Cultural Studies

Short Introductions

by Chris Rojek

What has the death of Corporal Patrick D. Tillman of the US Army Rangers in an incident of friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004 got to do with culture? How has the study of ideology, coding, theming and representation by Cultural Studies helped us to understand Reality TV, the Internet, mobile phones, the iPod and leading brands in neat capitalism like Virgin, The Body Shop and Apple? This lively and assured book provides a concise and authoritative critical guide to Cultural Studies. It demonstrates that the field has moved through four moments': the National/Popular, the Textual/Representational, Global/Post Essentialism and Governmentality/Policy. It illustrates the meaning of each of these moments by a discussion of representative texts and concrete examples from popular culture. As such, it achieves a novel and accessible account of the origins and development of the field.

The book also shows how the readers personal experience can be systematically situated in cultural forces and used as a resource to clarify how culture works, through the analysis of on-location practice, embodiment, emplacement and context. Packed with illuminating examples, and a clear and compelling prose style, the book is the antidote to abstract, hazy accounts of the meaning and value of Cultural Studies. It is the ideal text for readers new to the field, but it will also be appreciated by established practitioners as good to think with.

Genres: Cultural Studies

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Chris Rojek is Professor of Sociology and Culture at Nottingham Trent University, UK.
In 2003 he was awarded the Allen V. Sapora Award for outstanding achievement in the field of Leisure Studies.

Reviews

[Ainoa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was about time that I finish this thing. Jesus.

Generally, it's a nice book, though in the end it didn't have anything to do with my research field, so I can't really judge it for what it is. It is a nice read if you are interested in Cultural Studies with special focus on the political side of them. I found most interesting the last chapter about the coming to be of the publishing house Routledge.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read it for university. Had to read it twice before understanding it at all.