Most of us are well into Summer by now, and hopefully enjoying the changed rhythms that brings. For me, the end of Summer and the transition back to Fall rhythms is almost always marked by the ASA Annual Meetings. The ASA meetings are a great chance to catch up with old friends, meet new people, talk with editors, and preview the present and future of cultural sociology. If you are coming to the conference please try to attend our business meeting, which takes place on Monday, August 13 at 11:30 am. Our section reception is later that day, beginning at 6:30 pm. Full details for all the Culture Section sessions are provided in this newsletter, and they are also posted on the Culture Section’s website.

Omar Lizardo has organized a wonderful program for the section, spread over two days on Monday, August 13 and Tuesday, August 14. The program schedule begins with the roundtable sessions, which are always a good way to sample the diverse research interests, perspectives, and latest developments in cultural sociology. Gemma Mangione and Ande Reisman have organized a very interesting graduate student workshop, with four panelists discussing how to bring cultural sociology to the general public. The remaining sessions highlight cutting-edge techniques and issues in cultural analysis. There is a panel on computational methods and cultural sociology; a panel on the relationship between culture, preference, and choice; a panel on moral judgment; a panel on culture and cognition; and a panel exploring different perspectives for thinking about culture and meaning.

This is my last “Letter From the Chair”, as I will hand over leadership of the section to Omar Lizardo at the conclusion of the business meeting. I would like to congratulate the winners of our recent election: Allison Pugh (Chair-Elect), Victoria Reyes and Gabriel Abend (Council Members), and Joanna Pepin (Graduate Student Representative). I would also like to thank all the current members of the Section Council, as well as our Newsletter and Website Editors, for all of their help. It has been an honor to serve the section for the past year. I look forward to seeing many of you at the meetings in Philadelphia this year, and at other meetings sites in the future.

Ron Jacobs,
Univ. at Albany, SUNY