The Experience of Culture (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society)

Over the last 20 years culture has become a key concept in intellectual disciplines across the social sciences and humanities. However, it is a notoriously difficult concept to pin down, having very different meanings in different contexts. This book seeks to chart a route through the maze, revealing the variety of meanings of culture. It demonstrates that culture is not something that emerges from out of human activity, but rather is part and parcel of it. This book looks at how culture emerges and manifests itself in human life, and how it is experienced in the life of individuals and collectivities. It also explores the ways in which globalizing processes and changes in technology are affecting cultural identity, and w Culture Has Become A Key Concept Throughout The Social Sciences, And In This Book, Richardson Engages With How It Is Variously Interpreted, Arguing That Human Experience Is Essentially Defined By Culture. Most Of The Literature On Culture Is Concerned With Its Why, This Book Is Concerned With Its How: How Does It Emerge And Become Manifest In Human Life And How Is It Experienced In The Lives Of Individuals And Collectives? The Author Contends That Culture Is Unique To Humans And Emerges From The Particular Manner In Which We Are Brought Into Contact With The World Through Socialization And Acculturation: It Is The Material From Which Our Sense Of Identity Is Constructed. Richardson Uses This Perspective To Explore The Ways In Which Globalizing Processes And Technological Progress Are Affecting Our Cultural Identity, And Whether We Are Seeing A Fundamental Change In How Culture Is Formed And Experienced. This Book Expands Upon Current Arguments And Suggests New Ways Of Studying Culture. It Will Be Required Reading For Students And Researchers In Critical Theory, Sociology, Cultural Studies And Social Anthropology.--jacket. 1. The Manifestation Of Culture In Human Life -- 2. Entering Culture -- 3. The Differentiation Of Cultures -- 4. Culture As Communication -- 5. Experience Of The Senses -- 6. Culture And The Natural World -- 7. The Place Of Reason In Culture -- 8. Transformatory Processes Of Culture: Knowledge And Freedom -- 9. Culture And The Status Of Reality -- 10. The Technologisation Of Culture -- 11. Reintegrations. Michael Richardson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [172]-176) And Index. Over the last 20 years culture has become a key concept in intellectual disciplines across the social sciences and humanities. However, it is a notoriously difficult concept to pin down, having very different meanings in different contexts. This book seeks to chart a route through the maze, revealing the variety of meanings of culture. It demonstrates that culture is not something that emerges from human activity, but rather is part and parcel of it. This book looks at how culture emerges and manifests itself in human life, and how it is experienced in the life of individuals and collectivities. It also explores the ways in which globalizing processes and changes in technology are affecting cultural identity, and whether we are seeing a fundamental change in the ways in which culture is formed and experienced.