Culture of Criticism and Cultural Criticism

The world of criticism provides an arena for a dialogue; this dialogue in the contemporary world moves from one subject to another and includes cultural areas as well. The word “culture” was originally used to talk about raising animals and crops. It was also associated with worship (the word “cult” meaning worship is one of its derivatives). From sixteenth to seventeenth century, the word culture was numerously used to illuminate the growth of the mind and conduct through instruction and education. But it was gradually used as a value for the civilization. It is hardly possible these days to give a comprehensive and precise definition of culture. But it is feasible to pave the way for a better understanding of the factors involved in culture by reviewing the most important issues in cultural studies. This problem displays itself as cultural criticism and cultural theory, and this is the only way to map the untrodden routes of modernism in Iran in order to build up a contemporary cultural dialogue. This article is not to analyze the whole area of criticism and culture, and it is just a brief review of the conditions involved. The examples taken are mostly from visual arts, but they can be likewise applied to other areas of art.