An Introduction to Popular Culture in the US

The book does a good job in offering a through survey of the fundamentals, the theoretical terrain together with the principal investments, especially the cultural politics of everyday life and the power relationships that are to be found in taken-for-granted, commonplace encounters. Written in a bright and breezy style, it also offers an up-to-the-minute view of popular culture. * The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory *
This book picks up where other popular culture texts leave off, providing a fine blend of theory and up-to-date examples that resonate with today's students and teach them to better understand not only popular culture but also the contemporary world. The text is smart, accessible, well-written, and substantive. It is concise and on-point, providing a solid framework for making sense of the popular culture around us from the Super Bowl to Fifty Shades of Grey to Harry Potter to YouTube memes. Every popular culture text is value-laden; no popular culture text is value-free. Jenn Brandt and Callie Clare give students the tools they need to discover the meanings and power relationships embedded in the books, movies, television show, digital media, and material culture that they take for granted every day. This book is essential for helping students to learn the critical thinking skills they need to understand and navigate today's world. * Kathy Merlock Jackson, Professor of Communication, Virginia Wesleyan University, USA and Editor of The Journal of American Culture *
An Introduction to Popular Culture in the US offers a thorough and accessible introduction to the study of popular culture in the US. It covers a range of concepts such as myth, genre, identity, material culture, and consumption, and uses recent examples from “Deflategate” and “fake news” to Netflix and The Bachelorette to promote a deeper understanding of key theories, approaches, and concepts. It is both an informative and enjoyable read. * Lisa Funnell, Co-Director of the Center for Social Justice and Assistant Professor of Women's and Gender Studies, University of Oklahoma, USA *
An Introduction to Popular Culture in the US presented a well-rounded and creative approach to the myriad of ways popular culture affects a society. This text is not only readable and accessible, it is also entertaining! Through the use of current events the authors frame and re-frame what it means to live in a celebrity-driven world while also diving deep into the scholarship that makes the study of popular culture so integral to 21st century academics. * Adrienne Trier-Bieniek, Chair of Sociology and Anthropology, Valencia College, USA *
An Introduction to Popular Culture in the US: People, Politics, and Power gives students a comprehensive overview of popular culture studies by explaining why and how their daily activities, not only the consumption of media products but food, holidays, schools, etc. are considered popular culture through ample examples. Moreover, the authors’ attention to diversity issues, i.e., race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and disabilities, with regard to power, ideologies, and social stratification shows students that popular culture is not merely fun and entertainment but a site of struggle for power. * Yasue Kuwahara, Director of Popular Culture Studies and Professor of Communication, Northern Kentucky University, USA *
An Introduction to Popular Culture in the US by Jenn Brandt and Callie Clare is an essential addition for both teaching and studying popular culture today. The book centers on the investigation of everyday life, which is fundamental in understanding our lives and the contemporary world. Ray Browne, the godfather of American popular culture studies, would have been proud of how Brandt and Clare help readers appreciate the central role of popular culture in their lives, as well as provide the contextual and critical thinking skills to assess these impulses. * Bob Batchelor, Visiting Professor, Miami University, USA *
Jenn Brandt and Callie Clare’s An Introduction to Popular Culture in the US: People, Politics, and Power is an essential book for anyone interested in learning about popular culture. It is well-written, insightful, and defines our “culture of everyday life” in a way that is both accessible and profound. This volume fills a need that the popular culture studies field has had for over 20 years. * Gary Hoppenstand, Professor, Department of English, Michigan State University, USA *