Free Cultural Studies Essay Examples & Topics

Free Cultural Studies Essay Examples & Topics

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605 samples

There is a field in academia that analyzes the interactions between anthropological, political, aesthetic, and socioeconomic institutions. It is referred to as cultural studies. This area is interdisciplinary, meaning that it combines and examines several departments. First brought up by British scientists in the 1950s, it is now studied all over the world.

The scope of cultural studies is vast. From history and politics to literature and art, this field looks at how culture is shaped and formed. It also examines the complex interactions of race and gender and how they shape a person’s identity.

In this article, our team has listed some tips and tricks on how to write a cultural studies essay. You will encounter many fascinating aspects in this field that will be exciting to study. That is the reason why we have prepared a list of cultural studies essay topics. You can choose one that catches your eye right here! Finally, you will also find free sample essays that you can use as a source of inspiration for your work.

15 Top Cultural Studies Essay Topics

The work process on an essay begins with a tough choice. After all, there are thousands of things that you can explore. In the list below, you will find cultural studies topics for your analytical paper.

  1. The role of human agency in cultural studies and how research techniques are chosen.
  2. Examining generational changes through evolution in music and musical taste in young adults.
  3. Does popular culture have the power to influence global intercultural and political relationships?
  4. Different approaches to self-analysis and self-reflection examined through the lens of philosophy.
  5. Who decides what constitutes a “cultural artifact”?
  6. The difference in religious and cultural practices between Japanese and Chinese Buddhists.
  7. Exploring the symbiotic relationship between culture and tradition in the UK.
  8. Do people understand culture nowadays the same way they understood it a century ago?
  9. Which factors do we have to take into account when conducting arts and culture research of ancient civilizations?
  10. Día de Los Muertos: a commentary on an entirely different perspective on death.
  11. American society as represented in popular graphic novels.
  12. An analysis of the different approaches to visual culture from the perspective of a corporate logo graphic designer.
  13. What can French cinema of the 20th century tell us about the culture of the time?
  14. Narrative storytelling in different forms of media: novels, television, and video games.
  15. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the direction of pop culture.

In case you haven’t found your perfect idea in the list, feel free to try our title generator. It will compose a new topic for your cultural studies essay from scratch.

How to Write a Cultural Studies Essay

With an ideal topic for your research, you start working on your cultural analysis essay. Below you will find all the necessary steps that will lead you to write a flawless paper.

  1. Pick a focus. You cannot write an entire essay on the prospect of culture alone. Thus, you need to narrow down your field and the scope of your research. Spend some time reading relevant materials to decide what you want your paper to say.
  2. Formulate your thesis. As the backbone of your assignment, it will carry you through the entire process. Writing a thesis statement brings you one step closer to nailing the whole essay down. Think “What is my paper about?” and come up with a single sentence answer – this will be your statement.
  3. Provide context for your intro. The introduction is the place for setting the scene for the rest of your paper. Take time to define the terminology. Plus, you should outline what you will talk about in the rest of the essay. Make sure to keep it brief – the introduction shouldn’t take up longer than a paragraph.
  4. Develop your ideas in the body. It is the place for you to explore the points you’re trying to make. Examine both sides of the argument and provide ample evidence to support your claims. Don’t forget to cite your sources!
  5. Conclude the paper effectively. The final part is usually the hardest, but you don’t need to make it too complicated. Summarize your findings and restate your thesis statement for the conclusion. Make sure you don’t bring in any new points or arguments at this stage.
  6. Add references. To show that you’re not pulling your ideas out of thin air, cite your sources. Add a bibliography at the end to prove you’ve done your research. You will need to put them in alphabetical order. So, ensure you do that correctly.

Thank you for reading! Now, you can proceed to read through the examples of essays about cultural studies that we provided below.

605 Best Essay Examples on Cultural Studies

UAE and Culture

UAE’s society is multicultural. UAE culture has been defined by the Islamic religion as it is the most dominant in the region.
  • 1
  • Pages: 20
  • Words: 1210

Nok Culture’s Main Characteristic Features

One of the most significant pieces of art is the Nok art, a testament of the Nok culture. Discovery of the sculptures in 1943 indicate the use of iron, the practice of smelting for tools [...]
  • 3.6
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1483

“Never Marry a Mexican”: Theme Analysis & Summary

She then went on to the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop and got a Master of Fine Arts degree, followed by the 1991 publication of short stories, including "Never Marry a Mexican," in Woman Hollering [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2244

The Nature of People and Culture

The first key point is the understanding that culture is the framework of life and influences the aspects of life for every individual.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 298

Pashtun Culture: Cultural Presentation

This presentation will overview one of such groups – the Pashtun culture and the challenges a nurse may face working with its representatives.
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 1083

Comparing the US and Italian Cultures

This dimension refers to the degree to which the people operating in that culture wish to work as individuals overworking as part of a team Masculinity vs.femininity. This dimensions refers to the extent to which [...]
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 2217

Indian Custom and Culture Community

For example, there were various activities used to illustrate this marking, and these would include invitation and welcoming of the bridegroom, exchange of flower garlands, presentation of the would-be wife, the ceremony of the sacred [...]
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2207

The Luo Culture of Kenya

The Luo people are the indigenous people of Kenya living around lake Victoria, which lies in the western part of the country.
  • Pages: 22
  • Words: 3544

Chinese Traditional Festivals and Culture

Of all the Chinese festivals, the Spring Festival has the greatest value to the Chinese people with its value equated to the value of the Westerners attachment to Christmas.
  • 5
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2763

The Jarawa People and Their Culture

One of the most interesting areas of study not only to the anthropologists but also to the modern and contemporary human race is culture.
  • 5
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1438

The United States of America’s Culture

These are however just general views on what the American culture really is, the next section of this paper will go to the specifics, and zero in into the following factors that determine the true [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1367

Culture and Development in Nigeria

The following are some of the organizations that are concerned with cultural developments in Nigeria:- The African development bank is involved in major activities in the water sector and in sanitation projects across Nigeria.
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2718

Polygamy in Islam

Muslim men in polygamous marriages should be kind to their women. Nonetheless, many Muslim men are unable to comply with the rules of Islamic polygamy.
  • 5
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 806

Similarities of Asian Countries

Thus, the earliest form of civilization in Asia provided a system of interaction prompting harmonization of culture in the Asian society.
  • 4
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2356

Stuart Hall’s Theory of Encoding and Decoding

There are three forms of associating with other people, according to the authors of Stuart Hall's theory of hegemonic reading: dominant-hegemonic reading, negotiated reading, and oppositional reading.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 584

Society, Culture, and Civilization

Thus, culture is a flexible feature of non-animal communities that penetrates their subsistence and helps to adjust to the surroundings. The last concept, civilization, is the consequence of the constant changes of the first two [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 402

Culture and Health Correlation

People's culture influences the type of food they purchase and the way they prepare it, which is a vital determinant of health.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 342

Chinese Manhua History Development

Explaining the Decline in Popularity of Chinese Manhua Wong explains the decline in the popularity of Chinese manhua by explaining that as the popularity of manhua based in Hong Kong grew, this meant that the [...]
  • Pages: 17
  • Words: 5401

Saudi Arabian Culture

In this view, observation of Islamic beliefs, norms, values, and traditions enables people to understand the Saudi Arabian culture and adopt it.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1486

Kazakhstani Culture Through Hofstede’s Theory

The purpose of the research paper is to discuss cultural similarities and dissimilarities, challenges of acculturation, helpful patterns of behavior, and look at the featured culture through the prism of Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1480

Traditional and Nontraditional Cultures of the USA

The essay compares the traditional and nontraditional cultures of the United States. Therefore, the traditional culture and nontraditional cultures of the United States have distinct differences.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 306

Birthday Celebrations in the China

This is one of the main goals that had to be accomplished in the course of this study. It should be noted that the parents of my friend insisted on holding this dinner in their [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1664

American Culture Pros & Cons

In fact, every corner of the globe feels the influence of the American culture. This positively contributes to easy transmission and friendly reception of the American culture.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 577

Ballads and Their Social Functions

Ballads revolved around the deeds of the community, description and ridicule or appreciation of the daily activities that occupied their lives.
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 3314

The History of the Hippie Cultural Movement

It is the evolution of the Hippie culture followed by the formation of the Hippie Subculture. The agitation and opposition to contemporary activities is the one of the main reasons that led to the formation [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1485

The Importance of Cultural Values for a Society

It is possible to identify significant differences between the two cultures by comparing and contrasting the cultural values of Americans and Dominicans in religion, risk-taking and egalitarianism, and individual achievement and action.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 863

What Role Does Food Play in Cultural Identity?

From the point of view of cultural studies, such a model of nutrition speaks more about the absence of global roots, the absence of deep moral guidelines, and not about the convenience of the process.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1199

The Importance of Understanding National Culture

These days when more and more organizations strive to operate globally, it is essential that managers understand the specificities of each country their company sells to or establishes a brunch in.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 362

Culture of the Dominican Republic

In the end, we attempt to relate the relationship between each aspect and the developments in politics, economics and social lives of the Dominicans.
  • 5
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2229

Saudi Traditional Clothing

Over the years, the age-old designs of the traditional attires have been modified to reflect the changing tastes and preference in the contemporary society.
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1815

Meaning of the Machine in the Garden

However, the true meaning emanates in the author's discourse of the pastoral ideal that is defined by using the larger structure of thoughts that are distinctly expressed in pastoral dreams and poems.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 555

Anthropological Approach to Culture

Introduction There is probably no phenomenon or event that has as many focused views of researchers from around the world as a culture. It is this phenomenon that enjoys increased scientific popularity as anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers seek to understand what culture is. The diversity of research positions is justified by many accents that […]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 659

Indigenous Australian Culture, History, Importance

I also learned the history of indigenous Australians' abuse by White settlers, which contributed to the fact that even today, the majority of native Australians lag behind Whites in terms of what accounts for the [...]
  • Pages: 11
  • Words: 2102

Culture, Subculture, and Their Differences

The different activities that people across the world engage in lead to the existence of different. When people develop negative impressions of the activities that their society undertakes they are said to be in a [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1157

Discussion: Cultural Roots and Routes

My neighbors and the numerous friends I have grown up with have affected my life significantly. At the time, I did not understand why I was being penalized, but looking back, I can see that [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1469

“High” and “Low” Culture in Design

It will defend the view according to which the distinctions between popular culture and 'low' culture are no longer relevant since the emergence of amiddle culture'.'High' culture can be defined from the perspective of those [...]
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2560

Taiwan and the U.S. Cultural Elements

An evaluation of the cultural differences between Taiwan and the US is conducted in an effort to develop a comprehensive understanding of the cultural variation between the two countries.
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2265

Filial Piety

In trying to understand the reasoning behind the concept of Filial Piety, it is necessary to see the inherent divergence between the Western nuclear family and the Chinese extended family.
  • 4
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1120

Indian Culture, Food, Temples, and Clothing

Key Terms: Traditional dresses, Indian fashion, saree, headgear Claim: Despite the inevitable impact of globalization and westernization, India is a country that could preserve its culture by wearing traditional clothes. It is normal to see [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1035

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Subculture

The pioneers of such campaigns disagree with the ideas and behaviors associated with the LGBT Subculture. These celebrations "have also made it easier for different members of the subculture to network and exchange their views".
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2000

Cultural Change: Mechanisms and Examples

Their interactions led to a massive change in the norms and traditions of the African communities. This is where a weaker society adapts to the culture of another community that is powerful.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 595

The Phenomenon of Queer Customs

Culture is the center of a person's life and marks as a blueprint of all practices and behaviors in society. Customs and beliefs affect actions and behaviors of the infants in the society; therefore, this [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 871

A Scarf as a Cultural Metaphor

During the rule of the Chinese Emperor Cheng, the scarves were a part of the military uniform and were worn to demonstrate the rank of the military personnel in Croatia in the 17th century.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 605

Diaspora and Diasporic Imaginary

The maintenance of close relations to the homeland in terms of religion, believes, and culture helps in the understanding of history in relation to Diaspora communities.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1144

History of Mexican Festival

The experience of attending the Mexican festival stretched my cultural perception as I discovered that Mexicans have a rich culture in terms of food, art, and music.
  • 4
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 489

Punjabi: the Culture

However, this is not the whole list and there are many religions which are pursued in small regions of the area.
  • 5
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 551

Cultural Effects on Health Care Choices

Ann Hubbert of the University of Nevada argued that the healthcare profession must welcome and respect the existence of traditional practices, particularly the traditional Indian medicine, and recognize its role in healthcare and in the [...]
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 3292

Implications of Korean Culture on Health

The Korean-American population is among the fastest growing race group in America's Asian community because of the string of immigration in the 1800s and subsequent importation of laborers to the Hawaiian plantations in the 1900s.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1439

The Essence of Cultural Ecology: The Main Tenets

The material needs of the human society thus were predicated on the natural habitat in which they lived and this led to formulation of practices or culture that has often been termed as Cultural Materialism.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 807

Impact of Globalization on the Maasai Peoples` Culture

This essay will therefore focus on the roles the aforementioned forces have played in changing the culture of the Maasai. Moreover, tourism has resulted in environmental degradation which is putting the Maasai on the brink [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1736

Gothic Lifestyle as a Subculture

The Goths created their own subculture, as they could not accept the extravagant and extroverted lifestyle of the Punks. The evils, sins and pain of the society are a matter of beauty to the Goths.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 851

Ugandan Culture, Traditions, Holidays

During the days of mourning, the neighbors and relatives are not allowed to engage in any form of manual work: this is meant to be a consolation signal to the deceased's relatives.
  • 1
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 577

Bedouin Tent : Review and Analysis

As regards air circulation, it should be pointed out that Bedouins often made a vent-hole at the top of the tent; naturally, the major effect is achieved through the fabric, but this vent-hole serves some [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 601

Symbol: The Basic Element of Culture

In his article, the author points out the value of symbol for the human culture and argues that without symbols, a human cannot be fully considered human.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 554

Plants in Lakota Folklore

Notice that the source of the creatures that he placed on the earth is his sacred pipe bag, and the symbol of interpersonal harmony and harmony with all of creation is the sacred pipe. In [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 3727

The Power of a Symbol

The meaning of a symbol is different according to different cultures. In this case, it is a critical tool to the faith of Catholics.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 549

Italian Heritage and Its Impact on Life in the US

The low rate of career penetration for Italian-Americans in the field of medicine is in part due to a combination of false stereotyping, belief that other ethnicities are simply better in the field of medicine, [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1111

Cultural Relativism: Impact on Individuals

Consequently, the thesis of this paper is to focus on the fact that the study of this aspect is valuable for gaining an understanding of the impact of culture on the beliefs and practices of [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 289

Fallacies about Tradition and Modernity

The journal discusses the relationship between tradition and modernity as used in the theory of social change. However, the author suggests that the latest versions of something increase the alternatives available to the community.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 301

Exegeses-Ruling Class and Ruling Ideas by Karl Marx

The ideas of the ruling class, therefore, are the ideology of the given society. In their writing, Marx and Engels distinguish two different classes, which is the class that is the material force of the [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 868

Researching of the Culture of Japan

As for me, I thought that the Arabic language is complicated but after I heard Japanese, I understood it was really hard to learn and speak it.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1199

Somali Culture and Its Impact on Communication

The women of a nomadic clan are the primary caregivers, cooks, and transporters of the family's tent. The nuclear family in Somali culture consists of the husband, his wife, and their children.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1743

The History of Guqin in Chinese Culture

The name guqin was developed in the 20th century, and a prefix was added to the original name Qin to mean ancient and distinguish it from the other pianos. The instrument also defines the philosophy [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1652

Civilization and Barbarism in Modern Culture

But even he failed to foresee the tragic consequences of the development of these institutions1."There is no document of civilization which is not also a document of barbarism".
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1146

Greetings in Etiquette in Society by Emily Post

Nowadays, greeting somebody can be acceptable in many variations; thus, if a person is polite and courteous when greeting someone for the first time or not, the answer to the greeting will also be polite.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 579

Non-Material and Material Culture

Material and non-material aspects of culture differ primarily based on the focus of the two approaches. In the case of religion, the existence of non-physical languages, values, norms, and symbols is especially significant.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 314

Cultural Appropriation: Christina Aguilera in Braids

The utilization of elements and objects of non-dominant groups in a way that depicts a lack of respect for the original meaning, and lack of acknowledgment reinforces stereotyping and results in oppression.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 606

Meaning of Culture and Its Importance

In turn, the Internet as a way of collecting and transmitting information is included in the structure of modern culture as its most crucial element.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 311

Hells Angels as a Motorcycle Subculture

This group is famously known as the hells angels motorcycle club operating in Canada and the United States of America although its members claim that they are innocent and they are just a group of [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 939

Asian Youth Gangs Analysis

Like most other forms of gangs, younger children are more easily persuaded to join than the older crowd as most of the time it is the leaders of each gang that are in there twenties [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 2451

Anne Allison: Nightwork in Japan

The way that the author described the life inside the nightclubs tell of various descriptions of behavior and conversations inside the nightclub and bar that can enthrall a person who has the interest to find [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1548

African American Family Cultural Background

They have a unique culture that is characterized by a unique parenting style, structure of the family, the role of gender in the family, and their views on marriage.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1441

The Counterculture of the 1960s

Thus, the counterculture of the 1960s should be discussed as the product of the people's search for utopia in the form of equality and liberty as well as the realization of the American dream for [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 821

The Bushmen: Culture and Traditions

The San, for instance, used an indicator that did not kill the animal instantly but the existed deadly poison in the instrument helps in killing the animals. The Bushmen's way of life was hunting and [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 850

Arts and Crafts Movement and Modernism

Winter states in the beginning that he is not unbiased toward the Arts and Crafts movement, and yet his article gives a lot of thought to the weaknesses and failures of the movement.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 921

Cultural Influence by Chinese: Kung Fu

Acculturation is of the view that contact may promote or stifle social alterations in the culture of a society. The idea of alternative medicine which is widely used in the west also originated from the [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1708

The Impact of American Popular Culture on Society

It can also be perceived as the culture of the majority of people in the united states of America.culture can either be liked by a given group while strongly be opposed to another faction of [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 857
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