Focusing on the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of the modern world, the six-volume Encyclopedia of World Popular Culture is designed to meet the needs of today’s multicultural classrooms and libraries. Thematic organization makes studying a broad range of topics- from film and art to foods and fashions-ideal for students of world history and culture. Appealing to a wide range of audiences, the Encyclopedia gives readers quick access to the popular interests in countries around the world, all while offering critical insight into the influence of regional pop culture on contemporary societies over the past century.
Discover popular funk musicians in Nigeria, and the Senegalese performers who use a rich mix of hip-hop, reggae, and techno to sing about village life and women’s rights. Find out about Belgium’s long tradition of comics and graphic novels. Learn about Iran’s plans, amidst all of its problems with the West, to encourage tourism. Uncover the story behind manga magazines (or comic books), which sell upwards of several million copies every week in Japan. The wealth of information inside the Encyclopedia of World Popular Culture is sure to surprise even the most seasoned pop culture aficionado. Focusing on the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of the modern world, this six-volume reference is designed to meet the needs of today’s multicultural classrooms and libraries. Thematic organization makes studying a broad range of topics-ranging from film and folk art to foods and fashions-ideal for students of American history and culture. Appealing to a wide range of audiences, the Encyclopedia gives readers quick access to the most intriguing countries of the world, all while offering critical insight into the influence of regional pop culture on contemporary societies over the past century.
Each engaging volume in the six-volume set features in-depth chapters covering every crucial aspect of popular culture, including: -Architecture -Art -Dance -Fashion & Appearance -Film -Food & Foodways -Games, Toys, and Pastimes -Literature -Love, Sex, & Marriage -Music -Periodicals -Radio & Television -Sports and Recreation -Theater & Performance -Transportation & Travel Beyond reflecting the tastes and attitudes of the people, popular culture gives students a lens through which to understand a culture’s customs, value system, and core beliefs. Interested in how a Danish cartoon can spark a fury of protests across Muslim world, why some high schools in the U.S. are testing all athletes for performance-enhancing drugs, or why India’s recent decision to ban smoking on television and films has Bollywood fuming? No subject is off limits in this unique resource.
Features
Each volume provides an introduction to the region's popular culture in a broad context and a general bibliography. Other useful features include a comprehensive resource guide of print, electronic, and organization sources for each chapter; a full subject index; and 200 color illustrations that richly document current popular life and culture around the globe.
Awards
Ray and Pat Browne Award - Reference (2008)—Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association, January 1, 2007
Reviews
"This set represents an ambitious effort to document popular culture, in the sense of both mass-produced culture and the culture of the general population throughout the world.... it conveys a general understanding of the popular culture within a region, with occasional sidebars providing evocative particulars. Each volume is structured in chapters addressing such categories as art, fashion, film, food, and recreation.... this encyclopedia is invaluable in expanding the focus of popular culture studies to a global level. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through graduate students; general readers."—Choice, January 1, 2008
"[T]his current and comprehensive set provides both historical and contemporary information and will be useful to many different people. Students studying their own culture or foreign cultures as well as the curious who want to learn about popular culture and customs in the rest of the world will find it easy to use, informative, entertaining, and invaluable....One of this encyclopedia's strengths is the information it provides to readers about additional resources. Each section concludes with an impressive list of print and online resources, and each volume has a general bibliography. It must also be noted that this set is visually appealing. The color covers and the multiple sets of plates with color photographs within each volume are welcome touches that more reference works should have....[A]n excellent addition to any general academic library's reference collection and would also be appropriate for high schools and public libraries."—Reference & User Services Quarterly, April 1, 2008
"Some of the volumes, such as the one on Sub-Suharan Africa, offer valuable information and comparative insights, and the lively color photo inserts in each volume add interest."—MultiCultural Review, March 1, 2008
"The writing of the encyclopedia is straightforward and consistent. Depsite so many topics and places to cover, the writing flows very well and is informative....[U]seful in a public or academic setting for high school age and up and is a good launching point to further research."—American Reference Books Annual, 00/00/00
"[A] good starting place and will be useful for middle school and high school researchers."—VOYA, February 1, 2008
"[O]ne of the most comprehensive sources of information on world culture and customs."—Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007
"This set represents an ambitious effort to document popular culture, in the sense of both mass-produced culture and the culture of the general population throughout the world.... it conveys a general understanding of the popular culture within a region, with occasional sidebars providing evocative particulars. Each volume is structured in chapters addressing such categories as art, fashion, film, food, and recreation.... this encyclopedia is invaluable in expanding the focus of popular culture studies to a global level. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through graduate students; general readers."—Choice, January 1, 2008
"[T]his current and comprehensive set provides both historical and contemporary information and will be useful to many different people. Students studying their own culture or foreign cultures as well as the curious who want to learn about popular culture and customs in the rest of the world will find it easy to use, informative, entertaining, and invaluable....One of this encyclopedia's strengths is the information it provides to readers about additional resources. Each section concludes with an impressive list of print and online resources, and each volume has a general bibliography. It must also be noted that this set is visually appealing. The color covers and the multiple sets of plates with color photographs within each volume are welcome touches that more reference works should have....[A]n excellent addition to any general academic library's reference collection and would also be appropriate for high schools and public libraries."—Reference & User Services Quarterly, March 1, 2008
"Some of the volumes, such as the one on Sub-Suharan Africa, offer valuable information and comparative insights, and the lively color photo inserts in each volume add interest."—MultiCultural Review, March 1, 2008
"The writing of the encyclopedia is straightforward and consistent. Depsite so many topics and places to cover, the writing flows very well and is informative....[U]seful in a public or academic setting for high school age and up and is a good launching point to further research."—American Reference Books Annual, 00/00/00
"[A] good starting place and will be useful for middle school and high school researchers."—VOYA, February 1, 2008
"[O]ne of the most comprehensive sources of information on world culture and customs."—Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007
"The cultural heritage of the Pacific Rim cannot be denied, and the fact that students enjoy sushi and Chinese food; participate in Korean martial arts classes; and buy Japanese cars shows our acceptance of some of this culture. The editors have divided the book into architecture; art; dance; fashion and appearance; film; food and food ways; games, toys and pastimes; literature; love, sex and marriage; music; periodicals radio and television; sports and recreation; theater and performance; and transportation and travel. Within each main topic, authors have divided articles into regions: East Asia and Oceania or South and Southeast Asia....[t]he information is useful for learning about the popular culture of these countries."—GALE Reference for Students, September 1, 2007
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