Cultural theory for the humanities / Robert Pennington.

Format:

• Book

Author/Creator:

• Pennington, Robert (Sociologist), author.

Contributor:

• Pennington, Robert, (Sociologist), editor.

Series:

• Focus on civilizations and cultures.
• Focus on Civilizations and Cultures

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Culture.
• Social interaction.
• Perception.
• Signs and symbols.
• Identity (Psychology).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (183 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York : Nova Publishers, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This theory of culture, a synthesis of thinking from Europe, the Americas and Asia, illustrates the function and meaning of culture rather than form. It fuses philosophy, anthropology, sociology, history, science, psychology, literature, literary criticism and linguistics -- all areas that a comprehensive theory must comprise because they constitute culture. The essence of culture is identity, or psychosocial homeostasis. A primary problem for cultural solution is the determination of what has identity. As social concepts, individuals can have identity in some cultures but not in others. Where identity is possible, it is generally derived from shared identities of defined groups and even of the culture itself. Essential identity of individuals, even in cultures that admit it, does not occur within the scope of culture. This theory concerns the possibilities and forms of culturally recognizable identity. The Editor of this book examines this Cultural Theory for the humanities.

Contents:

• CULTURAL THEORY FOR THE HUMANITIES ; CULTURAL THEORY FOR THE HUMANITIES ; Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data; CONTENTS ; PREFACE ; Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ; Chapter 2 WHAT IS CULTURE? ; Chapter 3 ALIENATING THE IDEAL; Chapter 4 SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION ; Chapter 5 ESSENTIAL IDENTITY ; Chapter 6 NEEDS, CLASS AND IDENTITY ; Chapter 7 IDENTITY MANAGEMENT ; Chapter 8 SYMBOLIC IDENTITY ; Chapter 9 ART AND ARTIFACTS ; Chapter 10 CONSUMER CULTURE IDENTITY ; Chapter 11 PARADIGM, PARALLAX AND PARADOX ; Chapter 12 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ; BIBLIOGRAPHY
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX

Notes:

• Description based upon print version of record.
• Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-63484-764-4