Literary Sphere

The term Counterculture was popularized by American historian and social theorist Theodore Roszak in his influential 1969 book The Making of a Counter Culture: Reflections on the Technocratic Society and Its Youthful Opposition .  Roszak used the term to describe the youth-driven cultural and political movements of the 1960s, which rejected the dominant technocratic values of rationalism, consumerism, and industrialization. His work highlighted how these movements sought alternative ways of living, focusing on spirituality, personal freedom, and communal values. Counterculture refers to a social movement or cultural phenomenon that opposes and rejects the dominant cultural norms, values, practices, and institutions of a particular time or society. Countercultures often arise as a form of resistance to mainstream ideologies, seeking to challenge or transform prevailing social, political, or cultural systems. 🔴 Key Characteristics of Counterculture : 1. Opposition to Mainstream Va...

The term Bricolage was first coined by the French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss in his seminal work, The Savage Mind ( La Pensée Sauvage , 1962). Lévi-Strauss used it to describe a way of thinking and creating that involves assembling available materials and resources to construct meaning or solve problems. He contrasted the bricoleur (a "do-it-yourself" artisan) with the engineer , who works with specialized tools and plans. In literary and cultural studies, the term was later adopted and expanded by postmodern theorists to describe creative processes that blend and reassemble elements from diverse sources, emphasizing the fragmented and constructed nature of meaning. 🔴  Key Features of Bricolage: 1. Intertextuality: Incorporating elements from other texts, genres, or styles. 2. Juxtaposition: Placing disparate elements together to create new meanings or highlight contrasts. 3. Collage-Like Structure: The work may feel fragmented or layered, mimicking a collage. 4...

Canonization  refers to the process by which certain works, individuals, or ideas are officially recognized as being of the highest importance or value within a particular domain. The term is used in various contexts, including literature, religion, and culture. 🔴 1. Literary Canonization    In literature, canonization is the process of designating certain texts as part of the "literary canon," which represents the most influential, enduring, and studied works within a tradition.   - Selection: Works are chosen for their artistic, cultural, or historical significance.   - Authority: Canonical works often reflect the dominant cultural or ideological values of their time.   - Exclusion: Canonization can marginalize or exclude voices, especially those from underrepresented groups such as women, Dalits, Adivasis, or non-Western writers.   Examples :   - Western Canon: Works by Shakespeare, Milton, and Jane Austen. ...

Cultural capital , a concept developed by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, refers to the non-financial social assets that promote social mobility beyond economic means. It encompasses knowledge, skills, education, behaviors, and cultural knowledge that enable individuals to navigate and succeed within a given society.  🔴 Forms of Cultural Capital 1. Embodied State : Personal attributes like manners, speech patterns, tastes, and cultural knowledge that an individual internalizes over time, often unconsciously. 2. Objectified State : Physical objects like books, artwork, or instruments that signify cultural knowledge and provide access to it. 3. Institutionalized State : Academic qualifications, titles, or credentials that formalize cultural competence and grant recognition in society. 🔴 Significance - Cultural capital plays a critical role in maintaining social hierarchies. For instance, individuals from privileged backgrounds often inherit cultural capital, which gives them an...