Synopses & Reviews
"Cullen's strength comes from his understanding of how the different strands of American society intertwine in imaginative, unpredictable ways ... The shape and vitality of pop culture's next era will depend, at least in part, on commentators like Cullen."
Washington Post Book World
"A thoroughly engaging look at American culture ... Cullen's articulate prose is spiced with wicked wit and he loves a good story ... Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of complex cultural forces."
Publishers Weekly
"Reflecting both the strengths and weaknesses of an unusually dynamic area of historical scholarship, The Art of Democracy is one of the best surveys of the history of American popular culture."
Journal of American History
"An exceptionally well-written and engrossing introduction to the nonelitist art forms of American popular culture ... Highly recommended."
Library Journal, starred review
"Should be kept on hand to restore our faith in the things that matter to us."
American Studies
Popular culture has been a powerful force in the United States, resonating within the society as a whole and at the same time connecting disparate and even hostile constituencies. The novels of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the theater and minstrel shows of the mid-19th century, movies and the introduction of television and computers in the 20th century are the building blocks that Jim Cullen uses to show how unique and vibrant cultural forms overcame initial resistance and enabled historically marginalized groups to gain access to the fruits of society and recognition from the mainstream.
This updated edition contains a new preface and final chapter which traces the history of contemporary computing from its World War II origins as a military tool to its widespread use in the late 20th century as a tool for the masses. Cullen shows how the computer is reshaping popular culture, and how that culture retains its capacity to surprise and disturb.
The highly acclaimed first edition of The Art of Democracy won the 1996 Ray and Pat Brown Award for "Best Book," presented by the Popular Culture Association.
Review
"Intelligently addresses several of the most important unresolved issues and controversies about altruism." -The Journal of Politics,
Review
"Cullen's strength comes from his understanding of how the different strands of American society intertwine in imaginative, unpredictable ways ... The shape and vitality of pop culture's next era will depend, at least in part, on commentators like Cullen."-Washington Post Book World,
Review
"Should be kept on hand to restore our faith in the things that matter to us."-American Studies,
Review
"An exceptionally well-written and engrossing introduction to the nonelitist art forms of American popular culture ... Highly recommended.", -Library Journal,starred review
Review
"Reflecting both the strengths and weaknesses of an unusually dynamic area of historical scholarship, The Art of Democracy is one of the best surveys of the history of American popular culture."-Journal of American History,
Review
"A thoroughly engaging look at American culture ... Cullen's articulate prose is spiced with wicked wit and he loves a good story ... Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of complex cultural forces."-Publishers Weekly,
Synopsis
All but buried for most of the twentieth century, the concept of altruism has re-emerged in this last quarter as a focus of intense scholarly inquiry and general public interest. In the wake of increased consciousness of the human potential for destructiveness, both scholars and the general public are seeking interventions which will not only inhibit the process, but may in fact chart a new creative path toward a global community. Largely initiated by a group of pioneering social psychologists, early questions on altruism centered on its motivation and development primarily in the context of contrived laboratory experiments. Although publications on the topic have been considerable over the last several years, and now represent the work of representatives from many disciplines of inquiry, this volume is distinguished from others in several ways.
Embracing the Other emerged primarily as a response to recent research on an extraordinary manifestation of real-life altruism, namely to recent studies of non-Jewish rescuers of Jews during World War II. It is the work of a multi-disciplinary and international group of scholars, including philosophers, social psychologists, historians, sociologists, and educators, challenging several prevailing conceptual definitions and motivational sources of altruism. The book combines both new empirical and historical research as well as theoretical and philosophical approaches and includes a lengthy section addressing the practical implications of current thinking on altruism for society at large. The result is a multi-textured work, addressing critical issues in varied disciplines, while centered on shared themes.
About the Author
Pearl M. Oliner and
Samuel P. Oliner are Professor of Education and Professor of Sociology, respectively, at Humboldt State University and co-authors of The Altruistic Personality: Rescuers of Jews in Nazi Europe.
Pearl M. Oliner and Samuel P. Oliner are Professor of Education and Professor of Sociology, respectively, at Humboldt State University and co-authors of The Altruistic Personality: Rescuers of Jews in Nazi Europe.
Lawrence Baron is the Director of the Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies and Nasir Professor of Modern Jewish History at San Diego State University.
Dennis L. Krebs is Chair and Professor of Psychology at S
Lawrence Baron is the Director of the Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies and Nasir Professor of Modern Jewish History at San Diego State University.
Dennis L. Krebs is Chair and Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser University. Lawrence A. Blum is Professor of Philosophy and Women's studies at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. M Zuzanna Smolenska is Assistant Professor, Polish Academy of Science.
Dennis L. Krebs is Chair and Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser University. Lawrence A. Blum is Professor of Philosophy and Women's studies at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. M Zuzanna Smolenska is Assistant Professor, Polish Academy of Science.