This course introduces students to the vibrant and expanding field of the sociology of culture. Culture, broadly conceived as the symbolic, mediated, and expressive dimensions of social life, is investigated using theoretical perspectives from sociology, anthropology, and media and cultural studies. The course is organized around three themes: (1) culture and practice, (2) culture and domination, and (3) culture and media. We also examine creative industries, cultural labor, and everyday production and consumption to explore how cultural economies intersect with decent work and economic growth across diverse settings. We consider the material bases of culture by analyzing industry, innovation and infrastructure, including media platforms, data regimes, and built environments that enable cultural circulation and participation. Questions include: What is culture and what does it do? How is culture used to create boundaries between “us” and “them”? How are global media products received by local communities? What is the relationship between culture and social inequality? The course concludes with a critical assessment of “culture” as an analytical concept and points to new directions in cultural analysis