This book presents a critical analysis of the relation between sociological theory and recent debates in cultural studies. A distinctive sociological perspective is developed based on the work of Marx, Weber, Bourdieu and Bakhtin. The book examines the problems of theorising issues such as modernity, mass culture and postmodernity by advocating a historical and context-based approach.
ALAN SWINGEWOOD is Lecturer in Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the author of A Short History of Sociological Thought (second edition) and The Myth of Mass Culture.
Introduction Theorising Culture: Marxism Theorising Culture: Weber, Simmel and Social Action Problems of Culture Industry Culture Analysis and Systems Theory Contextualising Culture The Theory of Cultural Fields Dialogism and Cultural Forms Modernity and Culture Postmodernity and Mass Culture Conclusion Bibliography Index.
