The Nonconformist Practices of Stuart Hall: Cultural Studies and the Politics of Emancipation

Abstract

Stuart Hall was a nonconformist intellectual in the tradition of the New Left whose work was inspired by the writings of Antonio Gramsci. Drawing on Hall’s deconstruction of the popular, and his critical analysis of, ideological struggles in media and society, my article examines his critique of capitalistic society and his political visions within the framework of the concept of hegemony. The central question of my contribution concerns what we can learn from Hall’s work today with regard to the following aspects: First, we have to recognize the importance of intellectual interventions to change the world. The second aspect follows his creative way of using and combining theories and concepts. Against this background, I conclude by addressing the ways in which we can understand our present age and look for more democratic alternatives.