The Popular Arts

Description

When it first appeared in 1964, Stuart Hall and Paddy Whannel's The Popular Arts opened up an almost unprecedented field of analysis and inquiry into contemporary popular culture. Counter to the prevailing views of the time, Hall and Whannel recognized popular culture's social importance and considered it worthy of serious study. In their analysis of everything from Westerns and the novels of Mickey Spillane, Ian Fleming, and Raymond Chandler to jazz, advertising, and the television industry, they were guided by the belief that studying popular culture demanded an ethical evaluation of the text and full attention to its properties. In so doing, they raised questions about the relation of culture to society and the politics of taste and judgment in ways that continue to shape cultural studies. Long out of print, this landmark text highlights the development of Hall's theoretical and methodological approach while adding a greater understanding of his work. This edition also includes a new introduction by Richard Dyer, who contextualizes The Popular Arts within the history of cultural studies and outlines its impact and enduring legacy. About The Author(s) Stuart Hall (1932–2014) was one of the most prominent and influential scholars and public intellectuals of his generation. Hall appeared widely on British media, taught at the University of Birmingham and the Open University, was the founding editor of New Left Review, and served as the director of Birmingham's Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies. He is the author of Familiar Stranger, Cultural Studies 1983, and Selected Political Writings, all also published by Duke University Press. Paddy Whannel (1922–1980) was founder and head of the Education Department at the British Film Institute, Associate Professor of Film at Northwestern University, an an influential figure in the development of film studies in Britain and the United States. Richard Dyer is Professor of Film Studies at King's College London and the author of several books, including White: Essays on Race and Culture and Heavenly Bodies: Film Stars and Society. Introduction to 2018 Edition / Richard Dyer vii Introduction 13 Part I: Definitions 1. The Media and Society 19 2. Minority Art, Folk Art, and Popular Art 45 3. Popular Art and Mass Culture 66 Part II. Topics for Study 4. Popular Forms and Popular Artists 89 5. Violence on the Screen 110 6. The Avenging Angels 142 7. Falling in Love 164 8. Fantasy and Romance 196 9. Friends and Neighbours 225 10. The Young Audience 269 11. The Big Bazaar 313 Part III. Social Themes 12. The Institutions 341 13. Mass Society: Critics and Defenders 364 Acknowledgments 385 Index 387