Gramsci and Cultural Studies

The aim of this chapter is to discuss certain aspects of the reception of Gramsci as mediated by Cultural Studies. It explores threads that fundamentally link Gramsci and Cultural Studies such as ‘culture as ordinary,’ the quest for an adequate conceptualization of power (hegemony) and the key role played by media. The central argument of this piece is that, especially considering the earlier current represented by Williams and Hall, the affinity is strong enough to the degree that Gramsci and Cultural reciprocally mediate their reception. The chapter concludes with some considerations on the recent cultural studies-Gramsci-informed scholarship as it deals with digital and social media and the discursive take on hegemony.