Production of Culture

Abstract

Abstract The production of culture (POC) perspective emerged as a way to understand the external conditions that influence symbolic components of culture. Moving beyond a simple “reflection” theory of cultural production, this perspective directed attention to the processes by which culture is made. POC scholars have demonstrated how factors such as technology, law and regulation, organizational form, industry structure, careers, and markets influence the production, distribution, and reception of cultural products. First, we review foundational research that addresses the “six facets” associated with the POC perspective as well as related work on cultural industry and classification systems. Next, we address cutting‐edge work that offers new insights and methodological savvy to classic POC concerns with innovation and diversity, gatekeeping processes, and the consequences of categories in symbolic production. Finally, we discuss opportunities for future work that has the potential to move POC scholarship forward while addressing fundamental sociological questions about fields, networks, and processes of classification, valuation, and evaluation. The increasing conceptual and methodological diversity that characterizes production of culture research promises to keep it a vibrant area of inquiry for years to come.