Cultural, media and gender studies

KEY CONCEPTS IN CULTURAL STUDIES

Author: Maja Mikula

Edition: First

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Pages: 256

Price: £13.99

ISBN 9780230006461

Organised alphabetically, this resource provides a selection of accessible definitions of key cultural studies terms and further reading, putting cultural studies into the relevant disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts.

Who is it for? This text explores terms of cultural, theoretical and political relevance to undergraduate cultural studies students.

Presentation: The concepts are offered as signposts for learning. Each is clearly defined, featuring a section of related terms and further reading.

Would you recommend it? As a first step for undergraduates, this book offers a rock of refuge and a flotation device to more complex scholarship.

CULTURAL STUDIES: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Author: Chris Barker

Edition: Third

Publisher: Sage

Pages: 552

Price: £70.00 and £22.99

ISBN 9781412924153 and 4160

Updates in this new edition include a new chapter on electronic media and digital culture.

Who is it for? This text is a solid review of cultural studies for undergraduates. Its focus on representation may restrict honours-level applicability.

Presentation: Three sections organise the book. It features tables, diagrams and photographs with summaries concluding each chapter, with boxes of key thinkers.

Would you recommend it? Long sections on television, texts and audiences may appear excessive to students. Digital media culture is the weakest chapter. Little cultural policy is discussed, but it is a solid general text.

INTRODUCING CULTURAL STUDIES

Authors: Brian Longhurst, Greg Smith, Gaynor Bagnall, Garry Crawford, Miles Ogborn, Elaine Baldwin and Scott McCracken

Edition: Second

Publisher: Pearson Education

Pages: 368

Price: £25.99

ISBN 9781405858434

This text aims to give a systematic overview of concepts, theories, debates and latest research.

Who is it for? An effective review of the field for upper undergraduates. It presents the history of cultural studies and its redevelopments through interrogations of race, postcolonialism, gender and postmodernity.

Presentation: The book features two sections - cultural theory and cultural studies - and includes biographies of key thinkers along with "further reading" and recap boxes. It provides learning objectives for each chapter.

Would you recommend it? As a text to explore culture as a way of life and to understand why some cultures are valued over others, it is strong. The management of gender and race makes it readable and valuable.

INTRODUCING CULTURAL STUDIES: LEARNING THROUGH PRACTICE

Author: David Walton

Edition: First

Publisher: Sage

Pages: 336

Price: £65.00 and £20.99

ISBN 9781412918947 and 8954

A playful, witty text full of practical exercises, offering readers the conceptual tools to practise cultural analysis for themselves.

Who is it for? An outstanding entry-level text aimed at those with little or no cultural studies knowledge.

Presentation: Unusual and innovative, featuring imaginary interviews about key thinkers and practical exercises.

Would you recommend it? Tremendous; innovative, creative and clever.