In this important new book Rein Raud develops an original theory of
culture understood as a loose and internally contradictory system of
texts and practices that are shared by intermittent groups of people and
used by them to make sense of their life-worlds. This theory views
culture simultaneously in two ways: as a world of texts, tangible and
shareable products of signifying acts, and as a space of practices,
repeatable activities that produce, disseminate and interpret these
clusters of meaning. Both approaches are developed into corresponding
models of culture which, used together, are able to provide a rich
understanding of any meaning in action.
In developing this innovative theory, Raud draws on a wide range of
disciplines, from anthropology, sociology and cultural studies to
semiotics and philosophy. The theory is illustrated throughout with
examples drawn from both �high� and popular culture, and from Western
and Asian traditions, dealing with both contemporary and historical
topics. The book concludes with two case studies from very different
contexts - one dealing with Italian poetry in the 13th century, the
other dealing with the art scene in Eastern Europe in the 1990s.
This timely and original work makes a major new contribution to the
theory of culture and will be welcomed by students and scholars
throughout the social sciences and humanities.
