Jeffrey Alexander argues for a cultural sociology that will bring unconscious cultural structures into the broad light of day. Exposing our everyday myths and narratives in a series of empirical studies that range from Watergate to the Holocaust, he shows how these unseen yet potent cultural structures translate into concrete actions and institutions.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 229-291) and index.

Introduction: The meanings of (social) life : on the origins of a cultural sociology -- The strong program in cultural sociology : elements of a structural hermeneutics / with Philip Smith -- On the social construction of "moral universals" : the "Holocaust" from war crime to trauma drama -- Cultural trauma and collective idenitity -- A cultural sociology of evil -- The discourse of American civil society / with Philip Smith -- Watergate as democratic ritual -- The sacred and profane information machine -- Modern, anti, post, and neo : how intellectuals explain "our time".