Encyclopedia Of Contemporary British Culture

Boasting more than 970 alphabetically-arranged entries, the Encyclopedia of Contemporary British Culture surveys British cultural practices and icons in the latter half of the twentieth century. It examines high and popular culture and encompasses both institutional and alternative aspects of British culture. It provides insight into the whole spectrum of British contemporary life. Topics covered include: architecture, pubs, film, internet and current takes on the monarchy. Cross-referencing and a thematic contents list enable readers to identify related articles. The entries range from short biographical synopses to longer overview essays on key issues. This Encyclopedia is essential reading for anyone interested in British culture. It also provides a cultural context for students of English, Modern History and Comparative European Studies.

British culture today is the product of a shifting combination of tradition and experimentation, national identity and regional and ethnic diversity. These distinctive tensions are expressed in a range of cultural arenas, such as art, sport, journalism, fashion, education, and race. This Companion addresses these and other major aspects of British culture, and offers a sophisticated understanding of what it means to study and think about the diverse cultural landscapes of contemporary Britain. Each contributor looks at the language through which culture is formed and expressed, the political and institutional trends that shape culture, and at the role of culture in daily life. This interesting and informative account of modern British culture embraces controversy and debate, and never loses sight of the fact that Britain and Britishness must always be understood in relation to the increasingly international context of globalisation.

A clear introduction to British culture and 'identity', giving readers an insider's view on the way British people perceive themselves, and are positioned by their culture. Tables, photo- graphs and exercises make this an ideal text.

The sixth edition of British Cultural Identities assesses the degree to which being British impinges on the identity of the many people who belong to contemporary Britain. Twenty-first-century British identity is analysed through the various and changing ways in which people who live in the UK position themselves and are positioned by their culture. Using examples from contemporary and popular culture, each chapter covers one of eight intersecting themes including places and peoples, education, work and leisure, gender, sex and the family, youth culture and style, class and politics, ethnicity and language, religion, and heritage. This new edition is fully updated to include the latest information on Britain in the 2020s. It explains the influences that shape British identities and outlines the important current debates stemming from cultural, social, and political change. Considering contemporary touchstones and recent national statistics, the contributors place modern British life in the context of the activities, events, and society found in the UK across recent decades. The book is the perfect introductory text for students of contemporary British society, containing photographs, tables, timelines, discussion questions, cultural examples and suggestions for further resources at the end of each chapter.

Ethnomusicology: A Research and Information Guide is an annotated bibliography of books, recordings, videos, and websites in the field of ethnomusicology. The book is divided into two parts; Part One is organised by resource type in catagories of greatest concern to students and scholars. This includes handbooks and guides; encyclopedias and dictionaries; indexes and bibliographies; journals; media sources; and archives. It also offers annotated entries on the basic literature of ethnomusicological history and research. Part Two provides a list of current publications in the field that are widely used by ethnomusicologists. Multiply indexed, this book serves as an excellent tool for librarians, researchers, and scholars in sorting through the massive amount of new material that has appeared in the field over the past decades.

During the last decades of the twentieth century it has become increasingly difficult to consider British literature as 'national' or 'mainstream'. The book investigates contemporary fiction and poetry written in, or relating to, Britain and uncovers a distinct sense of a new and different national and social reality. Tracing literary effects of migration, globalization, and regionalization the book focuses on literary tradition as an inspiration or object of hate and frustration for the exploration and expression of post-Imperial experiences.

This third edition of British Culture is the complete introduction to culture and the arts in Britain today. Extensively illustrated and offering a wider range of topics than ever before, David P. Christopher identifies and analyses key areas in language, literature, film, TV, social media, popular music, sport and other fields, setting each one in a clear, historical context. British Culture enables students of British society to understand and enjoy a fascinating range of contemporary arts through an examination of current trends, such as the influence of business and commerce, the effects of globalization and the spread of digital communications. This new edition features: fully revised and updated chapters analyzing a range of key areas within British culture new chapters on cyberculture, heritage and festivals extracts from novels and plays. This student-friendly edition also strengthens reading and study skills through follow-up activities, weblinks and suggestions for further research. David P. Christopher's book is an engaging analysis of contemporary life and arts and, together with its companion website (www.routledge.com/cw/christopher), is essential reading for every student of modern Britain.