Monday, March 9, 2020

Gun Control vs Gun Rights essays

Gun Control vs Gun Rights essays During the first four weeks of our class, we have been reading and discussing numerous essays on the study of "culture". Each theorist we have read has questions and problems about the study of "culture". They have suggested us solutions to the problems as well. I have decided to closely analyze the essays from Richard Johnson, James Clifford, and Clifford Geertz. In his essay, "What is Cultural Studies Anyway?" Richard Johnson goes into detail describing critique. "Critique involves stealing away the more useful elements and rejecting the rest."(pg. 575). By comparison, Johnson defines cultural studies as a process of finding useful knowledge about different analysis of culture. Johnson explains how anglicizing of old Marxism is a good example of critique in cultural studies. By explaining how old Marxism has a significant role in forming cultural studies, Johnson implies how history of economics has a major role in forming "culture". Johnson believes that there are three main premises where old Marxism has influenced cultural study. The first is that social relations influence culture. I agree with Johnson. Different class, sex, race, and age create different relationships. The second premise is that each individual and social group has different limits of power defining different needs. For example, homeless people have diffe rent needs than the rich. This is an example of money being defined as power. The third premise is that culture is influenced by social struggles and differences. I don't know any culture where every individual is truly equal. There is always a struggle for power. Critique in cultural studies raises several questions for Johnson. "If we have progressed by critique, are there not dangers that codifications will involve systematic closure? If the momentum is to strive for really useful knowledge, will academic codification help this? Is not the priority to become more 'popular' rathe...