Globalization and American Popular Culture, Fourth Edition - Hardcover

Lane Crothers charts a vast, amorphous, and constantly shifting topic with great skill. To provide adequate historical and geopolitical context while keeping the focus on contemporary instances of popular culture and remaining accessible to undergraduates is a daunting challenge. This volume pulls it off with concision, balance, and wit. Though popular culture is changing at the speed of light, Crothers manages to keep both the analysis and the judiciously chosen examples and case studies fresh and relevant. -- David W. Stowe, Michigan State University Globalization and American Popular Culture is a fixture in my upper-level international politics course. Not only do students routinely single it out it as their favorite reading of the semester, but it also challenges them to rethink the significance of the pop culture they consume on a daily basis in the broader context of international relations. It's the rare example of a book that is both scholarly in its approach and a fun read for students. -- Jason Morrissette, Marshall University

Now in a fully revised and updated edition, this concise and insightful book explores the ways American popular products such as movies, music, television programs, fast food, sports, and even clothing styles have molded and continue to influence modern globalization. Lane Crothers offers a thoughtful examination of both the appeal of American products worldwide and the fear and rejection they induce in many people and nations around the world. The author defines what we mean by "popular culture," how popular culture is distinguished from the generic concept of "culture," and what constitutes "American" popular culture. Tracing how U.S. movies, music, and TV became dominant in world popular culture, Crothers also considers the ways in which non-visual products like fast-food franchises, sports, and fashion have become ubiquitous. He also presents a fascinating set of case studies that highlight the varied roles American products play in a range of different nations and communities. Concluding with a projection of the future impact of American popular culture, this book makes a powerful argument for its central role in shaping global politics and economic development.