Popular Culture Books

New and Published Books

1. Celebrity Society

   By Robert van Krieken

   On television, in magazines and books, on the internet and in films, celebrities of all sorts seem to monopolize our attention. Celebrity Society brings new dimensions to our understanding of celebrity, capturing the way in which the figure of ‘the celebrity’ is bound up with the emergence of...

   Published May 27th 2012 by Routledge
2. Analysing Media Discourses

   Edited by John E. Richardson, Joseph D. Burridge

   The continual growth in the significance of mass-mediated communication makes it essential that we are able to reflect upon and critically appreciate the semiotic processes that are involved in their impact upon social and cultural life. This edited collection showcases a range of diverse...

   Published May 16th 2012 by Routledge
3. Hooked: Drug War Films in Britain, Canada, and the U.S.

   By Susan C. Boyd

   Series: Routledge Advances in Criminology

   Drug prohibition emerged at the same time as the discovery of film, and their histories intersect in interesting ways. This book examines the ideological assumptions embedded in the narrative and imagery of one hundred fictional drug films produced in Britain, Canada, and the U.S. from 1912 to 2006...

   Published May 14th 2012 by Routledge
4. The Gothic in Contemporary Literature and Popular Culture

   Pop Goth

   Edited by Justin Edwards, Agnieszka Soltysik Monnet

   Series: Routledge Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Literature

   This interdisciplinary collection brings together world leaders in Gothic Studies, offering dynamic new readings on popular Gothic cultural productions from the last decade. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: contemporary High Street Goth/ic fashion, Gothic performance and art...

   Published May 8th 2012 by Routledge
5. TV Cops

   The Contemporary American Television Police Drama

   By Jonathan Nichols-Pethick

   The police drama has been one of the longest running and most popular genres in American television. In TV Cops, Jonathan Nichols-Pethick argues that, perhaps more than any other genre, the police series in all its manifestations—from Hill Street Blues to Miami Vice to The Wire—embodies the full...

   Published April 24th 2012 by Routledge
6. Understanding Religion and Popular Culture

   Edited by Terry Ray Clark, Dan W. Clanton Jr.

   This introductory text provides students with a 'toolbox' of approaches for analyzing religion and popular culture. It encourages readers to think critically about the ways in which popular cultural practices and products, especially those considered as forms of entertainment, are laden with...

   Published April 18th 2012 by Routledge
7. Handbook of Cultural Sociology

   Edited by John R. Hall, Laura Grindstaff, Ming-cheng Lo

   The Handbook of Cultural Sociology provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary scholarship in sociology and related disciplines focused on the complex relations of culture to social structures and everyday life. With sixty-five essays written by scholars from around the world, the book...

   Published April 18th 2012 by Routledge
8. Global Perspectives on Tarzan

   From King of the Jungle to International Icon

   Edited by Annette Wannamaker, Michelle Abate

   Series: Routledge Research in Cultural and Media Studies

   This collection seeks to understand the long-lasting and global appeal of Tarzan: Why is a story about a feral boy, who is raised by apes in the African jungle, so compelling and so adaptable to different cultural contexts and audiences? How is it that the same narrative serves as the basis for...

   Published April 17th 2012 by Routledge
9. Best Before

   Videogames, Supersession and Obsolescence

   By James Newman

   Despite record sales and an ever-growing global industry, the simple fact is that videogames are disappearing. Most obviously, the physical deterioration of discs, cartridges, consoles and controllers means that the data and devices will crumble to dust and eventually will be lost forever. However...

   Published April 15th 2012 by Routledge
10. Reflecting on Cosmetic Surgery

    Body image, Shame and Narcissism

    By Jane Northrop

    Cosmetic surgery represents an extreme form of modern grooming. It is the fastest growing medical specialty, yet misconceptions abound about those who undertake it and their reasons for doing so. With a grounded approach, engaging 30 women through in-depth interview, this study explores how they...

    Published April 15th 2012 by Routledge