Drugs and Popular Culture : Drugs, Media and Identity in Contemporary Culture

Description

The use of illegal drugs is so common that a number of commentators now refer to the 'normalisation' of drug consumption. It is surprising, then, that to date very little academic work has explored drug use as part of contemporary popular culture. This collection of readings will apply an innovatory, multi-disciplinary approach to this theme, combining some of the most recent research on 'the normalisation thesis' with fresh work on the relationship between drug use and popular culture. In drawing upon criminological, sociological and cultural studies approaches, this book will make an importa.  Read more... Abstract: The use of illegal drugs is so common that a number of commentators now refer to the 'normalisation' of drug consumption. It is surprising, then, that to date very little academic work has explored drug use as part of contemporary popular culture. This collection of readings will apply an innovatory, multi-disciplinary approach to this theme, combining some of the most recent research on 'the normalisation thesis' with fresh work on the relationship between drug use and popular culture. In drawing upon criminological, sociological and cultural studies approaches, this book will make an importa Content: Front cover Copyright Contents Notes on contributors Part 1: Context, Theory and History Introduction (Paul Manning) 1. An introduction to the theoretical approaches and research traditions (Paul Manning) 2. Mental health and moral panic: drug discourses in history (Andrew Blake) Part 2: Considering the 'Normalisation Thesis' Introduction: an overview of the normalisation debate (Paul Manning) 3. Definitely, maybe not? The normalisation of recreational drug use amongst young people (Michael Shiner and Tim Newburn). 4. The normalisation of 'sensible' recreational drug use: further evidence from the North West Longitudinal Study (Howard Parker, Lisa Williams and Judith Aldridge)Part 3: Representing Drugs in and as Popular Culture Introduction (Paul Manning) 5. Drugs and popular music in the modern age (Andrew Blake) 6. Drugs, the family and recent American cinema (Leighton Grist) 7. Under a cloud: morality, ambivalence and uncertainty in news discourse of cannabis law reform in Great Br.