Now, more than 20 years since its initial release, John Fiske's classic text Media Matters remains both timely and insightful as an empirically rich examination of how the fierce battle over cultural meaning is negotiated in American popular culture. Media Matters takes us to the heart of social inequality and the call for social justice by interrogating some of the most important issues of its time. Fiske offers a practical guide to learning how to interpret the ways that media events shape the social landscape, to contest official and taken-for-granted accounts of how events are presented/conveyed through media, and to affect social change by putting intellectual labor to public use. A new introductory essay by former Fiske student Black Hawk Hancock entitled 'Learning How to Fiske: Theorizing Cultural Literacy, Counter-History, and the Politics of Media Events in the 21st Century' explains the theoretical and methodological tools with which Fiske approaches cultural analysis, highlighting the lessons today's students can continue to draw upon in order to understand society today.

"Perhaps," wrote Ralph Ellison more than seventy years ago, "the zoot suit contains profound political meaning; perhaps the symmetrical frenzy of the Lindy-hop conceals clues to great potential power." As Ellison noted then, many of our most mundane cultural forms are larger and more important than they appear, taking on great significance and an unexpected depth of meaning. What he saw in the power of the lindy hop - the dance that Life magazine once billed as "America's True National Folk Dance" - would spread from black America to make a lasting impression on white America and of fer us a truly compelling means of understanding our culture. But with what hidden implications? In "American Allegory", Black Hawk Hancock offers an embedded and embodied ethnography that situates dance within a larger Chicago landscape of segregated social practices. Delving into two Chicago dance worlds, lindy hop and steppin', Hancock uses a combination of participant observation and interviews to bring to the surface the racial tension that surrounds white use of black cultural forms. Focusing on new forms of appropriation in an era of multiculturalism, Hancock underscores the institutionalization of racial disparities and offers wonderful insights into the intersection of race and culture in America.

Now, more than 20 years since its initial release, John Fiske's classic text Power Plays Power Works remains both timely and insightful as a theoretically driven examination of the terrain where the politics of culture and the culture of politics collide. Drawing on a diverse set of cultural sites - from alternative talk radio forums, museums, celebrity fandom, to social problems such as homelessness - Fiske traverses the topography of the American cultural landscape to highlight the ways that ordinary people creatively construct their social identities and relationships through the use of the resources available to them, while constrained by social conditions not of their own choosing. This important analysis provides a set of critical methodological and analytical tools to grapple with the complexities and struggles of contemporary social life. A new introductory essay by former Fiske student Black Hawk Hancock entitled 'Learning How to Fiske: Theorizing Power, Knowledge, and Bodies in the 21st Century' elucidates Fiske's methods for today's students, providing them with the ultimate guide to thinking and analyzing like John Fiske; the art of 'Learning How to Fiske'.

Black Hawk was born at Sac village, on Rock river, in the year 1767, a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe. His status came from leading war parties as a young man, and from his leadership of a band of Sauks during the Black Hawk War of 1832. This is his Autobiography.

This important work is the autobiography of Black Hawk aka Black Sparrow Hawk aka Makataimeshekiakiak. Blackhawk was both a leader and warrior of the Sauk tribe of Native Americans in the United States. He served as a war chief for the Sauk indians and was known as Chief Black Hawk to the english. This is an important read for those interested in native american history especially since it is written by this important figure in native american history about his life and beliefs as well as an intimate firsthand account of the black hawk war.

Autobiography of early 19th century leader of the Sauk and Fox Indians. Describes tribal customs, traditions, Indian wars, more.