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Cultural Analysis
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Cultural Analysis



October 2009 | 200 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
'Jim McGuigan has done it again. The complex cultural machinery hiding behind the apparently simple 'facts of life' still fresh in our collective memory, has been pulled out from its hiding, exposed, disassembled and put together again, and showed in action of shaping up its products; all that done to the benefit of us all - simultaneously producers and product of the life we share. Another great contribution to cultural studies; and to our understanding of the world notorious for defying/escaping understanding. This is exactly what we need 'cultural analysis' for' - Professor Zygmunt Bauman, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Leeds

'Jim McGuigan is one of cultural studies' leading practitioners. This volume is a generous and wide-reaching exploration of how to use cultural theory to explore a wide variety of topics, brought together under the sign of the struggle for a vigorous, participatory public sphere' - Toby Miller, University of California

This book represents a distinctive approach to cultural analysis, using multi-dimensional methods for addressing issues of public interest.

Stressing the impact of both neoliberalism and the formation of a 'cool capitalist culture' that has colonised everyday life around much of the globe, Jim McGuigan deploys his original concept of the 'cultural public sphere' within several carefully analysed case studies, including:

• celebrity death

• festivals and urban regeneration

• 'race' and multicultural controversy

• popular television

• social significance of the all purpose mobile communication device in a privatised and individualised way of life

• riskiness and uncertainty in the creative and media industries

This is a radical intervention in the research agendas and conceptual development of cultural policy studies, cultural sociology and, more generally, in the broad field known as 'cultural studies'. It offers challenging theoretical arguments that are substantiated with concrete evidence of cultural and social processes.

 
Introduction - Cultural Analysis
 
The Cultural Public Sphere
 
British Identity and the People's Princess
 
The Social Construction of a Cultural Disaster
 
A Community of Communities
 
Identity and the Crisis of Community
 
Sociology of the Mobile Phone
 
Risky Culture
 
Neoliberalism, Urban Regeneration and Cultural Policy
 
Apprentices to Cool Capitalism
 
Cultural Studies and Cool Capitalism

Jim McGuigan has done it again. The complex cultural machinery hiding behind the apparently simple 'facts of life' still fresh in our collective memory, has been pulled out from its hiding, exposed, disassembled and put together again, and showed in action of shaping up its products; all that done to the benefit of us all - simultaneously producers and product of the life we share. Another great contribution to cultural studies; and to our understanding of the world notorious for defying/escaping understanding. This is exactly what we need 'cultural analysis' for
Professor Zygmunt Bauman
Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Leeds


Jim McGuigan is one of cultural studies' leading practitioners. This volume is a generous and wide-reaching exploration of how to use cultural theory to explore a wide variety of topics, brought together under the sign of the struggle for a vigorous, participatory public sphere
Toby Miller
University of California


A classic!

Ms Paula Hearsum
Faculty of Arts & Architecture, Brighton University
July 22, 2010

This is a good book to have available in the library so that I can direct students to consult it for how to write a case study.

Dr Debra Shaw
Humanities and Social Sciences, University of East London
July 12, 2010

The book in general is interesting and topically relevant. Though for a basic course in Cultural Analysis the books is somewhat too specific chapterwise. For instance the focus on British identity is too specifik compared with a general approach to identity and culture. Nevertheless, it goes into the overall recommendations for courses in generel.

Mr Kim Hansen
Institute of Language and Culture, Aalborg University
May 13, 2010

McGuigan's text gets right to the heart of cultural analysis and, unlike many other texts at this level in this area, provides a theorised approach to culture.

Dr Mark Erickson
School of Applied Social Science, Brighton University
April 30, 2010

McGuigan's book is supplemental to my course because it offers a good analysis of the sociology of the mobile phone. That way it is not in the core of Computer Science but necessary to know especially for students aiming at user or customer centred tasks in ICT companies.

Dr Hannakaisa Isomaki
Information Technology, University of Jyvaskyla
March 29, 2010

Nice text to introduce people to the field of current cultural studies. But often too much a bird's eye view.

Mr A.J. Van den Bergh
European Studies, The Hague University
March 25, 2010

Excellent general overview of issues for level 6 students.

Ms Susan Kinnear
Communications , Chester University
March 19, 2010

A well written text which provides excellent commentary for students.

Guy Brown
Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University
February 27, 2010

Sample Materials & Chapters

Introduction

Chapter One


For instructors

Please contact your Academic Consultant to check inspection copy availability for your course.

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