CULTURE, CIRCLES, AND COMMERCIALS

Michael Suk-Young Chwe

Rationality and Society, 1998, vol. 10, issue 1, 47-75

Abstract: This paper applies a game theoretic argument, that common knowledge is necessary for `solving' coordination problems, to a variety of cultural practices. This argument helps in understanding how cultural practices such as mass ceremonies constitute power, how talking in inward-facing circles helps coordination, and why `social' goods tend to be advertised on popular and expensive television shows. The main conclusion is that cultural practices, usually understood in terms of `meaning' or `content', must also be understood in terms of `publicity', or more precisely common knowledge generation.

Keywords: collective action; communication; common Knowledge; culture; ritual; television advertising (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1998
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:10:y:1998:i:1:p:47-75

DOI: 10.1177/104346398010001002

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