Raymond Williams’s Sociology of Culture : A Critical Reconstruction

This detailed study of Williams unlocks his late sociology of culture. It covers previously overlooked aspects, such as his critique of Birmingham cultural studies, his use of an Adorno-like approach to 'cultural production', his 'social formalist' alternative to structuralism and post-structuralism and his approach to 'the media'. This study of Williams provides the most detailed account available of the sociological dimensions of his project. While including an overview of the central themes throughout his writings, it seeks especially to unlock his late sociology of culture. Previously overlooked aspects of Williams's 'mature' work are thus highlighted. These include: his critique of Birmingham cultural studies; his critique of conservative sociological orthodoxies; his debt to the work of the Frankfurt School; his use of an Adorno-like approach to 'cultural production'; his 'social formalist' alternative to formalism, structuralism and post-structuralism; and his later work on 'the media'. All these are related to his radical democratic vision. Comparisons are drawn between Williams's initiatives and contemporary sociologists such as Habermas and Bourdieu. The book is relevant to many contemporary theoretical debates, and aims in particular to make Williams's sociological project available for concrete analysis within sociology, media studies and cultural studies. This study of Williams provides the most detailed account available of the sociological dimensions of his project. While including an overview of the central themes throughout his writings, it seeks especially to unlock his late sociology of culture. Previously overlooked aspects of Williams's 'mature' work are thus highlighted. These include: his critique of Birmingham cultural studies; his critique of conservative sociological orthodoxies; his debt to the work of the Frankfurt School; his use of an Adorno-like approach to 'cultural production'; his 'social formalist' alternative to formalism, structuralism, and post-structuralism; his later work on 'the media'. All these are related to his radical democratic vision. Comparisons are drawn between Williams's initiatives and contemporary sociologists such as Habermas and Bourdieu. The book is thus relevant to many contemporary theoretical debates and aims particularly to make Williams's sociological project available for concrete analysis within sociology, media studies and cultural studies Previous assessments of Williams have usually focused on his place within literary and/or cultural studies. In contrast, this study provides the first detailed exegesis of his sociology of culture. This neglected dimension of Williams's work emerges as an alternative to both cultural studies and orthodox sociologies of culture and the media. Surprisingly, Williams's alternative has much affinity with the work of the Frankfurt School. This book provides a foundation for the development and application of this critical sociology of culture. -- Publisher description Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Settling Accounts with ‘Culture’....Pages 1-36 Cultural Materialism versus ‘Received Marxist Theory’....Pages 37-60 From Criticism to Critique....Pages 61-91 Social Formalism....Pages 92-126 Towards a Sociology of Culture....Pages 127-141 Cultural Production and Means of Communication....Pages 142-180 The Long Revolution(s) of Modernity....Pages 181-194 Back Matter....Pages 195-247 Williams's 'expansive' usage of the category of culture is the achievement for which he is most widely known.