Hall says that cultural studies are interdisciplinary. What does this mean?
Cultural studies are interdisciplinary because they are rooted in a matrix of interdisciplinary studies and different scientific fields, such as humanities (Geistenwissenschaften) and social science. He further points out that cultural studies have never been only one thing but are composed of several disciplines.
What, according to Hall, was the attitude of the humanities towards cultural studies when they first emerged?
At the emergence of cultural studies, the humanities were deeply suspicious of it, anxious and hostile to its appearance, because it questioned the position of the humanities and are extremely critical of them. Hall states that cultural studies have risen from a crisis in the humanities.
When, according to Stuart Hall, did cultural studies “really” begin?
- cultural studies began with social and cultural changes in society in post-war Britain. Especially traditional class culture was changed, and the hierarchy of British society was challenged by emerging fluidity, mass media and mass society instead of class society.
(reference to Raymond William’s text)
What is the first New Left?
A group of academics engaged with cultural studies and sociological aspects, founded in 1956 around the works such as “The Uses of Literacy” (Richard Hoggart), “Culture and Society” (Raymond Williams) and “The Making of the English Working Class” (Edward P. Thompson). The members retreated to the Center of Cultural Studies in Birmingham. They were Marxist scholars.
Richard Hoggart’s research project was denied by the English department, so he hired Hall as a research fellow to investigate the impact of mass culture on the working-class culture.
What, according to Hall, were the humanities in the English context dealing with? And who was their “archetypal” figure”?
In the English context, the humanities were dealing with histories and touchstones of the national culture, transmitted to a selected number of people (dealing with the canon & high culture).
The archetypal figure was Leavis, who was committed to a marginalized field as well; he was engaged with preserving health of language and national culture, and with nurturing the sensibilities of a small, elite circle of scholars who were able to maintain cultural life. on the other hand he deeply engaged with questions about culture and cared about the development of culture
The New Left therefore viewed Leavis’ work with admiration, despite his conservative view on national culture.
What contributed to the development of cultural studies in the late 60s and 70s?
The translation project of European Work by the New Left Review had a large impact on the development of cultural studies. This way, books that were not yet available, were translated into English for first access, among them works of the Frankfurt School, Benjamin and Gramsci.
Hall speaks of a “crisis of the system of higher education” in Britain (p. 18f.). He sees it related to a “profound crisis of national identity” (p. 21). How does Halls explain this crisis of national identity? Which factors contribute to it? And what is the function of the humanities in this crisis?
- The crisis of national identity roots in the feeling of being threatened by “the others” and not belonging. Migration, fragmentation, the rise of margins, the representation of their struggles and their contestation for political power and the pluralization of ethnicity contribute to this crisis.
- The humanities protect an exclusive culture while presenting themselves as neutral and objective, and this is what Hall criticizes them for, and the influence they have through the institutions and education
- movement of independence of regions within the UK, European spirit rises but UK wants to be independent.
What, according to Hall, is the function of cultural studies in the face of this crisis?
It provides strategies of thinking, ways of survival and resources of resistance for those who are excluded from access to national culture of the national community.
