Dancing in the Dark: Youth, Popular Culture, and the Electronic Media

by Quentin J. Schultze, Roy M. Anker (Co-editor), James D. Bratt (Co-editor)

The authors offer an insightful analysis of the symbiotic relationship between the popular entertainment industry and America's youth, suggest principles for evaluating popular art and entertainment, and propose strategies for rebuilding strong local cultures in the face of global media giants.

Genres: Cultural

360 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 1990

About the author

Quentin J. Schultze (PhD, University of Illinois) is Arthur H. DeKruyter Chair and professor of communication arts and sciences at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is also distinguished professor at Spring Arbor University. Schultze has been quoted in major media including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, US News & World Report, the New York Times, Fortune, the Chicago Tribune, and USA Today. He has been interviewed by CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, and NPR and is the author of many books including An Essential Guide to Public Speaking.

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being a bit dated at this point, I think Dancing in the Dark is a great introduction to the notion of critical media studies, with a special emphasis on culture and its relation to morality and religion. One of the book's unique features is that it's written by a group of professing Christians who nonetheless do not force a religious perspective into the conversation at points where it maybe would not prove illuminating. When it does come in, it is to provide insightful commentary on how matters of faith relate to the predicaments of youth and youth culture in contemporary media and society. The specific examples in this text are somewhat dated, but the overall message and philosophy is as ripe for conversation as ever, and I believe that the authors do a phenomenal job of walking through and demonstrating the importance of having the kinds of conversations about media, youth, and culture that this book provokes. In that sense, this book definitely taps into something timeless and essential for Christians and discerning media consumers everywhere.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this book to be a sort of Christian rant about the evils of media, but even for those that may still see it as that, it is an extremely well-written and well-researched Christian rant against media. I probably would have given this 5 stars except that being written in 1990, it is getting kinda dated. It also loses points for focusing primarily on white, middle class, American culture as oppose to addressing the dynamic and diverse population of America.

This book has some excellent thoughts on what its title promises: youth popular culture, and media. It touches on youth development, youth culture, consumerism, artistic expression, parent-child relations, marketing, and other stuff. This book is an excellent and accessible academic approach to these issues and how they relate to one another within the context of Christianity.