In a nutshell: An approach to cultural studies and cultural practice informed by critical theory would be called “critical culture.” Is there such a thing? Should there be? I should think so.
When I started the “Critical” section of Pedagogishness, I included pages for Critical Thinking, Critical Theory, and Critical Pedagogy. But then I saw some interesting references that got me thinking. A number of universities have centers for critical and cultural theory (Rice in Houston, Cardiff in the UK, Queensland in Australia). Cultural theory was not a new concept, but the poet in me was intrigued by the fortuitous collocation of the words “critical” and “cultural.”
Hmm, I thought, what about the idea of “critical culture”? What would that mean?
On the model of the term “critical race,” “critical culture” would mean an approach to cultural studies informed by critical theory. I did a Google search on the phrase “critical culture” and found it to be the title of a blog on Tumblr. I cannot figure out whose blog it is, as the blogger apparently prefers to remain anonymous. It is also a component of an academic department at Washington State University, the Department of Critical Culture, Gender, & Race Studies.
Even in the name of the Washington State department, though, the distributive property of adjectives suggests that the idea is “critical culture studies,” meaning an approach to cultural studies informed by critical theory. By using the term “critical culture,” I mean that and something more.
In keeping with the Pedagogish mantra of postmodern humanistic doing as well as knowing, “critical culture” the way I propose using it means not only cultural studies informed by critical theory, but also cultural practices that have a critical edge: that is, writing, art, music, drama, dance, etc, that does cognitive and affective work on our notions of race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, and other aspects of identity and subjectivity.
Have you seen the term “critical culture” used in this way? In essays, journals, books, academic departments, classrooms, etc? If so, please let me know. If not, consider thinking about it and doing it and making “critical culture” part of your own theory and practice of criticality.