Given below are two statements: One is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
Assertion (A): Scholars working in the field of cultural studies maintain that ‘culture’ in cultural studies is neither aesthetic nor humanist in emphasis, but political.
Reason (R): The implication of the above is that the object of study in cultural studies is ‘high art’ and the study of the exalted literary
canon.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct option is: A is correct but R is not correct.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Analyzing Assertion (A):
Assertion (A) states: "Scholars working in the field of cultural studies maintain that ‘culture’ in cultural studies is neither aesthetic nor humanist in emphasis, but political."
This statement is correct. Cultural studies emerged as an academic discipline that critiques traditional concepts of culture. Instead of defining culture in aesthetic terms (like "fine art" or "high literature") or humanist terms (celebrating universal human values), cultural studies conceptualizes culture as a site of struggle where power relations, ideologies, and social hierarchies are produced, maintained, and challenged. Therefore, the emphasis in cultural studies is fundamentally political, focusing on how power operates through cultural practices and representations.

2. Analyzing Reason (R):
Reason (R) states: "The implication of the above is that the object of study in cultural studies is ‘high art’ and the study of the exalted literary canon."
This statement is incorrect. The implication of culture being "political" rather than "aesthetic" or "humanist" is that cultural studies expands its scope to include popular culture, everyday practices, mass media, subcultures, and marginalized voices. It actively rejects the traditional, elitist focus on "high art" and the "exalted literary canon," viewing these canons themselves as constructs of dominant power groups. Therefore, the object of study in cultural studies is broad and democratic, rather than restricted to high art.

Conclusion:
Since Assertion (A) is correct and Reason (R) is incorrect, the correct choice is "A is correct but R is not correct."