ABSTRACT
The chapter looks at the influence of cultural studies (CS) on translation studies, identifying the main points of intersection between the two disciplines, especially in relation to methodological aspects. After a brief outline of the origins and characteristics of CS as a field of enquiry, the chapter provides an overview of the authors, texts, and concepts that, since the ‘cultural turn’ of the 1990s, have shaped CS-oriented translation studies. Key points include the rejection of the traditional hierarchical relationship between source text and target text and the ‘political’ character of much research in this area, often aimed at redressing situations of power imbalances. While conceptually rich, the CS model has been less diverse in terms of the methods employed, which mainly consist in combining a descriptive approach with an in-depth analysis of the ideological and sociocultural factors that impinge on translation, as illustrated by two case studies. The chapter concludes with some suggestions for future research in areas where a CS-oriented perspective may be particularly productive.
