A provocative collection of articles that begins with the idea that the "popular" in classrooms and in the everyday lives of teachers and students is fundamentally political. This anthology includes articles by elementary and secondary public school teachers, scholars and activists who examine how and what popular toys, books, films, music and other media "teach." The essays offer strong critiques and practical pedagogical strategies for educators at every level to engage with the popular.

Rethinking Popular Culture and Media begins from the premise that the "popular" is political. Whether it's Disney and Barbie, or Snapchat and Vine, youth navigate, shape, and repurpose popular culture. This updated collection of teaching articles and critical commentary is written by and for educators. The authors consider the role in students' lives of films, music, and books, as well as popular culture artifacts like toys, and how these materials "teach" children. In each article, authors critique and rethink the connections among race, class, gender, sexuality, power, and schooling. The second edition includes revised articles, nine new articles, and an updated list of resources. Chapters are organized into four major themes to make the text more streamlined: Part 1: Commercialism, Corporations, and Youth Part 2: Politics, Violence, and Sanitized History Part 3: Texts, Toys, and Representation Part 4: Teaching, Talking Back, and Taking Action

In Rethinking Global Security, Andrew Martin and Patrice Petro bring together ten path-breaking essays that explore the ways that our notions of fear, insecurity, and danger are fostered by intermediary sources such as television, radio, film, satellite imaging, and the Internet. The contributors, who represent a wide variety of disciplines, including communications, art history, media studies, women's studies, and literature, show how both fictional and fact-based threats to global security have helped to create and sustain a culture that is deeply distrustful-of images, stories, reports, and policy decisions. Topics range from the Patriot Act, to the censorship of media personalities such as Howard Stern, to the role that Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other television programming play as an interpretative frame for current events.

This book links the growing connections between media, culture and religion into a coherent theoretical whole. It examines, amongst others, the effect on cultural practices and the increasing autonomy and individualized practice of religion.

Argues that representational correctness can cause critics to miss the positive work that films and television shows can perform in reducing prejudice.

Rethinking Popular Culture presents some of the most important current scholarship analyzing popular culture. Drawing upon recent developments in cultural theory and exciting new methods of critical analysis, the essays in this volume break down disciplinary boundaries and offer fresh insight into popular culture.

New media is becoming integral to our lives. But for how long can we refer to emerging media as new in this fast-moving digital age? What makes it 'new'? And what problems do interactive media create for us, as cultural beings? This book investigates the culture and context of new media. Exploring and critiquing debates drawn from media and cultural theory, Fuery clearly explores and defines the concepts of new media and interactivity. With a clear and structured approach, the book questions existing ideas about digital culture and explains the problems that emerging technologies can present to our culture, from issues of surveillance and power to the digitalisation of the body. In particular, the book includes: - A variety of perspectives and approaches to the idea of the 'new'. - Consideration and evaluation of work from key media theorists, from Foucault to Bourdieu. - Relevant and innovative examples that bring the complexities of new media to life. - A glossary for quick reference and explanation of complex concepts. New Media: Culture and Image interrogates the key concepts, models and approaches surrounding the formation and evolution of new media. It will encourage all students of Cultural Studies and Media Studies to question and reconsider their ideas about media and cultural theory.