The terms 'culture' and 'cultural' have taken on a wide range of meanings in sociology, the humanities, and popular discourse. In this course, we will consider three competing approaches to the study of culture: cultural sociology, sociology of culture, and cultural studies. From declarations of "culture wars" to the rise of reality television, we will discuss the theories, production, consumption, and reception of processes and artifacts labeled cultural. Emphasis will be placed on how relationships between power, representation, and identity are viewed across each approach and in a variety of social, aesthetic, ethical, and historical contexts. This course includes a substantial writing component. |