Deconstructing Popular Culture by Dr Paul Bowman
Monday, January 19, 2009
"Deconstructing Popular Culture is an accessible, funny and stimulating introduction to popular culture. This is a book with both a passionate argument and a rare skill in making the “fine print” of complex theoretical arguments accessible." – Richard Stamp, Senior Lecturer of Media and Cultural Studies, Bath Spa University
Deconstructing Popular Culture by Dr Paul Bowman (Cardiff University) has been published by Palgrave Macmillan.
This new book provides a unique introduction to popular culture. Unpicking and analysing recognisable examples from contemporary music, Hollywood film and the self-help movement, Paul Bowman uses techniques of deconstruction that encourage readers to form their own interpretations of the culture they experience every day.
Introducing complex ideas the book shows how to avoid common pitfalls in studying theory, questions claims behind the importance of popular culture and looks at the problems and possibilities of studying this fast-changing field.
Introduced, examined, opened and unpicked
Using a series of readings, examples are taken of what is often thought of as the ‘field’ of popular culture and also from what is often thought of as the ‘field’ which studies popular culture: cultural studies. Each example is then introduced, examined, opened up or unpicked, using insights provided by (or related to) deconstruction.
The book draws on internationally recognizable examples from popular culture, to show all students of cultural studies how to use deconstruction to read and make sense of culture today.
Describing the book
In describing the book Paul Bowman said "This book is not simply 'about' popular culture. It is also not 'about' deconstruction. It does not try to talk about. It tries to do.
"The book does not cover everything, it’s not an encyclopaedia. What it does is to introduce the reader to deconstructive reading and the importance of questions of bias, orientation, textuality and articulation, in ways that will help you to start to bring them to bear on, well, if you want, everything!"
Dr Paul Bowman, is a Lecturer at Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and Director of the Race, Representation & Cultural Politics Group.
Deconstructing Popular Culture has 224 pages and is available in paperback (978-0230545366) and hardback (978-0230545359) and is published by Palgrave Macmillan.
New conference series
Throughout 2009, the Race, Representation & Cultural Politics Research Group is hosting a series of events, under the title of Postcolonial Ethnicity, Visuality & Cultural Politics.
To find out more please goto Postcolonial Ethnicity, Visuality & Cultural Politics Conference