1. Introduction to Cultural and Regional Studies Guided Workshop (VK) Summer 2008 Mag. Klaus Heissenberger

2. “Representation” > “Discourse” Raymond Williams: ”The analysis of culture... is the clarification of the meanings and values implicit and explicit in particular ways of life, a particular ‘culture’.” (or: particular culture s ) (qtd. in Paul du Gay, “What is ‘culture’?”) > culture and power?

3. Roland Barthes, Mythologies (1970/1957) > semiotics and “myth”

5. Barthes: Semiotics and “Myth” 1. denotation 2. connotation > myth 3. mythology > ideology “Third-order signification is a matter of the cultural meanings of signs. These cultural meanings derive not from the sign itself, but from the way that society uses and values the signifier and the signified.” … http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html

6. Barthes: Semiotics and “Myth” 3. mythology > ideology “Third-order signification is a matter of the cultural meanings of signs. These cultural meanings derive not from the sign itself, but from the way that society uses and values the signifier and the signified.” … mythology / ideology: “ sets of myths which operate as organising structures within a culture, organising the meanings which we attach to the signs.” http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html

7. Barthes: Semiotics and “Myth” … mythology / ideology: “ sets of myths which operate as organising structures within a culture, organising the meanings which we attach to the signs.”  Foucault: discourses ~ establish these myths power – knowledge – “truth”

11. Cultural Studies central question: power How do particular meanings and values become seemingly natural/common sense? What effects do they have? For whom?

12. From “Representation” to “Discourse” “Discourse is a language or system of representation that has developed socially in order to make and circulate a coherent set of meanings about an important topic area. These meanings serve the interests of that section of society within which the discourse originates and which works ideologically to naturalize those meanings into common sense.” (Fiske 1987)

13. From “Representation” to “Discourse” Discourses are... -“... subject to the historical and social context of the time and prevailing power relationships and conflicts” -“... limited ranges of possible statements, by that very limitation defining what it is possible and not possible to say. Some discourses are considered more 'legitimate' than others, these others receiving little recognition.” (1) = “dominant discourses” -Foucault: “no meaning outside discourse” (2) (1)http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.htmlhttp://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html (2)for example, reader p.15

14. Questions about discourses Who “speaks”? What kinds of statements? Where can we find them? How are they distributed? What do they have in common? What effects do they produce?

15. Discourse and power e.g.:the dominant discourse on smoking? Foucault: power – knowledge – truth “… the effect of discourse is to position us in relation to a variety of social forces. It subjects us.” (reader p.24, Campbell + Kean) > power: “dominant” discourses > “hegemonic” meanings, values, etc. “hegemony”: Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)

16. Discourse and power dominant discourse: “These meanings serve the interests of that section of society within which the discourse originates and which works ideologically to naturalize those meanings into common sense.” (Fiske 1987) compare: (Marxist) concept of “class” which "plays its part in the social war for more power, better position, and greater influence” (reader p.23)