Iranian cultural studies, ignoring subalterns and depoliticization

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master of Sociology، Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Sociology, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran (corresponding author)

3 Assistant Professor of Sociology, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

doi.org/10.34785/J016.2022.021

Abstract

The present study analyzes the position of cultural studies in Iran through articles published in the quarterly journal of cultural studies and communication in the period 2013-2017. The theoretical basis of the article is based on the views of Chris Rojek, who divides this field of knowledge into four periods: national- popular, textual- theatrical, global-post- belief and governance and politics. The method used is qualitative meta- analysis and the data collection technique is the examination of document. According to findings, out of 156 articles reviewed, 97 articles in the field of cultural texts, 25 articles about the marginalized, 8 articles on daily life, 7 articles on the analysis of popular culture, 4 articles on cultural politics and 14 articles it also covers other topics. The content of the articles indicates that cultural studies in Iran does not tend to represent silent voices; does not pay much attention to context and texture; It is abstract and the study population is the middle class of Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran has a range of different social groups with experience of multiple forms of inequality both in the field of redistribution policy and in the realm of recognition policy. In this sense، most of these studies seem to be limited to depoliticizing society، and do not intervene much. But that is not the whole story. Although, great changes have taken place in the last two decades and an important part of our lives is affected by complex economic and political processes، this area of knowledge still seeks textual studies. It does not pay attention to how it changes at the level of the material reality of everyday life. Finally, cultural studies in Iran have not yet been able to follow a particular research program. It has not yet achieved the creation of Iranian cultural studies that inherent of thought.

Keywords


 
 
 
 
References