Meaning in Action: Outline of an Integral Theory of Culture

by Rein Raud

In this important new book Rein Raud develops an original theory of culture understood as a loose and internally contradictory system of texts and practices that are shared by intermittent groups of people and used by them to make sense of their life-worlds. This theory views culture simultaneously in two ways: as a world of texts, tangible and shareable products of signifying acts, and as a space of practices, repeatable activities that produce, disseminate and interpret these clusters of meaning. Both approaches are developed into corresponding models of culture which, used together, are able to provide a rich understanding of any meaning in action. In developing this innovative theory Raud draws on a wide range of disciplines, from anthropology, sociology and cultural studies to semiotics and philosophy. The theory is illustrated throughout with examples drawn from both 'high' and popular culture, and from Western and Asian traditions, dealing with both contemporary and historical topics. The book concludes with two case studies from very different contexts one dealing with Italian poetry in the 13th century, the other dealing with the art scene in Eastern Europe in the 1990s. This timely and original work makes a major new contribution to the theory of culture and will be welcomed by students and scholars throughout the social sciences and humanities.

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Rein Raud was born in 1961 as the son of Eno Raud and Aino Pervik, both authors of popular books for children as well as novels and poetry. He graduated from St.Petersburg University (Japanese Studies, 1985) and defended his doctorate in the University of Helsinki (Literary Theory, 1994). In addition to novels, stories, poetry collections and essays, he is the author of numeorous academic publications in the areas of cultural theory and especially classical Japanese literature and philosophy, as well as a number of translations, mainly from Japanese into Estonian.

Reviews

[Elisa-Johanna Liiv]

"Tekstiline süsteem ei ole kronoloogilise ülesehitusega muuseum või korralikult kataloogitud raamatukogu, vaid pigem kaootilise vanakraamikaupluse moodi, kus hinnalised kalliskivid ja täielik rämps on riiulil kõrvuti ja klaashelmestest kaelakee võidakse pakkida haruldase käsikirja sisse. Ent teistsugusena poleks ta elav; [...]"
Ilus.

[Kati Vuks · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Juhtumisi on see, kuidas me mõtleme sellest, miks me mõtleme nii, nagu me mõtleme, niisama huvitav kui põhjused, miks me just nii mõtleme sellest, kuidas me mõtleme.” -R. Raud