Popular culture Books

Book SynopsisThe relationship between popular music and fashion has been a culturally significant one since the 1950s, and this book explores how music and musicians play a key role in the shaping of identity, taste and consumption. Using a range of historical and contemporary examples, this book uncovers the way in which fashion and music have worked to shape contemporary attitudes to bodies and identities.Focusing on performers as much as fans, on the mainstream as much as the underground, Fashion and Music provides a lens through which to examine themes of gender, sexuality, ageing and youth, ethnicity, body image, consumer culture, fandom and postmodernity.Trade ReviewThis book is not only entertaining, but also informative. Miller presents a current perspective on various aspects of popular music in one easy to read book, which I plan to use in the classroom. * Jessica Strubel, School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management, University of North Texas *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Fashion, Identity and Music1. Dressing Fans: Music, Clothes and Consumption 2. Gwen Loves Vivienne: Branding, Fashion and Music 3. Witchy Women: Fashioning the Womanly Body of the Female Singer-Songwriter4. White Suited Men: Style and the Marketing of the Boyband 5. Dressing your Age: Fashioning the Ageing Body of Performers and Fans 6. Styling, Race and Nation 7. Spectacle and Sexuality: Clothes, Concerts and the CarnivalesqueConclusion: Image, MusicIndex

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Book SynopsisGoths represent one of the most arresting, distinctive and enduring subcultures of recent times. The dedication of those involved to a lifestyle which, from the outside, may appear dark and sinister, has spawned reactions ranging from admiration to alarm. Until now, no one has conducted a full-scale ethnographic study of this fascinating subcultural group. Based on extensive research by an 'insider', this is the first. Immersing us in the potent mix of identities, practices and values that make up the goth scene, the author takes us behind the faade of the goth mystique. From dress and musical tastes to social habits and the use of the internet, Hodkinson details the inner workings of this intriguing group. Defying postmodern theories that claim media and commerce break down substantive cultural groupings, Hodkinson shows how both have been used by goths to retain, and even strengthen, their group identity. Hodkinson provides a comprehensive reworking of subcultural theory, making a key contribution to the disciplines of sociology, cultural studies, youth studies, media studies, and popular music studies. Readable and accessible, this groundbreaking book presents a unique chance to engage with a contemporary, spectacular culture.Trade Review'I would recommend it as a valuable text that should be included on undergraduate reading lists for courses dealing with fan, music and popular cultures.'Garry Crawford, BSA'While most of us might have moved swiftly on and started wearing baggy jeans, there remains an enormous goth subculture, which Hodkinson, proud to count himself a part of it, analyses stylishly in this 'ethnographic study'.'The Guardian'Engaging.'The Daily Telegraph'A scholarly yet accessible text [that] successfully conveys what it means to be a Goth.'Sonic Seducer'The first major anthropological study of UK Goths is a priceless work. [It is a] fascinating read that I found very difficult to put down.'KaleidoscopeTable of Contents1From Participant to Researcher 2 Reworking Subculture 3Goth as a Subcultural Style 4Insiders and Outsiders 5Events, Friendships and Commitment 6Selling Goth? The Producers of Subcultures 7Buying Goth: Subcultural Shopping 8Communicating Goth: 'Traditional' Media 9Communicating Goth: On-line Media 10Concluding Thoughts Appendix: Quantitative Questionnaire Results Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisInside Clubbing puts the spotlight on club culture - in all its sweaty, visceral and seductive glory. Moving from hip-hop clubs to fetish events and beyond, the author guides us through the huge spectrum of the contemporary club experience. Drawing on interviews with clubbers from a variety of backgrounds, the author dispels myths and offers new insight into the clubbing scene. Contrary to popular perception, for example, clubbing is not just for youths. The clubbers in Inside Clubbing range from mid-twenties to mid-fifties. Many have been on the scene for years and offer a historical perspective on changes over the last decade. The range of clubs and clubbers discussed also demonstrates the diversity of club culture its more than just an ecstasy-fuelled dance scene. Taking us into queer, trance, Asian, techno, drum n bass, and sex clubs - among others - Inside Clubbing explores the real practice of clubbing. It looks at what people experience and how it affects them, as well as their values and concerns - from friendship and community to drugs, the body, and life outside the clubbing space. This book breaks new ground in offering us the most balanced and sophisticated understanding of the club scene to date.Trade Review'Inside Clubbing makes an important contribution to the understanding of contemporary leisure practices. Section one presents in beautiful, rich and evocative description, the key aspects of clubbing. Inside Clubbing is a highly significant contribution to the anthropology of leisure and pleasure, the body and emotions. It is an accessible and vivid account which breaks new ground in the analysis of contemporary clubbing practices.'Kalissa Alexeyeff, The Australian Journal of Anthropology

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Book SynopsisDeath. Sex. Money. Tricky subjects we’re taught to avoid in polite conversation. Here, the host of a hit podcast reveals how to talk about difficult things, and why it might be the most important thing we do. In Let’s Talk About Hard Things, Sale takes her quest for more honest communication into her own life. She considers her history of facing (and sometimes avoiding) difficult subjects; she reflects on race, wealth, inequality, love, grief, death, power — all the things that shape our daily lives, the things we should be talking about, but often struggle to. Through the personal stories of people whose lives have been transformed by tough conversations, we discover new ways of approaching these tricky topics with family, friends, loved ones, and strangers. Let’s Talk About Hard Things is candid, unflinching, and entertaining in its quest to make everyone more comfortable with the uncomfortable realities of life.Trade Review‘The number one driver of human happiness, across time and culture, is meaningful connection to others. The road to connection is conversations. Anna Sale is giving us the encouragement, the example, and the tools to do the one thing that can bring us closer: talk about hard things.’ -- Kelly Corrigan, host of Kelly Corrigan Wonders and bestselling author of Tell Me More‘In Let’s Talk About Hard Things, Anna Sale brings us fascinating conversations that feel both intensely personal and widely universal, then shows us how to start having them in our own lives. You will laugh, cry, nod in recognition, and by the end, feel like no topic is off limits when it comes to creating meaningful connection. I want to give a copy of this book to every family member, friend, and therapy patient I see.’ -- Lori Gottlieb, host of Dear Therapists podcast and New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone‘With tremendous empathy and thoughtfulness, Anna Sale models how to have the hard conversations — about love and grief and fear and so much else. Sale is a wise guide through the most difficult human terrain, and with her help, I'm now having conversations that before this book felt impossible.’ -- John Green, New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars‘Anna Sale has a real gift for cutting through the white noise that so often overwhelms our most urgent, high-stakes conversations. She's teaching us how to listen to one another again. No one can save us from life's plot twists — and no one should — but page by page, sentence by sentence, Sale is committed to seeing us through.’ -- Saeed Jones, author of How We Fight For Our Lives‘Let’s Talk About Hard Things is a gift. Filled with personal stories, complex emotions, and insight into the thorniest of interpersonal relationships, it is a balm, a challenge, and a celebration of our desire to be known in this world.’ -- Katie Couric‘It’s not surprising to learn that Anna Sale applies the same compassion and thoughtfulness she displays as host to her writing, but it is thrilling all the same to quickly find Let’s Talk About Hard Things as inviting and comforting as any episode of Death, Sex, & Money. It’s not easy to open up about what makes us most uncomfortable, but the stories shared throughout the book and Sale’s excellent writing around them shows how vital it is that we make the effort. And while I still occasionally squirm over the reality that there is only so much that I can control in life, I am grateful for the tools Let’s Talk About Hard Things provides in helping me deal with such an unfortunate circumstance. I was already a fan of Sale's as a podcaster and person, but happy to now be a fanboy of Anna Sale the writer, too.’ -- Michael Arceneaux, New York Times bestselling author of I Can’t Date Jesus and I Don’t Want To Die Poor‘An empathetic debut … In addition to her own experiences, Sale offers no shortage of outside perspectives through interviews with former podcast guests, friends, and psychologists … Fans of Sale’s podcast will find a familiar guide in her reflective and introspective voice, and those encountering her for the first time will find this a comfort in hard times.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘[E]xplores how we can talk about difficult situations in order to better connect with family, friends, and coworkers. This debut covers five topics — death, sex, money, family, and identity — which Sale explores via stories from her own life and by interviewing a racially and economically diverse group of people. Not to be mistaken for a self-help guide, Sale’s book also analyses the structural and cultural dynamics that impede meaningful conversations. Besides listeners of her podcast, this will appeal to any adult struggling to broach these topics.’ -- Chris Wilkes * Library Journal *‘Expanding on her hit WNYC podcast, Death, Sex, & Money, journalist Sale urges readers to have difficult conversations about their lives … There are stories of divorce, the sudden loss of a young partner, alienation from one's immediate family, secret investments gone wrong, and the pain of systemic racism. The book elaborates on content that aired previously on her show and includes new interviews with friends and celebrities. Infusing it all with memoir, Sale is generous when divulging her tricky chats of yore, and always quick to acknowledge the privilege that has allowed her — a cis, heterosexual, married, white parent — to have some difficult conversations but not others. This book is a road map to navigating these sorts of conversations with friends and family, and even includes specific phrasing to try; it also offers a sense of solidarity. Simply bearing witness to the struggles of strangers is sure to leave readers feeling less alone.’ * Booklist *‘Absolutely brilliant … it’s amazing.’ -- Rebecca Seal * The Solo Collective *‘It’s not a how-to, but it’s instructive — and timely … many of us are realising that we’ve forgotten how to talk about the easy things, let alone the hard ones … As Sale shows us how supportive listening happens, and doesn’t scold anyone for not doing it better, we deepen our trust for her as a narrator: she’s dispensing not 'tough love' to the reader but empathy. By the end, we feel clearer, more known, and ready to proceed. In that way, her book is not unlike a good conversation with a friend.’ * The New Yorker *‘There’s value in tackling the tough stuff we tend to shy away from, such as mortality, intimacy and finances … The text is a compelling exhortation to have difficult discussions … The book also smartly considers not just when to talk but when to listen and when to quit entirely. Sale resists simple answers and asserts that challenging conversations are not cure-alls, even with the best of intentions and tactics. It’s a well-worn message, but one that bears repeating.’ -- Nneka McGuire * The Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisThis book is the first study of how ‘weird fiction’ emerged from Victorian supernatural literature, abandoning the more conventional Gothic horrors of the past for the contemporary weird tale. It investigates the careers and fiction of a range of the British writers who inspired H. P. Lovecraft, such as Arthur Machen, M. P. Shiel, and John Buchan, to shed light on the tensions between ‘literary’ and ‘genre’ fiction that continue to this day. Weird Fiction in Britain 1880–1939 focuses on the key literary and cultural contexts of weird fiction of the period, including Decadence, paganism, and the occult, and discusses how these later impacted on the seminal American pulp magazine Weird Tales. This ground-breaking book will appeal to scholars of weird, horror and Gothic fiction, genre studies, Decadence, popular fiction, the occult, and Fin-de-Siècle cultural history. Trade Review“Weird Fiction in Britain is certainly worth reading for any fan or student of the weird/gothic tale of the 19th century, as the mass of detail that went into this study is overwhelming, … .” (A. Ebert, popcultureshelf.com, March 29, 2019)Table of Contents1. Introduction.2. The Weird Fin-De-Siècle and After.3. Shiel, Stenbock, Gilchrist, and Machen.4. Buchan.5. Weird Tales and Pulp Decadence.

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Book SynopsisThis edited collection from leading scholars in the fields of media, communications, cultural studies and a number of aligned areas looks to the intersection of capitalism, crime and the media. The text is founded on the principles of cultural criminology – that how we determine and understand crime lies in the social world and that the determination of crime and its mediation in popular culture have a political basis. The book consists of eleven chapters and is divided into three sections. Section one considers the intersection of crime and capitalism in a range of contemporary cultural texts. Section two examines how various power systems influence the operation of the media in its role of reporting crime and holding the powerful to account. Section three considers how texts in a variety of formats are used to conduct politics, communicate politics and enact political decision making. Table of Contents1.​ Introduction2. ‘Grabbing and Keeping’: Deadwood—The Origin of Specie3. ‘Rosie’s Room’ and ‘Bullet’s Phone’: The Commodification of the Lost Girl in The Killing and Its Paratexts4. Noir Tourism and the Black Dahlia Murder5. Reporting Crime and Capitalism: Techniques of Neutralisation in a Corpus of Corporate Fraud News6. Think Tanks, News Sources and Neo-liberal News Discourse: Off-shoring Power and Influence7. Friends in High Places: Sexual Abuse, Power and the Corruptions of Jimmy Savile8. From Chopping Trees to Destroying Capitalism: A Social Etymology of Hacking9. The Loyalist Community of Northern Ireland: From Cultural Defenders to Subcultural Offenders? A Cultural Criminology Exploration10. Activist Media, Social Media and Mediated Republican Deviance in the Northern Irish Peace Process11. Save the Troll! UK Social Media Legislation and the Attack on Freedom of Speech

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Book SynopsisThis book presents chapters that have been brought together to consider the multitude of ways that post-2000 popular music impacts on our cultures and experiences. The focus is on misogyny, toxic masculinity, and heteronormativity. The authors of the chapters consider these three concepts in a wide range of popular music styles and genres; they analyse and evaluate how the concepts are maintained and normalized, challenged, and rejected. The interconnected nature of these concepts is also woven throughout the book. The book also seeks to expand the idea of popular music as understood by many in the West to include popular music genres from outside western Europe and North America that are often ignored (for example, Bollywood and Italian hip hop), and to bring in music genres that are inarguably popular, but also sit under other labels such as rap, metal, and punk.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1 : Should Real Love Hurt? The Eroticisation of Dominance, Submission and Coercive Control in Contemporary Pop Music Chapter 2: Featuring…Nicki Minaj Chapter 3 : Misogyny and Erotic Pleasure in Bollywood’s “Item Numbers” Chapter 4 : From Pimpology to Pimpologia: A Comparative Analysis of Pimp Rap in the United States and Italy Chapter 5 : How Female is the Future? Undoing Sexism in Contemporary Metal Music Chapter 6 : See the Signs—Justin Timberlake and the Pretence of Romance Chapter 7: Immortal Technique and the Radical Reimagining of Masculinity on the Street Chapter 8 : The Initiation: Re-negotiating Masculinity in Queer Music Video Chapter 9 : Let It Enfold You: Screaming, Masculinity, and the Loss of Emotional Control in Post-millennium Emo Chapter 10 : The Power of Boy Pussy: The Dichotomy Between Liberation and Objectification in Queer Hip-Hop/Rap in the 2000s Chapter 11 : “All Of My Life, Just Like I Was One Of Them”: Trans itioning Punk Chapter 12 : Lady Lazarus: The Death (and Rebirth) of a Gender Revolutionary Chapter 13 : Like a Lollipop: Toxic Masculinity and Female Sexual Pleasure in Hip-Hop Afterword

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Book SynopsisThis book analyzes sensationalized Nazi and Holocaust representations in Anglo-American cultural and political discourses. Recognizing that this history is increasingly removed from contemporary life, it explains how irreverent representations can help rejuvenate the story for successive generations of new learners. Surveying seventy-five-years of transatlantic activities, the work erects counterposing categorizes of “constructive and destructive memorializing,” providing scholars with a new framework for elucidating both this history and its historicization.Table of ContentsChapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: The Nuremberg Narrative: Fashioning a Liberalized Anglo-American Holocaust MemorializationChapter 3: The Americanization of the Holocaust: Expressions of Cultural and Political MemorializationChapter 4: Why All the Swastikas?: UK Rock Stars’ Nazi/Holocaust Encounters, 1960s-1980sChapter 5: No Soup For You!: Responsible and Irresponsible Holocaust Humor on American SitcomsChapter 6: Irreverent Instruction: Considering New Approaches in Twenty-First Century European and American Holocaust EducationChapter 7: That is Really Meme: Nazifying Pepe the Frog and the Subversion of Anglo-American Holocaust MemorializationChapter 8: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the representation of London’s nightlife in popular films and newspapers of the interwar period. Through a series of case-studies, it analyses how British popular media in the 1920s and 1930s displayed the capital after dark. It argues that newspapers and films were part of a common culture, which capitalized on the transgressive possibilities of the night. At the same time both media ensured that those in authority, such as the police, were always shown to ultimately be in control of the night. The first chapter of the book provides an overview of the British film and newspaper industries in the interwar period. Subsequent chapters each explore a specific aspect of London’s nightlife. In turn, these chapters consider how films and newspapers of the interwar period depicted women navigating the street at night; the Metropolitan Police’s involvement in nightlife; and the capital’s newly built and expanded suburbs and public transport network. Finally, the book considers how newspapers and films depicted themselves and one another. Trade Review“One of the most impressive aspects of Interwar London After Dark is its catalogue of interwar films. … This makes the book an important resource, as readers will learn about films they might not have heard about otherwise.” (Michael McCluskey, The London Journal, August 29, 2023)Table of Contents1. Introduction: ‘Dancing Goes On Until Dawn’.2. Interwar London: Nights, Newspapers, Films.3. Women On The Night-Time Streets.4. The Metropolitan Police in Interwar Film and Newspapers.5. Suburbs and Public Transport at Night.6. Mirror Image: Newspapers and Films Reflecting Each Other.7. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisIn this comprehensive study of The Stars My Destination, D. Harlan Wilson makes a case for the continued significance of Alfred Bester’s SF masterwork, exploring its distinctive style, influences, intertextuality, affect, and innovation as well as its extensive metafictional properties. In Stars, Bester established himself as a son of the pulp-SF and high-modernist writers that preceded him and a forefather to the New Wave and cyberpunk movements that followed his lead. Wilson’s study depicts Bester as an SF insider as much as an outlier, writing in the spirit of the genre but breaking with the fixation on hard science in favor of psychological interiority, literary experimentation, and adult themes. The book combines close-readings of the novel with broader concerns about contemporary media, technoculture, and the current state of SF itself. In Wilson’s view, SF is a moribund artform, and Stars foresaw the inevitable science fictionalization of our benighted world. With scholarly lucidity and precision, Wilson shows us that Stars pointed the way to what we have (un)become. Table of Contents1. INTRODUCTION 2. SYNOPSIS 3. CHAPTER ONE: Cyberpunk Previsions and Literary Influences 4. CHAPTER TWO: The Frankenstein Riff 5. CHAPTER THREE: Architectures of Psyche, Power, and Patriarchy 6. CHAPTER FOUR: Speaking in Gutter Tongues 7. CODA

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