A History of Popular Culture More of Everything, Faster, and Brighter

This lively and informative survey provides a thematic global history of popular culture focusing on the period since the end of the Second World War. Raymond Betts considers the rapid diffusion and "hybridization" of popular culture as the result of three conditions of the world since the end of World War Two: instantaneous communications, widespread consumption in a market-based economy and the visualization of reality. Betts considers the dominance of American entertainment media and habits of consumption, assessing adaptation and negative reactions to this influence. The author surveys a wide range of topics, including the effects of global conflict, the effects of urbanization and the growth of sport as a commercial enterprise.Surveying a range of topics, this lively and informative survey provides an up-to-date, thematic global history of popular culture focusing on the period since the end of the Second World War."This survey provides a thematic global history of popular culture focusing on the period since the end of the Second World War. Raymond F. Betts considers the rapid diffusion and "hybridization" of popular culture as the result of three conditions of the world since the end of World War Two: instantaneous communications, widespread consumption in a market-based economy and the visualization of reality. Betts considers the dominance of American entertainment media and habits of consumption, assessing adaptation and negative reactions to this influence." "Directed at students and general readers concerned with the dimensions and forms of popular culture, the book provides an engaging introduction to this pervasive and ever-changing subject."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved