Cultural Studies

20 Cultural Studies Terms with Meanings and Examples

1. Culture: The shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors of a group of people.

• Example: American culture includes traditions like Thanksgiving and Fourth of July celebrations.

2. Cultural Studies: The interdisciplinary study of culture, especially as it relates to power, inequality, and social change.

• Example: Cultural studies scholars analyze the ways in which culture is produced, circulated, and consumed.

3. Cultural Anthropology: The study of human cultures, past and present.

• Example: Cultural anthropologists study topics such as language, religion, and kinship systems.

4. Cultural Relativism: The belief that there is no universal standard of morality or truth, and that cultural values and beliefs should be understood within their own context.

• Example: Cultural relativism suggests that it is wrong to judge other cultures based on one’s own cultural standards.

5. Cultural Imperialism: The imposition of one culture over another.

• Example: Colonialism often involved cultural imperialism, as the colonizing power sought to impose its own culture on the colonized people.

6. Cultural Appropriation: The adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture, often without understanding or respecting the original context.

• Example: Wearing traditional clothing from another culture without understanding its significance can be seen as cultural appropriation.

7. Subculture: A group of people within a larger culture who have their own distinct beliefs, values, and customs.

• Example: Punk rock is a subculture that has its own unique style, music, and values.

8. Counterculture: A subculture that opposes the dominant culture.

• Example: The hippie movement was a counterculture that challenged the mainstream values of American society in the 1960s.

9. Multiculturalism: The belief that different cultures should coexist peacefully and respect each other.

• Example: Multicultural societies are characterized by diversity and tolerance.

10. Cultural Hegemony: The dominance of one culture over another.

• Example: The spread of Western culture through globalization is often seen as a form of cultural hegemony.

11. Cultural Identity: A person’s sense of belonging to a particular culture.

• Example: A person’s cultural identity is shaped by their upbringing, experiences, and beliefs.

12. Cultural Representation: The way in which culture is portrayed in media and other forms of communication.

• Example: Cultural representation can be stereotypical or accurate.

13. Cultural Capital: The knowledge, skills, and resources that are valued in a particular culture.

• Example: Education, social connections, and cultural literacy are forms of cultural capital.

14. Cultural Studies: The interdisciplinary study of culture, especially as it relates to power, inequality, and social change.

• Example: Cultural studies scholars analyze the ways in which culture is produced, circulated, and consumed.

15. Cultural Anthropology: The study of human cultures, past and present.

• Example: Cultural anthropologists study topics such as language, religion, and kinship systems.

16. Cultural Relativism: The belief that there is no universal standard of morality or truth, and that cultural values and beliefs should be understood within their own context.

• Example: Cultural relativism suggests that it is wrong to judge other cultures based on one’s own cultural standards.

17. Cultural Imperialism: The imposition of one culture over another.

• Example: Colonialism often involved cultural imperialism, as the colonizing power sought to impose its own culture on the colonized people.

18. Cultural Appropriation: The adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture, often without understanding or respecting the original context.

• Example: Wearing traditional clothing from another culture without understanding its significance can be seen as cultural appropriation.

19. Subculture: A group of people within a larger culture who have their own distinct beliefs, values, and customs.

• Example: Punk rock is a subculture that has its own unique style, music, and values.

20. Counterculture: A subculture that opposes the dominant culture.

• Example: The hippie movement was a counterculture that challenged the mainstream values of American society in the 1960s.