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Doing Cultural Theory
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Doing Cultural Theory



March 2012 | 352 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
"Will be a very useful tool for any student trying to make sense of the vast expanses of contemporary cultural theory and criticism. Well-written and admirably self-reflective, it combines rigorous explications and applications of many of the most influential concepts and theorists."
- Lawrence Grossberg, University of North Carolina

"Accessible and insightful throughout; offering help to both experienced and inexperienced students of cultural theory. Highly recommended."
- John Storey, University of Sunderland

Doing Cultural Theory
teaches more than just the basics of cultural theory. It unpacks its complexities with real-life examples, and shows readers how to link theory and practice. This book:
  • Offers accessible introductions to how cultural studies has engaged with key theories in structuralism, poststructuralism and postmodernism
  • Teaches straightforward ways of practising these theories so students learn to think for themselves
  • Uses 'practice' boxes to show students how to apply cultural theory in the real world
  • Guides students through the literature with carefully selected further reading recommendation.

Other textbooks only show how others have analyzed and interpreted the world. Doing Cultural Theory takes it a step further and teaches students step-by-step how to do cultural theory for themselves.

 
Introducing Cultural Studies: A Brief Contextual History
 
Structuralism and the Linguistic Turn: Ferdinand de Saussure
 
Semiotics: Umberto Eco, Roland Barthes and Stuart Hall
 
Ideology: Marxism and Louis Althusser
 
Post-Structuralism: Roland Barthes and Jacques Derrida
 
Doing Deconstruction: Techniques for Practice
 
Psychoanalysis: Jacques Lacan
 
Applying Lacan: Techniques for Feminist and other forms of Cultural Analysis
 
Discourse and Power: Michel Foucault
 
Gender and Sexuality: Judith Butler
 
The Postmodern Condition: Daniel Bell, Jean-François Lyotard and J rgen Habermas
 
Identity and Consumption: Jean Baudrillard
 
Postmodernism Unplugged: Fredric Jameson
 
Practising Cultural Studies: Hegemony and Cognitive Mapping
 
Where to Go from Here: Cognitive Mapping and the Critical Project of Cultural Studies

The tone just wasn't the right "fit" for the course.

Melissa Camacho
Broadcast Electronic Comm Dept, San Francisco State University
October 30, 2013

Nice background to the study of popular culture.

Dr Joanie Willett
Department of Politics, Exeter University
June 24, 2013

This is a challenging but rewarding read for advanced undergraduate, final year students.
It is also an excellent introduction for non-cognate postgraduates entering a media studies programmes. The writing is to a high standard and creates the perfect platform for students to develop their critical skills and engage with the key theorists in the area.

Mr Robbie Smyth
Journalism and Media Communications, Griffith College Dublin
February 24, 2013

The book 'Doing Cultural Theory' is rich in its dicussion of all one needs to know when doing serious and qualitative work in cultural studies. Theory helps authors to navigate the journey they choose to undertake. Thus, this book will be a good companion in such journey - Dr S.E. Usadolo

Dr Sam Usadolo
Department of Communication, University of Fort Hare
December 14, 2012

a fantastic book for all students wanting to broaden horizons into aspects of cultural studies.

Dr Dean-David Holyoake
Nursing , Wolverhampton University
December 10, 2012

Good overviews of cultural theories.

Miss Kati Voigt
Institut für Anglistik, University of Leipzig
October 9, 2012

using a few parts of this book in class, but recommending use for higher seminars -- too advanced for our purposses in this introduction module

Ms Rita Singer
Institut für Anglistik, Universität Leipzig
October 9, 2012

Accesible work which will help undergraduates understand key idea in cultural theory

Dr Richard Smith
Department of Health and Social Care, Royal Holloway, University of London
August 17, 2012

Comprehensive and clear introduction to a complex area. Well-designed and structured.

Dr Julie Scanlon
Humanities , Northumbria University
May 8, 2012
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Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter One


For instructors

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ISBN: 9780857024855
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