Book Review: Culture and the Media, by Paul Bowman

Abstract

Culture and Media. Paul Bowman. Hampshire, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. 96 pp. $27 pbk.This book, produced for Palgrave/Macmillan Key Concerns in Media Studies Series, assesses changing nature of relations between modern media and in an attempt to contextualize emerging trends and challenges. Using several case studies on cultural elements that were quite provocative at time, author illustrates how public reacts and how media reflects new cultural trends that could perceived as threats to existing social norms and mores.Paul Bowman teaches cultural studies and media at Cardiff University, specializing in popular and film industry. He has authored almost dozen books addressing theoretical and interdisciplinary debates on cultural trends, and media debates on changing nature of cultural experience around world. This volume links his work in cultural studies with his interest in popular mass of ethnic cinema.In four short chapters, Bowman develops his arguments about relations between and media in modern world, and cultural consequences of emerging nexus between traditional and new The conceptual springboard for this book is series of questions exploring the relationship between media and culture, including where does or media stop? In what sense, where and how, could these things (culture and media) said to exist? In this context, author analyzes four components of interconnectedness of and For example, he argues that since late twentieth century, all manner of new technologies are not only proliferating, but also blurring possible distinction between media and Yet, despite evidently interlocked relationship, author argues that is (not) media, bringing forward several extreme media events to show encapsulated nature of discourses concerning impact of media on culture. In so doing, he highlights ways in which media promotes or opposes popular as well as ways in which is reflected in media.In this context, he discusses his first case study, Sex Pistols whose pop-songs Anarchy in UK (1976) and God Save Queen (1977) were perceived as threat to existing British and cultural norms. Many circles in Great Britain of day perceived songs as putting forward hostility to British society which in turn stimulated debate about traditions, degeneracy, decency, and values in media-led moral panic. This eventually evolved into a febrile debate about what ideal good media would be and call for better distinguishing lines and boundaries between culture and media. …