Introduction to Cultural Studies - Topics, Concepts, Issues

by Aleida Assmann

Bivided into seven themed chapters: signs, media, body, time, space, memory and identity, this book aims to provide a fresh approach to complex theoretical and historical question. Sparking the reader's interest in literature from different genres and periods, this volume not only provides a useful introduction, it is an important study tool which supports the reader's own endeavours to get to grips with the realtionship between reading and major key questions of culture.

Genres: Cultural

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Aleida Assmann is a Professor of English Literature and Literary Theory in the Department of Literature, Art and Media at the University of Konstanz in Germany. She has also been a guest lecturer at universities including Rice, Princeton, Yale, and the University of Chicago. She is the author of several German-language books and has received international recognition for her scholarship, including the Max-Planck-Research Prize for History and Memory in 2009 and an Honorary Doctorate from the Theological Faculty at the University of Oslo in 2008.

Reviews

[Dorothea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to review some of the main themes and ideas of cultural studies, and for that, this was absolutely perfect. It may not read like an introduction in the same way as, for example, Chris Barker's hefty tome, but for introduction and review it is really clear and provides a lot of great, pithy moments that help recall summaries of theories and concepts one can read about elsewhere. Its examples are heavily Anglo-centric (which is fine), but it also makes references to the German Kulturwissenschaften context and summarizes theories a bit from that perspective (which is fine, too). Due to its conciseness, it leaves little room for ambiguity or some of the complexity of the ideas, their genealogy, and arguably accuracy. Assmann states that her purview is selective by necessity, so I accept her choices. I disagreed with or was dissatisfied by a few of the statements, but that's why one does not read just one text to make sense of something. This would serve fine as a stand-alone introduction to cultural studies, but as a supplement it is incredibly handy.