Cultural Studies Vocabulary

noun a form of idolatry that worships books

• Bibliolatry is the excessive reverence or worship of books.
• Some people take their love of books to the extreme and engage in bibliolatry.
• She's totally obsessed with reading, it's like she's practicing bibliolatry or something.
• In a world where knowledge is power, bibliolatry can be seen as a form of empowerment through literature.

noun A small grocery store, especially in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood.

• The bodega on the corner is a convenient place to pick up groceries.
• Let's swing by the bodega to grab some snacks for the party.
• I love the vibe at that bodega, they always have the best sandwiches.
• The bodega of knowledge is found in books and libraries.

adjective relating to or befitting a son or daughter; having a relation like that of a child to a parent

• The filial duty of caring for elderly parents is important in many cultures.
• I have a strong filial bond with my siblings.
• My friend is always there for me, he's like my filial bro.
• The tree's branches reached out like filial connections to the ground below.

noun the study of human culture, including literature, history, philosophy, and the arts

• The study of humanities encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including literature, history, philosophy, and art.
• I really enjoy my humanities classes because we get to learn about different cultures and time periods.
• I'm majoring in humanities because I love diving into all things related to human culture.
• Exploring the humanities is like unlocking a treasure trove of knowledge about the human experience.

noun the study of symbols and icons in art and culture

• The study of iconology involves analyzing the symbols and imagery used in art and culture.
• Iconology is all about deciphering the hidden meanings behind symbols in art.
• I'm diving deep into iconology to understand the symbolism in this painting.
• Iconology is like decoding a secret language in art.

verb to drink or absorb something, typically alcohol

• It is important to imbibe knowledge from various sources to broaden your understanding.
• I love to imbibe different types of tea to relax after a long day.
• Let's imbibe some brews at the bar tonight.
• She seemed to imbibe the essence of the story, understanding its deeper meaning.

noun knowledge or skills in a specific area

• Improving literacy rates is a key focus for educational policymakers.
• Reading more books can really boost your literacy skills.
• Yo, did you see that meme about literacy? It was hilarious!
• Financial literacy is like having a superpower in today's world.

noun a person who has conventional or middle-of-the-road taste or opinions

adjective relating to or characteristic of a person with conventional or middle-of-the-road taste or opinions

• The book club focused on middlebrow literature, appealing to a wide range of readers.
• She's not into highbrow stuff, but she enjoys middlebrow movies.
• I think middlebrow music is just average, nothing special.
• His taste in art is quite middlebrow, sticking to popular and easily accessible pieces.

noun a person who has a sexual attraction to corpses

• The police discovered evidence that pointed towards the suspect being a necrophiliac.
• I heard a rumor that the new guy at work might be a necrophiliac.
• Dude, that guy gives me major necrophiliac vibes.
• Her obsession with old books borders on necrophiliac, she just can't get enough of them.

noun the process of categorizing and differentiating people based on their race

• Racialization is a complex process that involves attributing certain characteristics or behaviors to individuals based on their race.
• Many people are unaware of the impact of racialization on society.
• The racialization of certain groups can lead to discrimination and prejudice.
• The media often perpetuates the racialization of certain communities through stereotypes and biased portrayals.

noun a surname or last name

• The Thomasson is an architectural term used to describe a structure that serves no purpose and is maintained simply because it would be more costly to demolish.
• Have you seen that Thomasson building down the street? It's been abandoned for years.
• I can't believe they're still keeping that Thomasson house standing. It's such a waste of space.
• The old statue in the park has become a Thomasson, forgotten and overlooked by most passersby.

noun the action or process of perceiving or portraying someone or something as fundamentally different or alien from oneself

verb to treat or portray someone or something as fundamentally different or alien from oneself

• The act of othering marginalized groups can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
• Stop othering people just because they are different from you.
• Don't be a jerk by othering those who don't fit in with your group.
• By othering certain individuals, we are essentially creating barriers to understanding and empathy.

noun a person who collects matchbox labels

• The phillumenist showcased their impressive collection of matchbox labels at the antique fair.
• My friend is a phillumenist and loves collecting matchbooks from different restaurants.
• I never knew being a phillumenist could be so fascinating until I saw my uncle's collection.
• As a phillumenist of memories, she carefully preserved each matchbook from significant events in her life.

noun a term used to describe the act of discovering something that is not new or original, often with a sense of entitlement or superiority

• The act of columbusing refers to the phenomenon where people claim to discover something that has been long established by a different culture.
• She's always columbusing new trends and acting like she's the first one to know about them.
• Stop columbusing my favorite restaurant and acting like you found it first.
• Columbusing can also be seen in the tech industry, where companies often try to take credit for ideas that have been around for years.

noun clothing or garments, especially of a particular type or for a particular purpose

• The tailor carefully crafted the abiliment for the royal wedding.
• She picked out a stunning abiliment for the party.
• Check out his fresh abiliment, he's looking sharp!
• Her words were like a finely tailored abiliment, elegant and impactful.

verb to make abnormal or deviate from normal

adjective describing something that has been made abnormal or deviated from normal

• It is important not to abnormalize certain groups of people based on stereotypes.
• Let's not abnormalize anyone just because they're different.
• Don't be a jerk and abnormalize others for no reason.
• Trying to abnormalize your own feelings will only lead to inner conflict.