From Batman to motor bikes, pop stars to Internet pornography, Beautiful Things in Popular Culture examines the range of aesthetic criteria that goes into judging mass culture's most celebrated texts and objects. As the soldiers of the Culture Wars continue to argue whether it is better to study Shakespeare or television shows, this little book dispels the myth that consumers are unaware of quality, mindlessly consuming whatever is put in front of them. Smart and sassy, yet erudite, these thirteen essays are authored by an internationally renowned group of cultural commentators including Simon…mehr
From Batman to motor bikes, pop stars to Internet pornography, Beautiful Things in Popular Culture examines the range of aesthetic criteria that goes into judging mass culture's most celebrated texts and objects. As the soldiers of the Culture Wars continue to argue whether it is better to study Shakespeare or television shows, this little book dispels the myth that consumers are unaware of quality, mindlessly consuming whatever is put in front of them. Smart and sassy, yet erudite, these thirteen essays are authored by an internationally renowned group of cultural commentators including Simon Frith, John Hartley, Henry Jenkins, John Banks, Marc Brennan, Will Brooker, Claire Gould, Margaret Henderson, Sara Gwenllian Jones, Alan McKee, Mark McLelland, Thomas McLaughlin, Glen Thomas, and Sue Turnbull. Together they probe the passion and excitement surrounding icons in popular culture.
Alan McKee is Associate Professor of Creative Industries at Queensland University of Technology. He is the author of Textual Analysis: A Beginner's Guide (2003) and The Public Sphere: An Introduction (2005).
Inhaltsangabe
List of Figures.
Notes on Contributors.
Introduction: Alan McKee.
1. The Best Contemporary Mainstream Superhero Comics Writer- Brian Michael Bendis: Henry Jenkins.
2. The Best Batman Story - The Dark Knight Returns: WillBrooker.
3. The Best Serial Killer Novel - Red Dragon: SueTurnbull.
4. The Best Australian Romance Novelist - Emma Darcy: GlenThomas.
5. The Best Website For Men Who Have Sex With Men -cruisingforsex.com: Mark McLelland.
6. The Best Basketball Player - Michael Jordan: ThomasMcLaughlin.
7. The Best Sneakers - The Nike Air Max Classic TW: ClaireGould.
8. The Best Action Console Game - Grand Theft Auto: SanAndreas: John Banks.
9. The Best Motorbike - the Ducati 916 Superbike: MargaretHenderson.
10. The Best Propaganda - Humphrey Jennings, The SilentVillage (1943): John Hartley.
11. The Best Villain in Xena: Warrior Princess - Alti:Sara Gwenllian Jones.
12. The Best Pop Princess - Kylie Minogue: MarcBrennan.
13. The Best Disco Record - Sharon Redd: "Never GiveYou Up": Simon Frith.