cultural sociology

is (in contrast to sociology of culture approach treats culture as a dependent variable), interested in cultural as an an 'independent variable' that possesses a relative autonomy in shaping actions and institutions, providing inputs every bit as vital as more material or instrumental forces.

one could say that the more traditional sociology of culture approach treats culture as a dependent variable, whereas in cultural sociology it is an 'independent variable' that possesses a relative autonomy in shaping actions and institutions, providing inputs every bit as vital as more material or instrumental forces' (Alexander 12).

is a kind of social psychoanalysis. Its goal is to bring the social unconscious up for view. To reveal to men and women the myths that think them so that they can make new myths in turn.

cultural sociology is a kind of social psychoanalysis. its goal is to bring the social unconscious up for view. to reveal to men and women the myths that think them so that they can make new myths in turn' (alexander the meanings 4).

is concerned with collective emotions as central to its method, as subjective feelings so often seem to rule the world.

cultural sociology makes collective emotions and ideas central to its methods and theories precisely because it is such subjective and internal feelings that so often seem to rule the world' (alexander 5).

is grounded in a sharp uncoupling of culture from social structure. The autonomy of culture is grounded in semiotic.

The single most important quality of a strong program. 'a sharp analytical uncoupling of culture from social structure, which is what we mean by cultural autonomy' (Alexander 13). The autonomy of culture is grounded in semiotics.

is grounded in the idea of bringing the unconscious cultural structures that regulate society into the light of the mind.

to bring the unconscious cultural structures that regulate society into the light of the mind

is grounded in the idea that culture is not just a text but a text underpinned by signs and symbols in patterned relations.

Pivotal to all such work is an effort to understand culture not just as a text (a la Geertz) but rather as a text that is underpinned by signs and symbols that are in patterned relationships to each other'

is grounded in the thought that all action is embedded in a horizon of affect and meaning.

To believe in the possibility of a cultural sociology is to subscribe to the idea that every action, no matter how instrumental, reflexive, or coerced vis-a-vis its external environments, is embedded to some extent in a horizon of affect and meaning' (Alexander meaning 12).

cultural sociology, n.Definitions

cultural sociology