A Companion to Popular Culture

A Companion to Popular Culture is a landmark survey of contemporary research in popular culture studies. Covering everything from food to fashion and carnivals to consumerism, this innovative collection balances new perspectives on the politics of culture with in–depth analysis of topical issues. The more than two dozen essays included are thematically organized into sections addressing the history of popular culture studies, its genres and formulas, media and technologies, popular cultural pastimes and practices, its uses and abuses, and the politics of culture.

With contributions from established and emerging scholars at the forefront of the field including George Lipsitz, Jane Caputi, Devon Powers, and Amber Day, A Companion to Popular Culture will provide students and scholar with a comprehensive and up–to–date overview of this dynamic discipline.

Notes on Contributors

Introduction

1. Communication, American Studies, Cultural Studies, and Popular Culture
Gary Burns

POPULAR CULTURE AS A FIELD OF STUDY

2. The Historical Study of Popular Culture
George Lipsitz

3. Textual Criticism of Popular Culture
Brendan Riley

4. Ethnographic and Folkloristic Study of Popular Culture
Daniel Margolies

5. Preservation, Restoration, and Accessibility of Popular Culture Materials
Karen Whedbee

TEXTS, GENRES, AND FORMULAS

6. The History and Logic of Genre Study
Tricia Jenkins

7. Genres and Formulas in Popular Literature and Theatre
Gary Hoppenstand

8. Popular Music Genres
Marco Katz Montiel

9. Popular Genres in the Visual Arts
Joy Sperling

MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGIES

10. Technological Determinism
Rob Drew

11. Material Culture and Heritage
Marilyn Motz

12. Film and Television in Popular Culture
Chuck Berg and Ron Wilson

13. Computers and Culture
Paul Booth

PASTIMES AND PRACTICES

14. Holidays, Festivals, and Foodways
Ann Hetzel Gunkel

15. Sports, Tom Oates

16. Circuses, Carnivals, World′s Fairs and Expositions, and Theme Parks
Kathy Merlock Jackson

17. Humor in Popular Culture
Ben Urish

18. Tourism, Travel, and Transportation
Max Skidmore

USES AND ABUSES

19. Advertising and Consumerism
Devon Powers

20. Fashion in Popular Culture
Trish Cunningham

21. Popular Religion
Nancy Schaefer

22. Children′s Popular Culture
Angela Sorby

23. Sex and Violence
Jane Caputi

POLITICS OF CULTURE

24. The Culture Industries
Tom Discenna

25. Globalization
Mel van Elteren

26. The Politics of Documentary
Jeff Chown

27. Culture Jamming and Media Activism
Amber Day

28. Who Owns Culture?
Heather McIntosh

29. Culture Wars, the Academy, and Future Directions for the Study of Popular Culture
Michael Marsden

Index

Gary Burns is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University. A former President of the Popular Culture Association and former Executive Secretary of the Midwest Popular Culture Association, Professor Burns is Editor, with Thomas Kitts, of the journals Popular Music and Society and Rock Music Studies. He is the editor of two books on television and is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on popular music, music video, television, film, and other topics in popular culture studies.