Ann Swidler coined the tool kit theory to note the influence that culture has on the shaping various habits, styles and skills that people use in the construction of strategies of actions and decision-making (Swidler 273). The theory is based on the notion of culture as something that can be used as a tool to make sense of the world. There are two models under the toolkit theory that show cultural influence i.e. the settled and unsettled cultural periods. It is imperative to note that in settled periods, culture individualistically affects action through the provision of resources that individuals use in constructing varied lines of actions. Conversely, open ideologies directly control action in unsettled cultural periods. However, structural opportunities help in the determination of the ideology that lasts.
Shively conducted an analysis of men’s interpretation of Western films by examining social models that show how individuals use and interpret cultural materials. Shively uses the toolkit theory to determine ways in which minorities participate in and alter dominant culture’s myths by matching groups from American Indian and Anglo men in the answering of questionnaires and interviews. The analysis noted that men from both groups liked the film but had different reasons for liking it where the Anglos loved the film due to the fact that it represented the values that their ancestors imposed on the West while the American Indians observed the representation of Westerns set of standards about land and freedom (Shively 725).
After viewing various Western films from 1931 to 1972, Wright, came up with a cognitive theory of mythic structures to show the theme of Western films which revolved around the resolving of various contradictions in modern capitalism by providing the audience with strategies of coping up with their economic worlds, which makes them popular. This theory differs with toolkit theory since it argues that Western popularity gives much attention to cultural texts at the expense of the audience’s motives and experiences. The audience experiences and motives are very crucial and the lack of solid data about them makes the toolkit theory speculative.
Work Cited.
Shively, JoEllen. "Cowboys And Indians: Perceptions Of Western Films Among American Indians And Anglos". American Sociological Review 57.6 (1992): 725. Web.
Swidler, Ann. "Culture In Action: Symbols And Strategies". American Sociological Review 51.2 (1986): 273. Web.
Will Wright. "Sixguns And Society: A Structural Study Of The Western". The British Journal of Sociology 28.1 (1977): 109. Web.
