Cultural Studies

Hello Fiends,

Many times we might have heard, what others are doing is seems to be unnatural, sometimes it looks abnormal too. Why? It is because of cultural diversity. What some outsiders are doing is like unlikely it’s just because what they are or what they are doing is not part of our culture at all. It is also possible that what we are doing is also quite surprising to other as it may not part of their culture. This cultural conflict can be found not only between two countries but also between two class and castes! As far one can understand this concept of cultural diversity, what Matthew Arnold defines in his ‘Culture and Anarchy’ is why problematic!

We know that, balance within the society is much required but yet question arises that ‘Though we are denying that such problems/issues do not in exist in our society but is it true?’ Answer of this question may lead anyone to the silence only! Here, cultural studies help a lot and that is why what Arnold defines and where cultural studies stand is quite different at all.

Cultural studies help us not only in reading power but also to what is emergence of reading power! Perhaps that question can also come that it seems it must be full of controversy and then why it should teach to students? It is like what difference a cultural studies approach make does for the student? It is necessary because learning by controversy is sound training for citizenship in future. Today a student can go form the one class in which the values of Western Culture are never questioned to the next class where Western Culture is portrayed as hopelessly compromised by racism, sexism and homophobia. It is the demand of time that student is needed to construct a conversation as the most exciting part of their education.

Commonly cultural studies shares four Goals. Let’s try to discuss these with examples.

(1)Transcends the confines of a particular discipline

Primarily, cultural studies transcend the confines of a particular discipline such as literary criticism or history.

(2)Politically engaged

As we discussed earlier, cultural studies is politically engaged.

(3)Denies separation between high & Law

Worthy to note, cultural studies denies separation between high and law & elite and popular culture.

(4)The Means of Production

Cultural studies hammers into basement and that’s why it analyzes not only the cultural work, but also the means of production.

Thank You.

Reference:
Guerin, Wilfred L. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. Oxford University Press, 2011.