Page 27 - Culture and Cultural Studies

26 CULTURE AND CULTURAL STUDIES

in the context of questions about representation and the political role of scien-
tific discourse in generating ideas about hope and utopia (see Chapter 5);
v theorists that are trying to conceive notions of subjectivity and identity in new ways,
drawing upon philosophers like Deleuze, Ihde and Zizek. In particular, questions
are raised about what is human and whether, for example, a genetic code can be held
to be intellectual property or whether non-human animals should be granted
‘human rights’ (as in Spain where apes have been given such rights) (see Chapter 7);
v theorists who are interested in the role of bodies and affect in politics and identity.
In particular the place of fear and hope are given prominence (see Chapter 4);
v theorists trying to find a road between science, ontology and social construction.
The core theme seems to be to avoiding the essentialist humanist subject while
trying to preserve notions of truth, evolution and biology (see Chapter 3).

The website that accompanies the book, New Cultural Studies: The Liquid Theory Reader,
does try to add a new dimension to theory building by publishing as a wiki. This means
that readers can add to and amend the published content. Theory or ‘the theorist’ is then
a collective thread rather than a set entity. Book chapters are then transposed into hard
copies at intervals. That said, there had not been much new activity when the site was
visited in 2010 when researching for Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice so it is not clear
(to me) how successful this novel idea has been.

CENTRAL PROBLEMS IN CULTURAL STUDIES

Over the past 30 years or so, cultural studies has developed to a stage where similar problems,
issues and debates have emerged from within the literature. A ‘problem’ in cultural studies is
constituted by a field of recurrent doubts and puzzles in the literature. Although such problems
are discussed throughout this book it is worth crystallizing some of the key points at this stage.

Language and the material
A long-running debate within cultural studies concerns the relationship between culture
as signification and culture as material. This debate is located in the triangular confronta-
tion between:

1 the legacy of Marxism within cultural studies;
2 the development of an anti-reductionist strain within cultural studies;

3 the recent ascendancy of poststructuralism.

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