Popular Culture : The Basics

A fast-paced and lively introduction to the most significant approaches to studying and analyzing popular culture.

A fast-paced and lively introduction to the most significant approaches to studying and analyzing popular culture. Opening with an introduction exploring the challenges of defining just what we mean by ‘popular culture’, this book charts popular culture studies from the early 20th century to present day. The book specifically examines the evolution of popular culture studies and the debates over popular culture from the early 20th century until the advent of digital culture in the early 1990s to the ways the digital revolution is continuing to transform the field in the present day. Specific chapters also focus on ‘Doing Popular Culture Studies,’ with each chapter providing historical and contemporary examples, accessible key case studies, and featuring different focal points. Topics covered within this include popular culture as an industry; what popular culture means for fans and audiences; and how popular culture intersects with issues of identity, diversity, and power. The final chapter considers possibilities for the future of popular culture studies, highlighting its ongoing importance in an environment of accelerating media and cultural change. This is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in learning more about popular culture studies.