Doing Cultural Studies

This book introduces the substantive and theoretical strands of contemporary cultural studies through the medium of a particular case study: that of the Sony Walkman. Through the Walkman example, Doing Cultural Studies shows how and why cultural practices and institutions have come to play such a crucial part in our lives, and introduces the central ideas, concepts, and methods of analysis involved in doing cultural studies. The authors of this unique work show how the Walkman is a typical cultural artifact and medium of modern culture, and studies how the key cultural processes are discerned. Examining the Walkman culturally leads to exploration of how it is represented, what social identities are associated with it, how it is produced and consumed, and what mechanisms regulate its distribution and use. This unique book offers students insights not only into the basic approaches of cultural studies, but also into how cultural studies can be used to understand the way culture works in the context of our everyday lives.