Cultural Studies

Definition of Cultural Studies

The Canada social science dictionary [1] provides the following meaning of Cultural Studies: Associated with the Frankfurt School in the early decades of the twentieth century and the writings of the Birmingham Centre for Cultural Studies (begun in 1964). Both of these groups began to look at culture as a force shaping lived human experience, rather than at the level of abstract generalization. Their focus was on examining the function of culture in everyday life and its role in a system of social hierarchy and domination. These studies eventually began to build on Antonio Gramsci’s (1891-1937) concept of hegemony to demonstrate how class or gender rule is supported not only by overt mechanisms of law and the exercise of power, but is pervasively dispersed throughout society in institutional structures and cultural beliefs and values. Cultural studies now include a substantial portion of sociological work. See: HEGEMONY in this legal dictionary and in the world encyclopedia of law.

Cultural Studies: Resources

Notes and References

• Drislane, R., & Parkinson, G. (2016). (Concept of) Cultural Studies. Online dictionary of the social sciences. Open University of Canada