Why cultural studies?

This is a presentation given under a seminar for master's students in a joint cooperation between Tartu University and Stockholm University. The research group Romkult (Cultural Studies in Romance speaking areas) from Stockholm University supported this investigation made on the specificity of cultural studies. Why do we have cultural studies in many universities? Is it a field or an interdisciplinary approach? Are cultural studies similar to Kulturwissenchaft and études culturelles? What are the big names and the main theoretical aspects of cultural studies?