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The Structure of Modern Cultural Theory

(Paperback)

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Publishing Details

Full Title:

The Structure of Modern Cultural Theory

Contributors:

By (Author) Thomas Osborne

ISBN:

9780719086465

Publisher:

Manchester University Press

Imprint:

Manchester University Press

Publication Date:

2nd September 2008

Country:

United Kingdom

Classifications

Readership:

Tertiary Education

Main Subject:
Dewey:

306.01

Physical Properties

Physical Format:

Paperback

Number of Pages:

192

Dimensions:

Width 138mm, Height 216mm

Description

What is the point of cultural theory Do we even know what it is This book is at once an introduction to, and, broadly, a defence of modern cultural theory understood as a particular constellation of inquiry, one that may be all the more important in our postmodern times the more seemingly irrelevant it is to current fashions. Focusing on the work of Theodor Adorno, Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault the book argues that in spite of their differences these authors shared particularly 'modern' understandings of culture, creativity and human agency; understandings centred on the ideas of critical autonomy and creativity of thought. Even though all three were committed to scholarly empirical research, for them the function of cultural theory was not just to describe the world positivistically 'as it is' (or was) but to cultivate the conditions for ethical autonomy in their readerships by opening up ways for thinking differently and exposing the fetishisms and blockages that hinder that task.

Author Bio

Thomas Osborne is Professor of Sociology at the University of Bristol

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