Chapter 1 Introduction to Cultural Studies.pptx

Chapter 1 Introduction to Cultural Studies.pptx

1. Chatper 1 Introduction to Cultural Studies Cambodian University for Specialties (CUS) Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Languages Major: English Literature Lecturer: Chhorb Tay

2. Discussion Questions How do you define "culture" in both a traditional and modern sense? Can you think of examples from Cambodian society? What is Cultural Studies? What role do language play in the construction of culture? Can you give examples of how Western culture has influenced local traditions or values in your community? How are different social groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, or class) represented in Cambodian media? Are there any stereotypes you notice?

3. Contents I. Preliminary definitions II. Cultural studies: a political project III. Post-Marxism: a crisis In cultural studies? IV. Uses and abuses of cultural studies V. Hegemony theory VI.Where is cultural studies?

4. What is Culture? Culture: the way of life shared by a group of people . Include ideas and “things” passed from one generation to the next in a society.

5. Components of Culture Material Culture : The artifacts of Life. Material culture: include all human-made objects.

6. Components of Culture

7. What is Cultural Studies? Cultural studies : An interdisciplinary field that studies how meaning is created in social structures, and how culture relates to everyday life, history, and more. Cultural studies draws from many disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, politics, history, economics, philosophy, literature, and communications . 

8. Cultural Studies

9. I. Preliminary definitions Colin Sparks (1977): Cultural studies is difficult to define precisely. It's a blend of ideas from literary criticism, sociology, history, media studies, etc. No unified theory or methodology. Focuses on popular culture and social life.

10. I. Preliminary definitions John Fiske (Chapter 6): Culture is political, not merely aesthetic or humanist. Culture includes both "high art" and popular culture. Raymond Williams’ Definition: Culture is a "particular way of life" of a group or period. It includes both elite and popular culture. Richard Johnson (Chapter 5): Cultural studies look at all social practices for their subjective effects. The text is not the focus; it’s a tool for studying cultural forms.

11. I. Preliminary definitions (Cont.) Cultural Studies and Power: Culture is linked to class, gender, race, and social relations. It reflects and shapes societal power structures. Cultural Studies Focus: Culture is political, and it reflects and shapes social struggles. Popular culture is central, but all cultural practices are of interest. Cultural studies is interdisciplinary, drawing from Marxism, ideology, and power structures.

12. I. Preliminary definitions (Cont.) Cultural Studies and Power: Culture is linked to class, gender, race, and social relations. It reflects and shapes societal power structures. Cultural Studies Focus: Culture is political, and it reflects and shapes social struggles. Popular culture is central, but all cultural practices are of interest. Cultural studies is interdisciplinary, drawing from Marxism, ideology, and power structures.

13. I. Preliminary definitions (Cont.)

14. II. Cultural studies: a political project Richard Johnson: Cultural studies is political, but not in a "pragmatic sense. "Nelson & O'Connor: Cultural studies theorizes political action but isn’t interchangeable with it. Focus on social involvement: Frow and Morris emphasize the political dimension of knowledge and social engagement.

15. II. Cultural studies: a political project (Cont.) Inspired by Gramsci’s idea of "organic intellectuals," Hall viewed cultural studies as a tool for political engagement. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

16. II. Cultural studies: a political project (Cont.) Kaynak , Erdener & Kara, Ali. (2013). Reinforcing Cultural Identity by Appealing to Local Cultural Cues: National Identity Formation and Consumption in High-Context Cultures.

17. II. Cultural studies: a political project The relation between Cultural studies and Politics Cultural studies and politics are closely related because cultural studies analyze how culture—beliefs, practices, and media—shapes and reflects power structures in society. Politics, as the process of governing and decision-making, is influenced by cultural norms, ideologies, and representations. Cultural studies often critique dominant ideologies, explore marginalized voices, and examine how cultural products (like films, literature, or news) support or resist political power. Example: The civil rights movement in the U.S. is an example where politics and culture intersect. Films, music, and literature from that era reflected the struggle for racial equality and helped to shift public opinion, ultimately influencing political change like the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Cultural products were both shaped by and contributed to political activism.

18. II. Cultural studies: a political project Pdf https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fpEB2A883p3BrJe61cLCpI0LB1nzx1Ds?usp=sharing

19. III. Post-Marxism: a crisis In cultural studies? Further reading on Post- marxism : link

20. III. Post-Marxism: a crisis In cultural studies? (Cont.) Crisis in Cultural Studies: Lidia Curti and Angela McRobbie describe a continuous state of crisis within cultural studies. McRobbie links the current crisis to the undermining of Marxism, citing its essentialism, economism, and Eurocentrism, as well as disillusionment from the collapse of socialist regimes in Eastern Europe. Marxism's Uncertain Role: remains a reference point but is now heavily critiqued. A return to pre-postmodern Marxism is seen as untenable due to its emphasis on economic over cultural and political relations.

21. III. Post-Marxism: a crisis In cultural studies? (Cont.) Stuart Hall on Post-Marxism: Cultural studies was always post-Marxist in nature, never fully aligned with traditional Marxism. Hall criticized Marxism’s determinism, reductionism, and orthodoxy, emphasizing that cultural studies engaged with issues Marxism overlooked (e.g., culture, ideology, language).

22. Group Discussion Group A: Uses and abuses of cultural studies Group B : Hegemony theory revisited Group C: Where is cultural studies?

23. IV. Uses and abuses of cultural studies Jim McGuigan argues cultural studies has become overly focused on consumption without connecting to the material relations of production. Advocates for dialogue between cultural studies and the political economy of culture to enhance political effectiveness and avoid complicity with exploitation.

24. IV. Uses and abuses of cultural studies (Cont.) McGuigan identifies Fiske’s work as symptomatic of a decline in British cultural studies. Critics like David Harris point to gender-blindness in early youth studies without acknowledging that critiques come from within the discipline itself.

25. V. Hegemony theory Hegemony theory explores how power and influence are exerted in cultural contexts, originally formulated by Antonio Gramsci to analyze class relations. McRobbie’s Perspective: Advocates a return to neo-Gramscian hegemony in cultural studies. Critiques the shift to economic reductionism and uncritical consumerism. Emphasizes the need to view consumption within broader social and political contexts.

26. VI. Where is cultural studies? Evolution: Origins: Established in 1964 at the University of Birmingham by Richard Hoggart . Global Expansion: Cultural studies programs have proliferated, particularly in the USA, Australia, and beyond.

27. VI. Where is cultural studies? (Cont.) Current Landscape: Internationalization: The journal Cultural Studies features diverse editorial members from multiple countries, indicating global interest. Challenges: In Australia, cultural studies faces marketing constraints that may restrict critical discourse. In the USA, concerns arise over cultural studies becoming depoliticized and overly focused on language and textuality.

28. VI.Where is cultural studies? (Cont.) Key Concerns and Future Directions Institutionalization Risks: Hall warns that institutionalization can dilute critical analysis of power and politics. O'Connor notes a potential association with superficial postmodern theorizing. Need for Political Engagement: Nelson emphasizes the risk of cultural studies becoming unreflective and ahistorical. Long and Rooney advocate for maintaining a critical feminist perspective to resist marginalization. Focus on Racism: Hall calls for a commitment to analyzing racism within cultural studies to address societal inequalities.

29. Conclusion Cultural studies must embrace its critical roots and engage with pressing social issues to remain relevant. Cultural studies has evolved significantly, expanding globally while facing challenges such as depoliticization and institutional constraints. Scholars like Hall and McRobbie emphasize the importance of critical engagement with social issues, particularly around race and gender. As we move forward, it's essential to maintain the discipline's critical edge and relevance. By fostering inquiry that embraces diversity and challenges power dynamics, we can contribute to a more equitable society.

30. References Storey, J. (1996). What Is Cultural Studies?: A Reader . Bloomsbury Academic. https://books.google.com.kh/books?id=wwOoTcXtqFcC Storey, J. (2010). Cultural studies and the study of popular culture. Edinburgh University Press. Storey, J. (2021). Cultural theory and popular culture: An introduction. Routledge. Berezin , M., Sandusky, E., & Davidson, T. (2020). Culture in politics and politics in culture. The New Handbook of Political Sociology, 102-131. Baligh , H. H. (1994). Components of culture: nature, interconnections, and relevance to the decisions on the organization structure. Management science, 40(1), 14-27. Kaynak , E., & Kara, A. (2013). Reinforcing cultural identity by appealing to local cultural cues: National identity formation and consumption in high-context cultures. Journal of Promotion Management, 19(1), 86-113.