An Introduction to Cultural Sociology Andrew J. Perrin January 10, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

An Introduction to Cultural Sociology

Andrew J. Perrin January 10, 2011

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 1 / 20

Plan for Today’s Class

1 Introduction to Cultural Sociology 2 Prelude to the class 3 Nutritive break 4 Introductions 5 Discussion of lecture and readings 6 Syllabus, course mechanics, and presentation sign-up Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 2 / 20

What Do We Mean When We Say “Culture”?

Biological metaphor

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 3 / 20

What Do We Mean When We Say “Culture”?

Biological metaphor

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 4 / 20

What Do We Mean When We Say “Culture”?

National culture

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 5 / 20

What Do We Mean When We Say “Culture”?

High culture

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 6 / 20

What Do We Mean When We Say “Culture”?

“Primitive” culture

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 7 / 20

What Do We Mean When We Say “Culture”?

Multiculturalism

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 8 / 20

Classical Theorists on Culture

´ Emile Durkheim

There is indeed one area in which the common consciousness has grown stronger, becoming more clearly delineated: in its view of the individual. As all the other beliefs and practices assume less and less religious a character, the individual becomes the object of a sort of religion. We carry

• n the worship of the dignity of the human person.. . . it is a common

faith.. . . It is indeed from society that it draws all this strength. The Division of Labor in Society, p. 122

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 9 / 20

Classical Theorists on Culture

Durkheim and Mauss

Durkheim & Mauss, Primitive Classification . . . Durkheim, Elementary Forms of Religious Life

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 10 / 20

Classical Theorists on Culture

Weber

. . . very frequently the ‘world images’ that have been created by ‘ideas’ have, like switchmen, determined the tracks along which action has been pushed by the dynamic of interest. ‘From what’ and ‘for what’ one wished to be redeemed and, let us not forget, ‘could be’ redeemed, depended upon one’s image of the world. Tastes and consumption Status groups Religion

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 11 / 20

Classical Theorists on Culture

And yes, even Marx!

What, then, is the cost of production of labour power? It is the cost required for maintaining the worker as a worker and of developing him into a worker.

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 12 / 20

Early American Sociology of Culture

Talcott Parsons

Remember the AGIL paradigm The cultural system was one piece of the social system Functions of the cultural system: social values and norms Culture was considered constant, relatively static, and external to actors

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 13 / 20

After Parsons: Clifford Geertz

Thick description Interpretive approach to culture The meaning of a wink

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 14 / 20

Anthropological Approaches to Culture

A Caricature!

Culture inheres in discrete, definable groups These groups are authentic and relatively static Close observation can reveal underlying cultural realities

• But. . .

Much of this underlies our current thinking about culture

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 15 / 20

Mass Culture and Critique

Adorno and Horkheimer, “The Culture Industry”

In late capitalism, culture is industrialized Massification makes culture easy to consume but fake and predictable Mass culture incorporates its own critiques Note that cultural studies takes its starting point as a critique of this position

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 16 / 20

Stratification of Consumption

Bourdieu and his minions

Bourdieu, Distinction: taste is a stratified, social characteristic Social class predicts cultural taste, and Cultural taste is used to mark and claim social identity Museums, concerts, art, music tastes, cuisine, etc.

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 17 / 20

Four Current Schools of Culture

These are in competition but also often overlap

1 Cultures as clusters of identifiable values (Inglehart) 2 Cultures as repertoires of “styles, skills, and habits” (Swidler) 3 Cultures as autonomous systems of signs and interpretations

(Alexander)

4 Cultures as discrete national traits (Lamont) Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 18 / 20

The Culture Section

Institutionally, the ASA culture section holds these very distinct groups This somewhat ad-hoc grouping has been productive The course seeks to interrogate the connections and the fissures Join the section!

Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 19 / 20

Metaquestions for Cultural Sociologists

1 What unit(s) of analysis have culture? 2 How and where can we “find” (measure) culture? 3 Where does people’s culture(s) “live”? 4 Where (if at all) does culture fit in a causal chain? Andrew J. Perrin () An Introduction to Cultural Sociology January 10, 2011 20 / 20