ABSTRACT
Although it had once been conventional to treat culture as a “characteristic” or “feature” of societies, many cultural sociologists now emphasize the importance of examining cultures as actively constructed. This chapter explores the theoretical stakes of the shift to analyzing culture from a micro- or meso-level of analysis. Culture can be conceptualized as actions, material objects, performances, and forms of discourse used by groups. In this view, culture is a tool situated in local communities, shaping the contours of civic life. As a result, culture is tied to shared pasts and prospective futures.
