Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology [Hardcover]

Deena Weinstein (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 331 pages
• Publisher: Lexington Books (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0669218375
• ISBN-13: 978-0669218374
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,598,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Academically sound but misses the point, December 27, 2001

By 

death metal and black metal "death metal and ... (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology (Hardcover)

Weinstein here executes an academically well-trained description of the heavy metal genre, but in doing so agglutinates several generations of metal into one pseudo-genre which, not surprisingly, does not fit the broader conclusions academics must draw from sociological studies. This book repeats the classic error of all academics in assuming all metal is Motley Crue or derivates thereof, and consequently, the book is completely obsolete in the current time. Well-written and smoothly flowing it is an afternoon's read and provides great supporting evidence for any mainstreaming or assimilation of the heavy metal lifestyle in academia.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Book on Heavy Metal, January 10, 2000

By 

ChrisV82 (South Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology (Hardcover)

This is the bible of Heavy Metal for Metalheads throughout the world. I have scoured the universities and libraries for books regarding H.M., and this book is not only the best, but is referenced with awe and respect by every other text discussing H.M. If you love Metal, you MUST own this book. While it might seem slightly outdated (1991 - 1992 published), it is a fascinating look at H.M., and provides key information on the development of H.M., the dreaded P.M.R.C. and Metal detractors (always a favorite topic), and H.M. social status, plus much more. There is (thank God) a new Weinstein book about Metal coming out in April 2000 called "Heavy Metal: The Music and Its Culture", and it's in paperback form, no less! Cheap books are good. I hope Deena has written another top notch book, because "H.M.: A Cultural Sociology" is perhaps the best damn non-fiction book I have ever read. Extremely informative, completely objective (yet written by a Metalhead), ever extensive, this book is worth every damn cent!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Un exelente analisis de la cultura del metal, April 24, 2000

By 

cesar monterroso (Lima,Perú) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology (Hardcover)

Definitivamente estamos ante un libro de gran calidad y que conste que no lo digo por ser un metalhead. La autora ha sabido dividir el tema en las partes pertinentes para un efectivo análisis. La cultura del heavy metal, efectivamente, puede verse como la interacción de los media, las bandas y los fans y el concierto de heavy metal como una Metal Epiphany. Esto hasta cierto punto es arbitrario pero no podemos negar que es de una consistencia útil. A lo largo de las páginas de este libro podemos encontrar cosas tales como el origen del nombre del metal, su evolución, la tenaz lucha que ha tenido contra los sectores más oscurantistas del sociedad occidental pero no sólo ello. También se muestra una abstraccion de los elementos de nuestra cultura metalera que permite sacar a la luz características como la ética del guerrero que se encuentra inmersa en el metal, el mensaje de que todo está mal y que no hay nada que podamos hacer para cambiar las cosas salvo el trabajar para nuestra propia superación individual. Además el libro nos muestra una enorme facilidad para comprender las metáforas del metal y de como la música prima sobre el mensaje verbal. Por otro lado, y esto es importante, también se hace mención de los defectos del metal como la Homofobia y el machismo, dos defectos que parecen se están superando. Es pues este libro, muy recomendable tanto para headbanguers como para cualquiera que quiera acercarse al metal con espiritu crítico y abierto. ¡Gloria eterna la metal!

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