51³Ô¹Ï

Any book on cultural studies has proved a red rag to reviewer Fred Inglis over the years, and mine was no exception (Books, THES , November 2).

He missed two points. First, the book does not work through examples of cultural analysis because it is a book on how to rethink the method and aim of cultural studies.

Inglis wants to rule methodological debate out of court but with it goes some of the most interesting writing in social sciences (eg, Pierre Bourdieu).

Second, if methodological debate does not matter, then all such books, including mine, that ally cultural studies more closely with the social sciences look the same. Meanwhile, any chance of serious debate about the prospects of cultural studies is lost.

Nick Couldry
Department of sociology
London School of Economics