The first dedicated textbook to systematically address culture as a focus for understanding the processes and systems of relations through which societies are arranged, this book sets out the key antecedents contributing to the emergence of cultural sociology and presents students with a firm grounding in the theoretical and methodological principles. Emphasizing key themes and issues, the book offers a rich overview of the various empirical applications of cultural sociology, outlining cultural sociological approaches to a variety of cultural forms including music, fashion, eating, sport and media.