Showing papers in "Cultural Sociology in 2020"
TL;DR: A number of concepts and concerns from cultural sociology were thrown out as babies with the bathwater when the sociological study of consumption became dominated by the use of practice theories as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A number of concepts and concerns from cultural sociology were thrown out as babies with the bathwater when the sociological study of consumption became dominated by the use of practice theories. T...
28 citations
TL;DR: When analyzing literary fiction, most cultural sociologists still accept the well-established boundaries between the literary and the sociological, thus leaving literature stripped of its aesthetic properties as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: When analyzing literary fiction, most cultural sociologists still accept the well-established boundaries between the literary and the sociological, thus leaving literature stripped of its aesthetic...
27 citations
TL;DR: The turn to practice in social theory is proving influential in the sociological study of consumption (following Warde, 2005) as mentioned in this paper, and this article joins current debates that appraise the contributions o
Abstract: The ‘turn’ to practice in social theory is proving influential in the sociological study of consumption (following Warde, 2005) This article joins current debates that appraise the contributions o
24 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a survey of the connections between modern ideas of individualism and Eudaimonia with individuals being driven to reach their full potential, including greed as a pursuit of happiness, lying as freedom of speech and cruelty as justice.
Abstract: world’, p. 11) wellness, consumerism and ecological guardianship (‘Money doesn’t last, the land is forever’, p. 228). With fake news being increasingly important in modern society, Machiavelli appears to have been a master of spin interpreting greed as a ‘pursuit of happiness’, lying as ‘freedom of speech’ and cruelty as ‘justice’ (p. 58). This fits with modern ideas of individualism, as does Eudaimonia with individuals being compelled to reach their full potential. This idea tallies with recent research demonstrating that searching for constant happiness may actually increase dissatisfaction (Kahriz et al., 2019), and that altruism may be the true path to happiness (Lok and Dunne, 2020). The various authors make these contemporary links too with reference to modern-day thinkers such as Steven Pinker (2018) used in comparison to Scottish Enlightenment philosophy, for example. For some chapters, the links to happiness theory and research seem tenuous, although this does not mean they are not interesting as work in their own right. The topics being investigated and discussed can become repetitive with the same definitions, themes and thinkers being explained numerous times throughout the book. If this piece is read as a standard book from start to finish, this can become monotonous. However, if the chapters were read individually, this could be avoided. This book would be of interest to many disciplines, evidenced by the wide range of backgrounds possessed by the contributors. Those interested in sociology, political science, theology, psychology, history, neuroscience, English literature, anthropology and philosophy would all find something of interest and the interdisciplinary nature of the topic can be clearly observed. With stress levels in western society at an all-time high, this book is a timely reminder of how concepts of happiness have intrigued and concerned us throughout time and across cultures.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce the special issue "Renewing Theories of Practice and Reappraising the Cultural" and discuss the "practice turn" in the sociology of consumption.
Abstract: This short article introduces the Special Issue ‘Renewing Theories of Practice and Reappraising the Cultural’. We first discuss the ‘practice turn’ in the sociology of consumption. We introduce thr...
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a cultural reading of consumption that focuses on the meaning and materiality of domestic indoor microclimates can contribute to conceptual developments in the field of indoor micro-climates.
Abstract: This article demonstrates how a cultural reading of consumption that focuses on the meaning and materiality of domestic indoor microclimates can contribute to conceptual developments in the field o...
16 citations
TL;DR: The authors triangulates Schatzki's practice theory and Thevenot's "regimes of engagement" with the nascent field of "social futures" or future-oriented cultural sociology.
Abstract: The article triangulates Schatzki’s practice theory (2002) and Thevenot’s (2001) ‘regimes of engagement’ with the nascent field of ‘social futures’ or future-oriented cultural sociology (e.g. Colem...
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors aim to lift the veil on white sexuality by studying how young people "perform" this within the Rotterdam techno scene, and they rely on previous work that has highlighted that white sexua...
Abstract: This article aims to lift the veil on white sexuality by studying how young people ‘perform’ this within the Rotterdam techno scene. It relies on previous work that has highlighted that white sexua...
14 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a summary of the book Des valeurs. Une approche sociologique (Values: A sociological approach) (Gallimard, 2017) through a discussion of 10 controversial issues is presented.
Abstract: This article offers a summary of the book Des valeurs. Une approche sociologique (Values: A sociological approach) (Gallimard, 2017) through a discussion of 10 controversial issues. It thereby allo...
13 citations
TL;DR: Social theory and photographic aesthetics both engage with issues of representation, realism and validity, having crossed paths in theoretical and methodological controversies as mentioned in this paper, and have been discussed in a wide range of contexts.
Abstract: Social theory and photographic aesthetics both engage with issues of representation, realism and validity, having crossed paths in theoretical and methodological controversies. This discussion begi...
12 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore two moments of architectural production centred on London in the mid-19th century: the ‘Battle of the... and the 'Battle of London'.
Abstract: Architecture is inextricably entangled with time. Illustrating this point, the article explores two moments of architectural production centred on London in the mid-19th century: the ‘Battle of the...
TL;DR: The authors advocate a shift from concerns with economic ethics to a focus on religious belonging as embodying class-based cultural disentanglement in debates on religion and social inequalities, and argue that religious belonging can be seen as a way of embodying social inequalities.
Abstract: Intervening in debates on religion and social inequalities, this article advocates a shift from concerns with economic ethics to a focus on religious belonging as embodying class-based cultural dis...
TL;DR: A sociological analysis of van Gogh's creative practice is presented in this article, which not only illuminates particularly consevered aspects of his creative practice, but also highlights the influence of his work on other artists.
Abstract: Vincent van Gogh is one of the most well-known and influential artists in the western tradition. A sociological analysis of his creative practice, therefore, not only illuminates particularly conse...
TL;DR: This article investigated whether education's influence on the likelihood of visual and performing arts attendance in the USA varies by race and ethnicity, using data from the 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts.
Abstract: Using data from the 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, I investigate whether education’s influence on the likelihood of visual and performing arts attendance in the USA varies by race...
TL;DR: The authors discusses some of the central theses proposed by Nathalie Heinich in her book Des Valeurs (values), focusing on the distinction between norms and values, and the inductive approa...
Abstract: This article discusses some of the central theses proposed by Nathalie Heinich in her book Des Valeurs (Values). After focusing on the distinction between norms and values, and the inductive approa...
TL;DR: The authors examines the connections between the economic, social and cultural aspects of a rather peculiar practice -events of domestic hospitality which involve a meal, in formats ranging from restaurants to movie theaters.
Abstract: This article examines the connections between the economic, social and cultural aspects of a rather peculiar practice – events of domestic hospitality which involve a meal. In formats ranging from ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyse how Brazilian sociology articulates the relationship between culture and power, which is one of the central problems of cultural sociology, and analyse two theoretical trad...
Abstract: In this article, I analyse how Brazilian sociology articulates the relationship between culture and power, which is one of the central problems of cultural sociology. I analyse two theoretical trad...
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors drew on practice theory to understand the food safety scandals in China and found that consumers organized farmers' markets and buyers' clubs as a way to access organic food.
Abstract: Recurrent food safety scandals have prompted Beijing consumers to organize farmers’ markets and buyers’ clubs as a way to access organic food. This article draws on practice theory to understand th...
TL;DR: Physical attractiveness is increasingly framed as a meritocratic good that involves individual benefits, such as higher wages or success in the partner market as mentioned in this paper, and investment in one's physical appearanc...
Abstract: Physical attractiveness is increasingly framed as a meritocratic good that involves individual benefits, such as higher wages or success in the partner market. Investing in one’s physical appearanc...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors offer some thoughts on Nathalie Heinich's book, Des valeurs (Values), and its proposal of an axiological grammar, and three main issues are addressed.
Abstract: The article offers some thoughts on Nathalie Heinich’s book, Des valeurs (Values), and its proposal of an axiological grammar. Three main issues are addressed. First, the article revisits the issue...
TL;DR: For the 31st issue of Questions de communication, Nathalie Heinich (EHESS, CNRS) extracted 10 proposals from her book published early in 2017, Des Valeurs.
Abstract: For the 31st issue of Questions de communication, Nathalie Heinich (EHESS, CNRS) extracted 10 proposals from her book published early in 2017, Des Valeurs. Une approche sociologique (Values: A soci...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors criticise Nathalie Heinich's proposals for a sociology of values, e.g., her anti-naturalism, her refusal to take religion as a relevant frame for thinking about the world.
Abstract: This article is about Nathalie Heinich’s proposals for a sociology of values. It criticises some of them: e.g. her anti-naturalism, her refusal to take religion as a relevant frame for thinking abo...
TL;DR: In this paper, Dubrovskiy's chapter on the Moscow 1980 and Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, he quotes a Russian human rights activist who says that we should not criticise sporting events as we would be spoiling peoples' fun (I paraphrase).
Abstract: There are other books that criticise the commercialisation and corruption associated with sports mega events such as Sugden and Tomlinson (2012) and Conn (2017), but this volume has a broader lens with associated strengths and weaknesses. Its wider view brings attention to events we may not have otherwise considered but, inevitably, its nine studies from authors from various disciplines do feel like a scattergun approach. The book’s main weakness may be that in trying to measure sport against the rather nebulous aims of global sporting events, the editor finds it difficult to completely nail the moving target. This is a fascinating book to dip into and useful for sport academics and cultural sociologists alike who will be interested in the semantics and word play around the idealistic aims of the game makers and the host nations’ populations who directly experience the negative effects of sport mega events. In Dubrovskiy’s chapter on the Moscow 1980 and Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, he quotes a Russian human rights activist, who says that we should not criticise sporting events as we would be spoiling peoples’ fun (I paraphrase). The book makes a strong case that there is a responsibility to call global sport events to task on their stated claims at the very least.
TL;DR: Dorling D and Tomlinson S (2019) Rule Britannia: Brexit and the End of Empire. London: Biteback Publishing as mentioned in this paper, and SAGE (2020) British Rule in India: Description, Sage Publications Website: Available at: https:// uk.sagepub.com/engb/eur/british-rule-in-india/book266244 (accessed: 16 January 2020).
Abstract: Dorling D and Tomlinson S (2019) Rule Britannia: Brexit and the End of Empire. London: Biteback Publishing. Parker I (1992) Discourse Dynamics: Critical Analysis for Social and Individual Psychology. London: Routledge. SAGE (2020) British Rule in India: Description, Sage Publications Website: Available at: https:// uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/british-rule-in-india/book266244 (accessed: 16 January 2020).
TL;DR: In this article, Nathalie Heinich responds to the comments of Laurence Kaufmann and Philippe Pigneur, proposing a 10-point summary of her book Des valeurs.
Abstract: Having proposed a 10-point summary of her book Des valeurs. Une approche sociologique (Values: A Sociological Approach), Nathalie Heinich responds to the comments of Laurence Kaufmann and Philippe ...