An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture [Paperback]

Dominic Strinati (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415235006 | ISBN-13: 978-0415235006 | Publication Date: July 11, 2004 | Edition: 2

An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture is widely recognized as an immensely useful textbook for students taking courses in the major theories of popular culture. Strinati provides a critical assessment of the ways in which these theories have tried to understand and evaluate popular culture in modern societies.

Among the theories and ideas the book introduces are: mann culture, the Frankfurt School and the culture industry, semiology and structuralism, Marxism, feminism, postmodernism and cultural populism.

This new edition provides fresh material on Marxism and feminism, while a new final chapter assesses the significance of the theories explained in the book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'An excellent introduction to popular culture. Complex theories are presented in a clear and concise manner' - Stephen Dawkins, Park Lane College on the first edition

About the Author

Dominic Strinati is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Leicester. He is the author of An Introduction to Studying Popular Culture (Routledge 2000).

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (July 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415235006
• ISBN-13: 978-0415235006
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #303,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dry but worthwhile, January 31, 2009

By 

textile fiend (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture (Paperback)

This book does exactly what it says on the cover - it introduces and describes the main theories that are used to discuss mass culture in academic terms (and looks at ways mass culture can be defined). It covers commodity fetishism, structuralism, semiology, marxism, hegemony, feminist theory, and postmodernism. The author discusses critiques and developments of each theory, and elaborates on how more recent theories evolved out of existing ones.

The book doesn't attempt to illuminate these theories as if to a layperson. There are no real-world examples (other than the few that the theorists originally used in developing their theories). The theories aren't reworded to be easier to understand. The book is like a statement of position; here's where we're at now. This would make it a challenging read for someone coming across these ideas for the first time, and I'm not sure what market the book is aimed at. It seems too dense for a non-academic audience, not engaging enough for an undergraduate audience, yet too superficial and broad for a post-graduate audience.

The actual writing is excellent; succinct, well-structured and direct. There are copious well-referenced quotes so the reader can find the original source easily for further reading.

This would be a great book for someone who didn't study at all for the first two years of their degree, scraped through, suddenly realise they should already know about theories that engage with popular culture, and need a one-book catch-up primer.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Text, December 25, 2011

By 

JSmalls - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture (Paperback)

I learned so much from this book because it is a readable survey of important ideas and thinkers. The course I used it for was entitled "Popular Culture and Religion" and this provided the theoretical framework for the religion aspect of the class. I still find myself thinking of this work.