Sociology of Culture

The term “cultural sociology” first emerged in Weimar Germany. In the sociological field, culture can be defined as the social behaviors, ways of thinking, norms, languages, and material objects that shape a people’s way of life. Cultural sociologists, therefore, tend to reject scientific methods, and instead use theoretical, qualitative analysis to explore the socio-cultural forces, institutions, phenomena and symbols manifested in a particular society. They seek to understand how culture impacts social organization, and influences social behavior at both the individual and collective levels. Some of the major concerns in this field include democratic governance, criminal justice, social stratification, social networks, and popular culture.