The study of how people use cultural products to express themselves and create social identities.
Cultural Sociology: The study of the social and cultural aspects of human behavior, with a focus on understanding how cultural practices and beliefs shape social structures.
Cultural Consumption: The process by which individuals acquire and use cultural products or expressions, such as art, music, films, and fashion, to create meaning and construct identity.
Taste: The preferences and choices that individuals make when consuming cultural goods, which are shaped by social, economic, and cultural factors. Taste also serves as a marker of identity and social distinction.
Cultural Capital: The knowledge, skills, and experiences that individuals possess and can use to gain social status and privilege in a given society. It includes both formal education and informal cultural practices.
Cultural Omnivorousness: The tendency of some individuals to consume culture across different genres and categories, reflecting a diverse range of tastes and interests.
Cultural Industries: The sectors of the economy that produce and distribute cultural goods and services, including music, film, publishing, and fashion. Cultural industries are shaped by both supply and demand factors, including market forces and production technologies.
Cultural Policy: The government interventions in the cultural sector, including funding, regulations, and institutional frameworks. Cultural policy is aimed at promoting cultural heritage, diversity, and innovation, as well as supporting the growth of cultural industries.
Cultural Globalization: The process by which cultural products and practices spread across national and regional boundaries, leading to cultural homogenization or hybridization. Cultural globalization is driven by technological advancements, economic globalization, and migration.
Social Movements and Cultural Resistance: The ways in which social movements and marginalized groups use cultural practices to challenge dominant power structures and create alternative forms of cultural expression. This includes movements such as feminist, LGBT, and racial justice, as well as cultural resistance and appropriation.
Cultural Sociology and Identity: The relationship between cultural practices and identity, including how cultural consumption is used to express, reinforce, or challenge aspects of individual or collective identity. Cultural identity includes ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, religion, and other categories of social distinction.
Everyday Cultural Consumption: This refers to the cultural goods and services that individuals consume on a daily basis, such as music, films, literature, food, and art.
Elite Cultural Consumption: This involves the consumption of high cultural goods, which are typically associated with the elite classes or "upper crust." These may include museum exhibits, art auctions, and classical music performances.
Popular Cultural Consumption: This type of cultural consumption refers to the consumption of popular cultural goods, such as pop music, TV shows, and films.
National Cultural Consumption: This involves the consumption of culture that expresses or reinforces national identity, such as national anthems, folk music, and national celebrations.
International Cultural Consumption: This refers to the consumption of culture from other countries, such as foreign films, music, and cuisine.
Counter-Cultural Consumption: This involves the consumption of culture that challenges or subverts dominant cultural values, such as punk music, street art, and independent films.
Virtual Cultural Consumption: This refers to the consumption of culture through digital media, such as streaming services, social media, and online gaming.
Lifestyle Cultural Consumption: This type of cultural consumption involves the incorporation of cultural goods into one's lifestyle, such as fashion, home decor, or health trends.
Nostalgia Cultural Consumption: This involves the consumption of cultural goods that harken back to a previous era, such as retro fashion, classic films, and vintage music.