"Understanding Culture and Society" provides a new introduction to the field of cultural studies by focusing on the texts, artefacts and practices that make up everyday life. Rather than starting with a set of theoretical traditions, Smith takes 'the everyday' as a launch pad for exploring cultures of shopping, gender, ethnicity, class, age, identity, urban life, body image and protest politics. Using a wide range of illustrations from music, local clubs, films, television, posters, photography, computer games, food, design, sport and graphic arts, this book relates cultural theories to the lived experiences of the people, relations and processes studied by cultural researchers. Key themes through this book include how meanings are produced, how identities are constructed, the classification of cultures, relations of power and how cultures are transformed.The book: outlines the key ideas of culture, identity, discourse, texts, artefacts and practices; has a reader friendly style, accessible layout and contemporary case studies to engage the interest of readers; considers research techniques such as ethnography and discourse analysis as integral to the development of theories and concepts in the field; includes key questions to set up the framework of each chapter; and, contains discussion extracts and assessment questions at the end of each chapter to involve and challenge students.
Chapters cover the major topics that students are likely to encounter in their studies including: consumption, material cultures, youth cultures, city cultures, disability, bodies, health and the environment as well as cultural politics, cultural theory and research.
- ISBN10 0335218776
- ISBN13 9780335218776
- Publish Date 1 December 2007
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 17 April 2008
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Open University Press
- Format Hardcover
- Language English