Key Concepts in Cultural Studies

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to cultural studies and social relations, aiding in exam preparation.

Belief and Knowledge

A set of values, beliefs and convictions seen as the truth by a group, supported by cultural experience.

Change

Alteration and/or modification of elements (cultural and social) within a society.

Culture

An organized system of ideas, values, objects, symbols, and explanations that humans create and manage; often seen as dynamic.

Identity

One’s personal view of the self or how one is viewed by others in a social group, which can include group identities like religion or ethnicity.

Materiality

The cultural meaning of objects, resources, and belongings, including the study of the body as a cultural object.

Power

The ability of a person or group to manipulate, influence, or control others and resources, highlighting social distinctions and inequalities.

Social Relations

Relationships between individuals in a social network, involving individual agency and group expectations.

Society

The organization of humans into groups and networks, distinguished by coherence and sustained by social relationships and institutions.

Symbolism

The study of significance attached to objects, processes, and actions that creates a network of symbols in cultural meaning.