Sociology 5330: Cultural Studies

Description
    Cultural studies examines the cultural turn in critical social theory, beginning with Lukacs. Thinkers to be examined include the Frankfurt School theorists and Foucault and those, such as Kellner, Luke and myself, who follow in their wake. I will make the argument that cultural theory and cultural studies are necessary in order to understand capitalism's surprising resilience as well as its potential for transformation. I will also argue that, in light of globalization, the internet and post-Fordism, the distinction between culture and political economy is increasingly problematic, suggesting that the very agenda of a materialist social theory needs to foreground the concept and practices of culture, which Marxists used to view as epiphenomenal. Excellent background reading includes Nick Dyer-Witheford's 1999 (University of Illinois Press paperback) Cyber-Marx: Cycles and Circuits of Struggle in High-Technology Capitalism, which will form the basis of my summer I course/reading group, Soc 5341/Engl 5330.

Coursework and Grades
    Lead a class discussion and turn in 20 pages of notes you took while reading one or more of the books; due on last class day. (The written component will be the basis of grade.)

Readings (All are paperback, save for my Gender, Culture and Power).
    Foucault: Discipline and Punish, The Care of the Self, The History of Sexuality, The Use of Pleasure
    Agger: Cultural Studies as Critical Theory, Gender, Culture and Power
    Luke: Screens of Power
    Kellner: Media Culture (All are paperback, save for my Gender, Culture and Power).

Lectures and Themes, by Week
    week 1: Why was cultural studies scandalous?: issues of disciplinarity, power and politics; rethinking the priority of base over superstructure in postmodern capitalism
    week 2: The Marx question: prehistory and history of the problem of culture; Foucault and the Frankfurt School
    week 3: cyber-Marx: the impact of information technologies on society, culture and social theory (handouts by Kellner, Poster, Agger)
    week 4: Foucault, DP
    week 5: Foucault, HS
    week 6: Foucault, UP
    week 7: Foucault, CS
    week 8: Kellner book
    week 9: Kellner book
    week 10: Luke book
    week 11: Agger, CSasCT
    week 12: Agger, G,C,P
    week 13: Institutionalization of cultural studies: cultural studies, disciplinarity and academic life
    week 14: concluding discussions