Questo lavoro si concentra sugli aspetti chiave della sociologia e della cultura, esaminandone le interrelazioni e l'impatto sulla società moderna. L'autore approfondisce concetti teorici, offrendo una prospettiva originale sulla formazione dei fenomeni sociali. Le sue analisi sono acute e pongono l'accento sul pensiero critico. L'opera è destinata ai lettori interessati a una comprensione più profonda dei processi sociali.
The rise of blogs and social media has facilitated an industry of self- appointed 'lifestyle gurus' who have become instrumental in the management of intimacy and social relations. Baker and Rojek trace the rise of lifestyle influencers in the digital age, relating this development to the erosion of trust in the expert-professional power bloc--
Exploring the paradox of leisure, Chris Rojek argues that what is often perceived as freedom and relaxation has transformed into a new form of labor. He challenges the traditional view of weekends and vacations as mere time off, revealing how leisure activities can impose pressures and expectations that blur the lines between work and rest. Through this thought-provoking analysis, Rojek invites readers to reconsider the true nature of leisure in contemporary society.
This insightful book explores Frank Sinatra's complex persona, from his rise in the 1940s to his iconic status in pop culture. It examines his contradictory traits of ambition and menace, and questions his enduring appeal. A significant contribution to the study of celebrity and popular culture, it appeals to students and fans alike.
Stuart Hall is the leading figure in cultural studies today -- no one else has had the same influence in the shaping of the field. This book is the first full--length study of Halla s work. It examines every aspect of his work and constitutes a major critical introduction and appraisal of Halla s contribution.
Examining leisure in a capitalist society, the book challenges the traditional view that associates leisure with freedom. Chris Rojek analyzes four key characteristics of modern leisure: privatisation, individuation, commercialisation, and pacification. By referencing influential theorists like Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Freud, the work situates the concept of leisure within broader social theory. This reissue is especially beneficial for sociology and leisure studies students, as well as anyone interested in the interplay between leisure and power dynamics.
This engaging text introduces readers to the sociology of cults. Covering the history and current state of cult studies, this book includes topics ranging from doomsday cults and new religious movements through to self-help cults, the cult of celebrity, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs.
What is happening to pop music and pop culture? Synthesizers, samplers and MDI systems have allowed anyone with basic computing skills to make music. Exchange is now automatic and weightless with the result that the High Street record store is dying. MySpace, Twitter and You Tube are now more important publicity venues for new bands than the concert tour routine. Unauthorized consumption in the form of illegal downloading has created a financial crisis in the industry. The old postwar industrial planning model of pop, which centralized control in the hands of major record corporations, and divided the market into neat segments, is dissolving in front of our eyes. This book offers readers a comprehensive guide to understanding pop music today. It provides a clear survey of the field and a description of core concepts. The main theoretical approaches to the analysis of pop are described and critically assessed. The book includes a major investigation of the revolutionary changes in the production, exchange and consumption of pop music that are currently underway. Pop Music, Pop Culture is an accomplished, magnetically interesting guide to understanding pop music today.
