Synopses & Reviews
"Bold on all fronts,
Pop Culture Freaks is an unwincing examination of power in our mass media. Drawing on clear data, well-placed examples, and sophisticated theory, it offers a compelling critique, even for those inclined to draw less damning conclusions. Readers interested in an unapologetic review of the politics of identity in pop culture need look no further."
—Lisa Wade, Occidental College
"A welcome relief! In one convenient text, this book clearly addresses the core issues I cover in my course. It integrates both classic and contemporary sociological theory throughout every chapter. The 'methodology moment' boxes in each chapter brilliantly show students how to carry out empirically-based research on various popular culture forms."
—Rhonda E. Dugan, California State University-Bakersfield
"Provides voluminous examples from popular culture that will both spark student interests and enable them to contextualize course materials to their own lives…It will open up wonderful discussions in the classroom."
—Lorna Lueker Zukas, National University
Love it or hate it, popular culture permeates every aspect of contemporary society. In this accessibly written introduction to the sociology of popular culture, Dustin Kidd provides the tools to think critically about the cultural soup served daily by film, television, music, print media, and the internet.
Utilizing each chapter to present core topical and timely examples, Kidd highlights the tension between inclusion and individuality that lies beneath mass media and commercial culture, using this tension as a point of entry to an otherwise expansive topic. He systematically considers several dimensions of identityrace, class, gender, sexuality, disabilityto provide a broad overview of the field that encompasses classical and contemporary theory, original data, topical and timely examples, and a strong pedagogical focus on methods.
Pop Culture Freaks encourages students to develop further research questions and projects from the material. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses are brought to bear in Kidds examination of the labor force for cultural production, the representations of identity in cultural objects, and the surprising differences in how various audiences consume and use mass culture in their everyday lives.
Dustin Kidd is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Temple University and the author of Legislating Creativity: The Intersections of Art and Politics.
Review
Kidds narrative style is engaging; the text is written in language that undergraduate students can clearly understand.” Lori Waite, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology, Tennessee Wesleyan College
Provides voluminous examples from popular culture that will both spark student interests and enable them to contextualize course materials to their own lives
It will open up wonderful discussions in the classroom.” Lorna Lueker Zukas, National University
Review
"Bold on all fronts,
Pop Culture Freaks is an unwincing examination of power in our mass media. Drawing on clear data, well-placed examples, and sophisticated theory, it offers a compelling critique, even for those inclined to draw less damning conclusions. Readers interested in an unapologetic review of the politics of identity in pop culture need look no further."
Lisa Wade, Occidental College
"Kidds narrative style is engaging; the text is written in language that undergraduate students can clearly understand."
Lori Waite, Tennessee Wesleyan College
"A welcome relief! In one convenient text, this book clearly addresses the core issues I cover in my course. It integrates both classic and contemporary sociological theory throughout every chapter. The 'methodology moment' boxes in each chapter brilliantly show students how to carry out empirically-based research on various popular culture forms."
Rhonda E. Dugan, California State University-Bakersfield
"Provides voluminous examples from popular culture that will both spark student interests and enable them to contextualize course materials to their own lives
It will open up wonderful discussions in the classroom."
Lorna Lueker Zukas, National University
A powerful survey highly recommended for any sociology reader, especially those new to pop culture research and study.” The Midwest Book Review
Synopsis
This introductory field guide” to the sociology of popular culture provides the tools to think critically about the cultural soup served daily by film, television, music, print media, and the internet.
Synopsis
Love it or hate it, popular culture permeates every aspect of contemporary society. In this accessibly written introduction to the sociology of popular culture, Dustin Kidd provides the tools to think critically about the cultural soup served daily by film, television, music, print media, and the internet.
Utilizing each chapter to present core topical and timely examples, Kidd highlights the tension between inclusion and individuality that lies beneath mass media and commercial culture, using this tension as a point of entry to an otherwise expansive topic. He systematically considers several dimensions of identityrace, class, gender, sexuality, disabilityto provide a broad overview of the field that encompasses classical and contemporary theory, original data, topical and timely examples, and a strong pedagogical focus on methods.
Pop Culture Freaks encourages students to develop further research questions and projects from the material. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses are brought to bear in Kidd's examination of the labor force for cultural production, the representations of identity in cultural objects, and the surprising differences in how various audiences consume and use mass culture in their everyday lives.
"
About the Author
Dustin Kidd is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Temple University. He has been teaching the Sociology of Popular Culture course for over a decade and his syllabus for the course has been included in the ASAs
Sociology of Culture Teaching Guide. His first book,
Legislating Creativity, analyzed controversies around government investment in arts, and his essays appear in various journals and volumes such as
The Sociology of Harry Potter. He blogs about teaching, the arts, television, and the sociology of current events at
dustinkidd.blogspot.com.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Matrix is Everywhere: An Introduction to the Sociology of Popular Culture Opening narrative: The Sociology of Glee
Losers and Strangers
Defining Popular Culture
Research Questions/Arguments
The Mass Media Matrix
The Matrix of Identity
A Field Guide for Analysis
Wrap-Up
Resources
Chapter 2: The Revolution Will Not be Available on iTunes: Racial Perspectives
Opening narrative: Your Freedoms in a Bind
Popular Culture and Racial Theory
Race in the Social World
Racial Demographics in the Popular Culture
Methodology Moment: Studying Cultural Efficacy
Race in Production
Methodology Moment: Labor Force Analysis
How Race Shapes the Audience Experience
Methodology Moment: Audience Ethnography
Wrap-Up
Resources
Chapter 3: Movin on Up: Class Perspectives
Opening narrative: Televisions Caste System
Marxism, Home, and Habitus
Class in the Social World
Broadcasting Class
Methodology Moment: Qualitative Content Analysis.
Class and the Modes of Cultural Production
Methodology Moment: Production Ethnography.
The Stratification of Reception
Methodology Moment: Audience Surveys.
Wrap-up
Resources
Chapter 4: Men are from Mars, Women are from Wisteria Lane: Gender Perspectives
Opening narrative: Gender Never Goes Down Smoothly
Culture and the Awakening of Gender
Gender in the Social World
Gender Demographics in Mass Media
Methodology Moment: Descriptive Analysis
Gendered Production
Methodology Moment: Interviewing Creators
Gendered Audiences
Methodology Moment: Studying Controversy
Wrap-Up
Resources
Chapter 5: Not That Theres Anything Wrong with That: Sexuality Perspectives
Opening narrative: We Lost a Little Monster this Week
Sexuality, Suicide, and Power
Sexuality in the Social World
Warning: Sexual Content
Methodology Moment: Quantitative Content Analysis
Gay Hollywood
Methodology Moment: Production Surveys
Viewer Discretion
Methodology Moment: Audience Interviews
Wrap-Up
Resources
Chapter 6: Handi-Capable: Disability Perspectives
Opening narrative: We Accept Her, One of Us
The Social Model of Disability Disability in the Social World
The Visibility of Disability
Methodology Moment: Thick Description.
Disabling Production
Methodology Moment: Organizational Reports.
Able Audiences
Methodology Moment: Auto-Ethnography.
Wrap-up.
Resources
Chapter 7: Translating Harry Potter: International Perspectives
Opening narrative: International Friendship and the Oppression of House-Elves
Theorizing the Global Local
Global Identities
Postcard: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Postcard: South Korea
Postcard: Argentina
Postcard: India
Postcard: Nigeria
Postcard: Al Jazeera
Wrap-up
Resources
Chapter 8: Freaks in the Matrix: A Conclusion and an Invitation
Opening narrative: What is the Matrix?
Dirty Slimy Freaks
Freaks Like Us
Glossary
Appendix: Media Histories
A brief history of publishing
A brief history of film
A brief history of television
A brief history of recorded music
A brief history of digital media