Practicing Culture (Taking Culture Seriously)

ISBN 10: 0415412501 / ISBN 13: 9780415412506

Published by Routledge, 2007

About this Item

Seeks to revitalize the field of cultural sociology with an emphasis not on abstract theoretical debates but on showing how to put theoretical sources to work in empirical research. This book offers an empirical case study of how culture works in practice and how practice makes and remakes culture. It is of interest to students of cultural theory. Editor(s): Calhoun, Craig; Sennett, Richard. Series: Taking Culture Seriously. Num Pages: 248 pages, 32 black & white illustrations, 2 black & white tables, 31 black & white halftones, 1 bla. BIC Classification: JFC; JH. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly; (UU) Undergraduate. Dimension: 234 x 157 x 12. Weight in Grams: 386. . 2007. 1st Edition. paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780415412506

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Practicing Culture (Taking Culture Seriously)
• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication Date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415412501
• ISBN 13: 9780415412506
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Practicing Culture seeks to revitalize the field of cultural sociology with an emphasis not on abstract theoretical debates but on showing how to put theoretical sources to work in empirical research. Culture is not just products and representations but practices. It is made and remade in countless small ways and occasional bursts of innovation. It is something people do – and do in rich variety and distinctive contexts as engaging case studies from the book reveal. For example:

• in Russia’s most Western city, Kaliningrad, residents dig for artifacts symbolizing a German past – even though their parents only migrated to what was once Konigsberg after WWII
• in the USA, fans of professional wrestling pride themselves on being smart enough to know how much is trickery and how the tricks work yet still believe in the contest.

Practicing Culture will reshape and invigorate the sociology of culture, not only through internal development, but through enhanced connections to the interdisciplinary social theory and to related fields like the sociology of knowledge and ethnography. It will prove an essential tool for students and researchers of cultural theory, contemporary social theory and cultural sociology.

About the Author

Craig Calhoun is University Professor of Social Science at New York University and President of the Social Science Research Council.

Richard Sennett is Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Cities Programme at the London School of Economics and is University Professor of the Humanities at New York University.