Cultura

The chapter explores the concept of culture from a sociological perspective, tracing its evolution from an individual achievement to a collective dimension. Initially, culture was linked to the cultivation of the mind, a privilege of the elite. The Enlightenment and anthropological studies, particularly Edward B. Tylor’s 1871 definition, expanded culture to encompass language, customs, arts, and social practices, marking a shift toward a plural and inclusive understanding. Talcott Parsons later distinguished culture from society, defining it as a system of values, norms, and symbols that ensure social cohesion, though this view was critiqued for ignoring power dynamics. The British Cultural Studies movement, led by figures like Raymond Williams and Stuart Hall, redefined culture as a "whole way of life," emphasizing its role in power struggles and resistance. Hall’s work highlighted culture as a battleground where dominant and subaltern groups negotiate meanings, with concepts like "hegemony" and "resistance" central to this analysis. Pierre Bourdieu further advanced the study of culture by linking it to social stratification, introducing ideas like "cultural capital" and "habitus" to explain how cultural practices reproduce inequalities. The chapter also examines the interplay between culture and education, noting how institutions transmit and legitimize cultural values. A case study on mass culture in post-war Italy illustrates how cultural consumption reflects social hierarchies. Contemporary debates address globalization, digital media, and identity politics, with scholars like Arjun Appadurai and Judith Butler exploring cultural flows and performativity. The chapter concludes by emphasizing culture’s dynamic, contested nature and its centrality in understanding social processes and transformations.