Rethinking Popular Culture: Contemporary Perspectives in Cultural Studies

by Chandra Mukerji

Rethinking Popular Culture selects some of the best and most important recent work analyzing popular culture. Drawing upon recent developments in cultural theory and the exciting new techniques of critical analysis, the essays in this volume break down disciplinary boundaries in a fresh and innovative fashion.

Eclectic and wide-ranging, Rethinking Popular Culture includes works by authors in the humanities and social sciences. The essays touch on a variety of features of popular culture, from photography to fashion, romance novels to television, jokes to food habits.

The editors' comprehensive introduction sets each essay in the context of intellectual developments in history, sociology, literature, and anthropology and in the study of popular culture as a whole. Arguing that recent scholarship has revolutionized our understanding of popular culture, the editors articulate what that new perspective is while introducing some of the most influential and important work that gave rise to it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cultural Studies, Theory

510 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 1991

Reviews

[Andrew Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good essays. I wouldn’t say the collection is random, but it’s not exactly cohesive either.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cultural Studies essays are so hit or miss. I guess the varied subject matter combined with the varied methodologies make this so.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays on how popular culture is presented by various academic disciplines. The categories are Historical Studies, Anthropological Studies, Sociological Studies, and Cultural Criticism. The essays are examples and cover a wide range of interests. I liked some and could have skipped some, but it is a good introduction to a cross-fertilization in popular culture.

[Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the investigation into cock fights! Stay for the examination of the importance of jokes and humor!

A varied collection of essays. Some are very strong and interesting, some are dry as a bone.

[Ke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I didn't get a chance to read all the essays, I found that it contained a large number of seminal writings. An excellent primer for someone interested in Cultural Studies.

[Ale]

Abarca