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The Drama of Social Life

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Jeffrey Alexander explores the vital role of cultural sociology and "cultural pragmatics" in understanding the turbulence and political possibilities of modern social life. Through a new model of social performance that fuses theatrical avant-garde elements with social theory, he examines diverse social actors, movements, and events, illustrating how successful social dramas influence outcomes and political power. The book argues that authenticity and aura persist in modernity, accessible to those who perform them compellingly.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for students and scholars in sociology, cultural studies, social sciences, and humanities interested in social theory, political movements, and cultural performance.

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In this book Jeffrey Alexander develops the view that cultural sociology and cultural pragmatics are vital for understanding the structural turbulence and political possibilities of contemporary social life.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In this book, Jeffrey Alexander develops the view that cultural sociology and "cultural pragmatics" are vital for understanding the structural turbulence and political possibilities of contemporary social life.

Central to Alexander’s approach is a new model of social performance that combines elements from both the theatrical avant-garde and modern social theory. He uses this model to shed new light on a wide range of social actors, movements, and events, demonstrating through striking empirical examples the drama of social life. Producing successful dramas determines the outcome of social movements and provides the keys to political power. Modernity has neither eliminated aura nor suppressed authenticity; on the contrary, they are available to social actors who can perform them in compelling ways.

The Drama of Social Life further consolidates Alexander’s reputation as one of the most original social thinkers of our time. It will be of great interest to students and scholars in sociology and cultural studies as well as throughout the social sciences and humanities.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

From Mao to Martin Luther King and from Tahrir Square to the Obama White House, prominent academics praise Alexander’s insightful analysis of social dramas and political change. Richard Schechner calls it a "brilliantly illuminating must-read" for scholars and dramaturges, while Gary Alan Fine highlights its capacity to unpack large-scale social transformations, recommending it for both reading and discussion.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509518135

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 May 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 150.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 295g

Pages: 180

About the Author

Jeffrey C. Alexander is the Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor of Sociology at Yale University and Co-Director of the Center for Cultural Sociology at Yale.

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