Cultural studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines culture not merely as artistic or textual products (like books, music, or films) but as dynamic practices through which people make sense of and relate to the world and each other in contemporary society
. It explores how cultural practices, representations, and identities are shaped by and interact with broader social, political, and economic power structures, including issues of race, class, gender, nationality, ideology, and sexuality
. Originating in Britain in the late 1950s and 1960s, cultural studies developed from Marxist and critical theory traditions and has since expanded globally, incorporating diverse approaches such as feminism, postcolonialism, media theory, and ethnography
. It seeks to analyze culture as a site of power struggles and social contestation, aiming both to understand and critique the ways culture influences and is influenced by social relations and institutions
. Key characteristics of cultural studies include its commitment to political criticism, ethical evaluation of society, and the examination of cultural practices in relation to power and ideology
. It studies a wide range of cultural phenomena-from popular media and youth culture to everyday life and environmental issues-using tools from sociology, anthropology, history, philosophy, and more
. In summary, cultural studies investigates how culture is constructed, organized, and transformed, focusing on the interplay between culture and power in shaping identities and social life across different contexts and historical periods
