War II. Previously, culture had been conceived as "high culture," a specialized, elevated aesthetic activity that could be used to improve the moral character of the population. Subsequently, culture came to mean both popular culture and the everyday mores and traditions of the populace. In planning, this changed notion of culture led to an elevation of the value of community culture and the creation of public spaces for community cultural participation.