Social Problems in Popular Culture

"Popular culture" is more than just a broad term for entertainment and frivolous diversions; it is also highly relevant to our understanding of society. This exciting book is the first to offer insights into the important, but often overlooked, relationship between popular culture and social problems. Drawing on historical and topical examples, the authors apply an innovative theoretical framework to examine how facets of popular culturefrom movies and music to toys, games, billboards, bumper stickers, and braceletsshape how we think about, and respond to, social issues, such as problems of gender, sexuality, and race.

Including student features, evocative case studies, and access to online material, this book will help students explore and understand the essential connection between popular culture and social problems. Deftly combining the fun and irreverence of popular culture with critical scholarly inquiry, this timely book delivers an engaging account of how our interactions withand consumption ofpopular culture matter far more than we may think.