The Drinking Curriculum: A Cultural History of Childhood and Alcohol

The Drinking Curriculum explores America's obsession with childhood innocence and its corruption through the analysis of popular and widely accessible texts in visual culture. It demonstrates how youth are targets of mixed messages about intoxication, ranging from violent to humorous and moralistic to profane.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 02 January 2024
Publisher: Fordham University Press

In her groundbreaking work, "The Drinking Curriculum," Elizabeth Marshall delves into the profound and often overlooked topic of alcohol and childhood. By introducing the term "the drinking curriculum," Marshall sheds light on how a contradictory set of cultural lessons about childhood are perpetuated by adult anxieties and preoccupations. Through a meticulous analysis of popular and widely accessible texts in visual culture, including temperance tracts, cartoons, films, advertisements, and public-service announcements, Marshall exposes how youth are subjected to a barrage of mixed messages about intoxication. These messages range from overtly violent to humorous, moralistic to profane, reflecting the complex and often conflicting attitudes towards alcohol in society.

Marshall's critical and, at times, irreverent approach challenges the dominant protectionist paradigms that sanctify childhood as inherently innocent. She uncovers the historical roots of these pictorial tales in the nineteenth century and explores the discursive hangover that continues to shape our understanding of alcohol in the twenty-first century. By examining the graphic narratives our culture employs to teach about alcohol, Marshall highlights the power of visual imagery to shape attitudes and behaviors.

Through her comprehensive analysis, "The Drinking Curriculum" provides a valuable contribution to the field of alcohol studies. It challenges readers to think critically about the messages conveyed to young people about alcohol and encourages them to consider the broader societal implications of these narratives. By raising awareness about the drinking curriculum and its impact on children, Marshall empowers individuals and communities to take a more proactive approach to addressing the challenges associated with alcohol consumption and promoting healthier attitudes towards alcohol in youth.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781531505240