The current scholarly analysis of pop continues to operate within the framework of a power theory that ascribes the subject of investigation a political function. This text seeks an alternative explanation of the phenomenon by assigning pop its own (exclusive) social function. Pop is understood as a self-substitutive unit, which qualifies it for the status of a function system. The basic structures typical for systems can be demonstrated: function, medium, code, various programmes, the specific communicative operation as well as its reflexive function, and so forth. The present text examines four additional structural elements which Luhmann designates as characteristic of function systems—secondary code, side code, contingency formula and zero methodology—to further refine the concept. Findings: Pop has many features that are characteristic of function systems. It is anything but a sphere of disorder, but has a definite infrastructure.

中文翻译：

---

解开流行音乐：一种系统理论方法

当前对流行音乐的学术分析继续在权力理论的框架内运作，该理论将调查主题归于政治功能。本文通过赋予流行音乐自己的（排他的）社会功能来寻求对这一现象的另一种解释。流行音乐被理解为一个自我替代的单元，这使它有资格获得一个功能系统的地位。可以展示系统典型的基本结构：功能、媒介、代码、各种程序、具体的通信操作及其自反功能等。本文研究了 Luhmann 指定为功能系统特征的四个附加结构元素——二级代码、辅助代码、权变公式和零方法——以进一步完善该概念。发现：Pop 具有许多功能系统的特征。它绝不是一个混乱的领域，而是有一个明确的基础设施。