Mix It Up: Popular Culture, Mass Media, and Society
“InMix It Up, David Grazian pulls off the hat trick, three big scores in one book. He combines an encyclopedic knowledge of popular culture, a deep acquaintance with and understanding of sociological ideas, and a relaxed yet penetrating language to pass on what he knows to his lucky readers.” (Howard S. Becker, author of Art Worlds and Telling About Society)“This is the book I’ve been waiting for. Grazian deftly uses the lens of popular culture to introduce major themes in the sociology of culture, and the sociology of culture to illuminate key features of popular culture.Mix It Upis accessible but never dumbed-down, current while also historically rich, at once wide-ranging and shrewdly organized. Grazian’s text is the best I’ve encountered for undergraduate courses in sociology of culture and pop-culture studies.” (Joshua Gamson, University of San Francisco; Author of Claims to Fame, Freaks Talk Back, and The Fabulous Sylvester)“David Grazian’s book is a godsend for sociologists entrusted with teaching popular culture classes. It is an engaging, scholarly rigorous book. I would certainly recommend it to a colleague.” (Omar Lizardo, University of Notre Dame)“Part fierce intellectual, part exuberant fan, Grazian delves beneath the noisy skim of pop culture to find patterns, meanings, and rituals.Mix It Upuses the power of the sociological imagination to pry the shiny lid off of everyday objects and artifacts, revealing social processes, political ideologies, and cultural mechanisms whirring away underneath. Written with humor and wit, this is a smart and lively book, interesting and accessible to students and useful and inspiring for instructors.” (Matt Wray, Temple University)“Finally! This is the 'textbook' I’ve been waiting for--Mix It Upis perfect for teaching my classes on media and culture from a sociological perspective. David Grazian has assembled some of the most important scholarship on key themes and topics from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Students are going to love that the book is jam-packed with interesting, relevant and familiar examples, spanning recent history and including up to the very latest moment.Mix It Upis fun, fresh and exciting, and it uses all the right materials to engage students in a deeper examination of the meaning of media and culture in society and their own lives.” (Jill Stein, Santa Barbara City College)“Mix It Updeftly unscrambles the diverse and fast changing world of mass media-made popular culture and its place in American society.” (Richard A. Peterson, Vanderbilt University)“Mix It Upis the real deal. David Grazian’s sweeping analysis of popular culture is witty, worldly, smart, and sophisticated. It’s more than an 'un-textbook,' it’s downright fun.” (Eric Klinenberg, New York University; Author of Fighting for Air and Heat Wave)“From Bollywood to Botox, Shakespeare to Second Life, David Grazian uses a wide array of cutting-edge examples to illustrate how popular culture serves as a window into sociological thinking. His conversational writing style takes the reader through a fun and informative journey through the essential topics concerning media culture today.” (Karen Sternheimer, University of Southern California; Editor of the Everyday Sociology Blog)