ABSTRACT
This chapter situates the author's reflections on Ibarra and Kitsuse reformulations in the context of recent developments in cultural theory, especially theories of representations (particularly in the areas of literary theory, film studies, and popular culture), poststructuralism, cultural studies, feminist theories, theories of multiculturalism, studies of diasporic and subaltern peoples. It uses the appearance of the Ibarra and Kitsuse essay to explore what is it that social constructionist theory is being asked to do in the Ibarra and Kitsuse reformulation. The chapter examines why is this being asked of social constructionism now and what would be the historical, intellectual, and institutional conditions that stimulate such a reformulation on the one hand and enable (or prevent) social constructionism to respond to such demands on the other. By shifting the focus of constructionist theory to culture and representations, an entire body of literature, practices, and strategies of critical interrogation are available to students of social problems.
