The Field of Cultural History
Culture is the sum total of the ways in which a people act, think, believe and interact. It includes art, language, values and beliefs, traditions, and all the many aspects of everyday life that make a place and its people unique. UNESCO describes it as “the cultural heritage of humanity, comprising the set of distinctive spiritual, material and intellectual features of a community or society that form its personality, identity, attitudes, standards of behavior and worldviews.”
It is an omnipresent force in our lives, but it can also be a source of conflict. It influences our decisions, our thoughts, our actions, and even our feelings. It can be a force for domination and oppression, as well as one for liberation and creativity. It has a long history, which cultural historians attempt to study.
The field of cultural history is wide and varied. It embraces a diverse range of subjects that include the arts, music, dance and fashion; foods and beverages; religion; mythology and folklore; and even sports and games. It also includes the way in which people express themselves, such as through body adornment (like tattoos and piercings), clothing and the way they interact with each other.
As with all fields of history, the practice of cultural history is shaped by theory. Theorists like Clifford Geertz and Jürgen Habermas have provided frameworks within which cultural historians can explore their subject matter.
Geertz’s concept of thick description is especially useful in studying cultural phenomena, because it allows the historian to examine the many layers of meaning and interpretation that a given phenomenon has in a particular culture. This approach is in contrast to the more analytical methodologies of the 19th century classical evolutionists, who held that human beings are endowed with certain traits and that these traits develop cultures in predictable ways.
There are also other types of cultural history, such as the study of women’s roles in cultures around the world or the analysis of food systems and cuisines. These areas of inquiry are often called subfields of cultural history and may be characterized by their own methodologies and theories. For example, feminist scholars have used gender theory to examine the role of men and women in the making of culture, while food and beverage historians have focused on the economic and social context of the production and consumption of foodstuffs. The field of cultural history is growing and changing as the needs and interests of its practitioners evolve. It has come to include a wider variety of topics than its predecessors, and it is increasingly seen as a vital tool in the exploration of human societies and their pasts.
Culture is the sum total of the ways in which a people act, think, believe and interact. It includes art, language, values and beliefs, traditions, and all the many aspects of everyday life that make a place and its people unique. UNESCO describes it as “the cultural heritage of humanity, comprising the set of distinctive spiritual, material and intellectual features of a community or society that form its personality, identity, attitudes, standards of behavior and worldviews.” It is an omnipresent force in our lives, but it can also be a source of conflict. It influences our decisions, our thoughts, our actions, and even our feelings. It can be a force for domination and oppression, as well as one for liberation and creativity. It has a long history, which cultural historians attempt to study. The field of cultural history is wide and varied. It embraces a diverse range of subjects that include the arts, music, dance and fashion; foods and beverages; religion; mythology and folklore; and even sports and games. It also includes the way in which people express themselves, such as through body adornment (like tattoos and piercings), clothing and the way they interact with each other. As with all fields of history, the practice of cultural history is shaped by theory. Theorists like Clifford Geertz and Jürgen Habermas have provided frameworks within which cultural historians can explore their subject matter. Geertz’s concept of thick description is especially useful in studying cultural phenomena, because it allows the historian to examine the many layers of meaning and interpretation that a given phenomenon has in a particular culture. This approach is in contrast to the more analytical methodologies of the 19th century classical evolutionists, who held that human beings are endowed with certain traits and that these traits develop cultures in predictable ways. There are also other types of cultural history, such as the study of women’s roles in cultures around the world or the analysis of food systems and cuisines. These areas of inquiry are often called subfields of cultural history and may be characterized by their own methodologies and theories. For example, feminist scholars have used gender theory to examine the role of men and women in the making of culture, while food and beverage historians have focused on the economic and social context of the production and consumption of foodstuffs. The field of cultural history is growing and changing as the needs and interests of its practitioners evolve. It has come to include a wider variety of topics than its predecessors, and it is increasingly seen as a vital tool in the exploration of human societies and their pasts.