About the book
Winner, 2021 Ray and Pat Browne Edited Collection Award, given by the Popular Culture Association
How popular culture is engaged by activists to effect emancipatory political change
One cannot change the world unless one can imagine what a better world might look like. Civic imagination is the capacity to conceptualize alternatives to current cultural, social, political, or economic conditions; it also requires the ability to see oneself as a civic agent capable of making change, as a participant in a larger democratic culture. Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination represents a call for greater clarity about what we’re fighting for—not just what we’re fighting against.
Across more than thirty examples from social movements around the world, this casebook proposes “civic imagination” as a framework that can help us identify, support, and practice new kinds of communal participation. As the contributors demonstrate, young people, in particular, are turning to popular culture—from Beyoncé to Bollywood, from Smokey Bear to Hamilton, from comic books to VR—for the vernacular through which they can express their discontent with current conditions.
A young activist uses YouTube to speak back against J. K. Rowling in the voice of Cho Chang in order to challenge the superficial representation of Asian Americans in children’s literature. Murals in Los Angeles are employed to construct a mythic imagination of Chicano identity. Twitter users have turned to #BlackGirlMagic to highlight the black radical imagination and construct new visions of female empowerment. In each instance, activists demonstrate what happens when the creative energies of fans are infused with deep political commitment, mobilizing new visions of what a better democracy might look like.
Editions of Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781479847204
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781479869503
Read an Excerpt
Winner, 2021 Ray and Pat Browne Edited Collection Award, given by the Popular Culture Association
How popular culture is engaged by activists to effect emancipatory political change
One cannot change the world unless one can imagine what a better world might look like. Civic imagination is the capacity to conceptualize alternatives to current cultural, social, political, or economic conditions; it also requires the ability to see oneself as a civic agent capable of making change, as a participant in a larger democratic culture. Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination represents a call for greater clarity about what we’re fighting for—not just what we’re fighting against.
Across more than thirty examples from social movements around the world, this casebook proposes “civic imagination” as a framework that can help us identify, support, and practice new kinds of communal participation. As the contributors demonstrate, young people, in particular, are turning to popular culture—from Beyoncé to Bollywood, from Smokey Bear to Hamilton, from comic books to VR—for the vernacular through which they can express their discontent with current conditions.
A young activist uses YouTube to speak back against J. K. Rowling in the voice of Cho Chang in order to challenge the superficial representation of Asian Americans in children’s literature. Murals in Los Angeles are employed to construct a mythic imagination of Chicano identity. Twitter users have turned to #BlackGirlMagic to highlight the black radical imagination and construct new visions of female empowerment. In each instance, activists demonstrate what happens when the creative energies of fans are infused with deep political commitment, mobilizing new visions of what a better democracy might look like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination about?
Winner, 2021 Ray and Pat Browne Edited Collection Award, given by the Popular Culture Association
How popular culture is engaged by activists to effect emancipatory political change
One cannot change the world unless one can imagine what a better world might look like. Civic imagination is the capacity to conceptualize alternatives to current cultural, social, political, or economic conditions; it also requires the ability to see oneself as a civic agent capable of making change, as a participant in a larger democratic culture. Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination represents a call for greater clarity about what we’re fighting for—not just what we’re fighting against.
Across more than thirty examples from social movements around the world, this casebook proposes “civic imagination” as a framework that can help us identify, support, and practice new kinds of communal participation. As the contributors demonstrate, young people, in particular, are turning to popular culture—from Beyoncé to Bollywood, from Smokey Bear to Hamilton, from comic books to VR—for the vernacular through which they can express their discontent with current conditions.
A young activist uses YouTube to speak back against J. K. Rowling in the voice of Cho Chang in order to challenge the superficial representation of Asian Americans in children’s literature. Murals in Los Angeles are employed to construct a mythic imagination of Chicano identity. Twitter users have turned to #BlackGirlMagic to highlight the black radical imagination and construct new visions of female empowerment. In each instance, activists demonstrate what happens when the creative energies of fans are infused with deep political commitment, mobilizing new visions of what a better democracy might look like.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Cultural and media studies > Media studies
Where can I read a sample of Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781479847204
How long is Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination and how many pages does it have?
Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination has 400 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination?
NYU Press
Who is the Publisher of the book Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination?
NYU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781479847204) and paperback(ISBN 9781479869503)
Where can I buy Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination from below
Where can I buy Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination?