Reference no: EM13807867

1. How does Geertz analyze and study culture? What does it mean when he suggests that culture is symbolic action andneeds to be described thickly? (Hint: remember interpretations of interpretations). Which way or ways of studying culture is he employing? Why does he believe his approach is effective?

2. How do the concepts of base, superstructure and hegemony, according to Williams, elucidate culture? Be sure to define each term individually and explain how it relates to culture. What does it mean to suggest that Williams rails against totality? What does this mean for cultural change?

3. According to Williams, what are residual and emergent cultures? Continuing, what is incorporation and what does it have to do with emergent and residual cultures? Why do these concepts prompt Williams to make a distinction between alternative and oppositional cultures?

4. What does both Barthes mean when they say that the relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary? Why is it problematic to naturalize or hypostatize this relationship? Barthes maintains that a structured variation of interpretation is possible. Explain, why Barthes argues there is a limited potential for diversity in interpreting cultural texts. What do these concepts and Barthes argument have to with myth, hegemony and wrestling?

5. According Adorno, what is "easy culture"? What are its defining characteristics? What are some examples of what he means by this? Why does he dislike it so much? What kind of cultural way of life does it produce?

6. According to Adorno, what are the crucial contradictions between critical thought and the culture industry? What does he mean when he refers to cultural consumption as "cyclical boredom". Continuing, what is paradoxical about the culture industry's claim that the "customer is king"?

Be sure to answer every part of the question; you should be able to answer these in around 1 page(double spaced, one inch margins, 12 point Times New Roman font (points will be taken off for not following this format)). For full credit, answer the question fully, use examples, cite sociological and media articles, refer to the discussion boards when necessary and be sure to use your own language. That is, do not simply copy my Power Point notes; doing that does not demonstrate an understanding of the course material. Once again, attach a file as well as paste the text directly into the submission text box in this assignment.