Cultural Politics in Contemporary America

Cultural Politics in Contemporary America, published in 1989, explores how the American media and culture are intertwined, influencing social identity, politics, and popular culture. The book covers topics such as race, gender, class, media economics, hegemony, imperialism, privacy, and postmodernism, and remains relevant to students of media studies, cultural studies, postmodernism, postcolonial studies, and political science in the 21st century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 402 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

First published in 1989, Cultural Politics in Contemporary America is a groundbreaking exploration of the intricate connections between the American media and culture. As the 20th century drew to a close, the media wielded an immense influence on the shaping of social identity through the creation and consumption of images. The Hollywood Presidency of Ronald Reagan was built upon the talents of the "Great Communicator," while Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" was employed by Chrysler Corporation to instill a sense of pride in the nation. Feminists and right-wing militants joined forces to oppose pornography. The media, American culture, and political power formed a risky alliance, with the stakes constantly rising.

Cultural Politics encompasses a wide range of topics, including the struggles of race, gender, and class; the economics of the commercial media system; the myths of hegemony and imperialism; the crises of privacy and intellectual freedom; and diverse issues such as postmodernism, the American automobile, advertising as communication, and television. While political actors and media technology have undergone significant transformations over the years, the findings of this research remain relevant and significant for the 21st century. Students of media studies, cultural studies, postmodernism, postcolonial studies, and political science will find this work invaluable in their understanding of these complex interrelationships.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032353296