Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice

By Chris Barker

Book Overview

This is the perfect book for any student needing a vibrant, comprehensive introduction to cultural studies.

The Fourth Edition of Chris Barker′s best-selling text builds upon the scope and authority of previous editions; the book represents a definitive benchmark in understanding and applying the foundations and developments of cultural studies. It provides those new to the field with an authoritative introduction to everything they need to know.

An indispensible resource for any student or lecturer, it is packed with concise, accessible definitions, clear chapter summaries, inspiring student activities, biographical snapshots of key figures, and a full glossary.

With updates to every chapter and many more practical examples, this new edition includes:

New material on new cultural studies, social media, subcultures, and climate changeImproved coverage on digital cultures and digital media including digital games and the virtual cityAn attractive new layout which aids navigability and enhances the excellent student learning resourcesA comprehensive companion website providing new student exercises, global case-studies, essay questions and links to relevant SAGE journal articles

This is the essential companion for all undergraduate students embarking on a cultural studies course or module.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0857024809
• ISBN13: 9780857024800
• Release Date: December 2011
• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Length: 584 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 1.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

If Just One, Buy It

This serves as the best single introduction to Cultural Studies. Highly readable and frank in its discourse. If you must buy a book to learn broadly about Cultural Studies, buy this one. If this is a potential interest, and you just want to see, buy it.

An Excellent Work!!!

The book shows the author's breadth in grasping and interacting with various theoretical schools of thought and their founders. Each theory is assessed succintly and critically. The book provides a window to look into the world of those who have changed the way we live, our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. A summary is provided at the end of each chapter. Overall, "Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice" is a good place to start to learning the subject matter.

Excellent!

This book--along with its dictionary companion--provides an excellent overview to not only the basic terminology of cultural studies but also the complex theory and history. Excellent read! "Cultural Studies" offers many interesting topics such as television and print media to explain the complex cultural field that includes but goes beyond history.

Best general book on cultural studies

The mere fact that the author is a lecturer at an Australian University gives a fair, deep and non Eurocentrist perspective of key concepts, ideology, identity, and the challanges of postmodern and postcolonial cultural studies to achive a significant cultural policy. Excellent as textbook too.

Impressive guide...

This is an impressing critical overview of the broad specter of theories and methods under the umbrella of cultural studies. The book gives you some sense of direcion as you enter into the sea of confusion made up by the various schools of thought that have influenced todays cultural studies, be it withing media, popular music, folklore or popular studies in general. The book includes a glossary of key concepts, and can be read like a companion to cultural studies. I found a lot of valuable information as the author traced the historic roots of various subjects, enabeling me to change perspective with him as he went along. I am myself a music student, studying within the field of popular music...