Week 7, Barker Chapter 14

Cultural politics and cultural policy. This chapter brought up some interesting ideas as it relates to the role of the intellectual in cultural studies. I found the Gramscian view helpful as it identified "traditional" intellectuals and "organic" intellectuals. I think this becomes helpful as we attempt to understand who influences the formation of our cultural ideology. Gramscian thinking posits traditional intellectuals as the dominate force behind cultural hegemony. Whereas the organic intellectual organizes the counter-hegemonic class.

In reading this view from Gramsci it would seem that there is a push pull going on when it comes to creating a cultural hegemony. If we're to assume this model then it would also seem that both sides of the intellectual side must engage each other...for instance...if by Gramsci's definition churches are on the traditional intellectual side of things...then they need to identify their distance from the working class organic intellectual discover ways to bridge that gap and vice versa.