Cultural studies
Cultural Studies
Cultural studies (pronunciation: /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈstʌdiz/) is an interdisciplinary field of research that examines the way in which culture creates and transforms individual experiences, everyday life, social relations and power.
Etymology
The term "cultural studies" was first used in the English-speaking world in the 1960s, particularly in Britain, where it was associated with the work of scholars at the University of Birmingham's Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies.
Definition
Cultural studies combines sociology, literary theory, film/video studies, and cultural anthropology to study cultural phenomena in various societies. It often studies how these phenomena relate to issues of ideology, nationality, ethnicity, social class, and gender.
Related Terms
- Ideology: A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
- Nationality: The status of belonging to a particular nation.
- Ethnicity: The fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.
- Social Class: A division of a society based on social and economic status.
- Gender: The state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones).
Methodology
Cultural studies researchers often concentrate on how a particular phenomenon relates to matters of ideology, race, social class, and/or gender. The field strives to examine the politics of signification.
Criticism
Cultural studies has been criticized for its lack of attention to the economic and political context in which culture is produced and consumed. Critics argue that it often reduces culture to a text to be read and fails to consider the material conditions under which cultural goods are produced and consumed.
See Also
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