On Raymond Williams's Thought Of Culture

With the arrival of the age of globalization and the development of cultural globalization, research of culture becomes the hot topic of contemporary academic discussion. As the representative of contemporary Western Marxism and the founder of research of culture, Williams's thought of culture has enormous influence to the second half of the 20th century's European and American research of culture. Williams promotes research of culture transforming to culturalist paradigm through case study in specific areas. He adopts a multi-perspective and interdisciplinary comprehensive research methods, and creates a new situation in research of culture.According to social and theoretical backgrounds, this paper systematically sorts out and elaborates Williams's thought of culture. The specific social economic conditions, political background and class foundation of capitalist society after the industrial revolution become social roots of Williams's thought of culture. On the basis of cultural thought of Marxism, critical theory of Frankfurt School and literary critical tradition of Britain, Williams establishes his research of culture in a unique perspective.Firstly, Williams makes a detailed analysis on the evolution of word meaning about culture and defines culture as a whole way of life. So he expands the definition of culture. Secondly, He stresses the materiality of culture and establishes the cultural materialism thought. So he develops culturalist paradigm. Thirdly, his affirmative mass culture opens the door of researching mass culture from positive aspect in Britain. Finally, his common culture and the mass communication thought lays the foundtion for the medium culture in the whole world. Through analysis of contributions and limitations about theory of culture of Williams, the author points out its guiding sense to our contemporary culture.In a word, In today's environment of building a harmonious culture, Williams's thought of culture will not only deepen our understanding about cultural research but can absorb other culture on the basis of Criticism, promoting the development of Chinese cultural research, and providing useful lessons for our cultural construction.