The Sociology of CultureRaymond Williams helped to establish the field of cultural sociology with Marxism and Literature and Culture and Society. Continuing the work of those studies, The Sociology of Culture offers debate on the origin and evolution of culture. It defines sociology of culture as a convergence of various fields and explores ways in which culture is socially mediated. "A historical analysis of the social organization of culture in terms of its institutions and formations. Insisting that the term sociology of culture implies a convergence of interests and methods, Williams draws from a broad range of examples: Greek drama, Celtic bards, the Pre-Raphaelites, Bloomsbury and modern copyright laws, among others."—Library Journal Raymond Williams (1921-87) was professor of drama at Cambridge University. His many books include Marxism and Literature, Keywords, Country and the City, and Culture and Society. |
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action active actual aesthetic alternative analysis artists asymmetry Bloomsbury bourgeois tragedy capitalist century changes comedy of manners common complex concept conscious crisis criticism crucial cultural formation cultural institutions cultural production cultural sociology defined definition direct directly distinction distinguish dominant dramatic forms earlier economic economic interventionism effect elements emphasis especially evident example extended factors formal function genuinely oppositional groups human ideology important individual innovation integrated intellectuals internal kinds of social King Lear London major manifest market relations Marxist material means of production modes oppositional overlap particular patron period Perry Anderson phase political post-artisanal practice Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood primarily problems production and reproduction professional radically range Raymond Williams relative autonomy relative distance religious seen sense significant signifying system social and cultural social order social organization social processes social relations society sociology of culture specialization stage studies technologies theoretical tradition types variable whole Williams