In its exploration of some of the most influential, popular, or critically acclaimed television dramas since the year 2000, this book documents how modern television dramas reflect our society through their complex narratives about prevailing economic, political, security, and social issues. Television dramas have changed since the turn of the 21st century-for the good, many would say, as a result of changes in technology, the rise of cable networks, and increased creative freedom. This book approaches the new golden age of television dramas by examining the programs that define the first 15 years of the new century through their complex narratives, high production value, star power, popularity, and enthusiastic fan culture. After an introduction that sets the stage for the book's content, thematic sections present concise chapters that explore key connections between television dramas and elements of 21st-century culture. The authors explore Downton Abbey as a distraction from contemporary class struggles, patriarchy and the past in Game of Thrones and Mad Men, and portrayals of the "dark hero protagonist" in The Sopranos, Dexter, and Breaking Bad, as a few examples of the book's coverage. With its multidisciplinary perspectives on a variety of themes-terrorism, race/class/gender, family dynamics, and sociopolitical and socioeconomic topics- this book will be relevant across the social sciences and cultural and media studies courses. Identifies and explores connections between critically acclaimed television dramas and real life in the 21st century Documents the qualities of television drama series since the turn of the 21st century in the latest era in television that some refer to as the "third golden age of television" Offers accessible analysis of popular and current television dramas relevant to educators and students in the fields of media studies, television, and popular culture as well as anyone who enjoys modern television drama

As men and women traveled west to settle America's untamed lands, and tried to "strike it rich" in gold, they led a simple existence, often carrying the barest necessities from one location to another. Yet they also carried with them their own popular culture, through folk songs, legends, and literature, that has often been mythologized into our present American popular culture. Through primary sources such as letters, diaries, and photographs, the author draws parallels and makes distinctions between the pioneers and cowboys of the past and those of today. Students and fans of the Old West will find this volume a rich source of history for this time period. Many images and items in today's popular culture were born in the time of westward expansion. Log cabins, cowboys such as the Marlboro Man and Woody of Toy Story fame, and Levi's jeans, all have their roots in the Old West. Outlaws such as Wild Bill Hikock, Billy the Kid, and Jesse James, and "good guys" such as Davy Crockett, continue to fascinate students and western enthusiasts. Traveling entertainments, mail-order houses, and patent medicines, although no longer popular in today's society, tell us much about the nomadic existence of families during this time. With a timeline and a list of everyday products and their prices during the time period, this volume will be an invaluable resource to students and historians tracing the roots of American popular culture.

This book offers an exploration of the comprehensive impact of the events of September 11, 2001, on every aspect of American culture and society. On Thanksgiving day after September 11, 2001, comic strip creators directed readers to donate money in their artwork, generating $50,000 in relief funds. The world's largest radio network, Clear Channel, sent a memo to all of its affiliated stations recommending 150 songs that should be eliminated from airplay because of assumptions that their lyrics would be perceived as offensive in light of the events of 9/11. On the first anniversary of September 11th, choirs around the world performed Mozart's Requiem at 8:46 am in each time zone, the time of the first attack on the World Trade Center. These examples are just three of the ways the world—but especially the United States—responded to the events of September 11, 2001. Each chapter in this book contains a chronological overview of the sea of changes in everyday life, literature, entertainment, news and media, and visual culture after September 11. Shorter essays focus on specific books, TV shows, songs, and films.

What is it about some books that makes them timeless? Cultural History of Reading looks at books from their earliest beginnings through the present day, in both the U.S. and regions all over the world. Not only fiction and literature, but religious works, dictionaries, scientific works, and home guides such as Mrs. Beeton's all have had an impact on not only their own time and place, but continue to capture the attention of readers today. Volume 1 examines the history of books in regions throughout the world, identifying both literature and nonfiction that was influenced by cultural events of its time. Volume 2 identifies books from the pre-colonial era to the present day that have had lasting significance in the United States. History students and book lovers alike will enjoy discovering the books that have impacted our world. Volume I: World Literature (by region)-The Americas (North, Central, South, Caribbean) -Timeline -Introduction: Relationships between Canadian, Caribbean and Latin American Indigenous, colonial and post-colonial experiences, and the forces that shaped the production of literature(s) in this region. -Lit. by period (the focus here will be on Lat. Am., Caribbean and Canadian literatures). Pre Columbian - Colonial Establishment - Colonial period - Twentieth Century - Contemporary - Europe and Britain -Timeline -Introduction: The expansion of Christianity as a culturally-unifying influence, and the rise of intellectual experimentation as a parallel movement. The influence of technology on textual production, distribution and consumption. Lit. by period Establishment of Christianity - Medieval period - The Renaissance - The Enlightenment - Romanticism - The NineteenthCentury - Modernism - Post-Modernism - Asia and the Pacific -Timeline. -Introduction: Geographic and cultural isolation as shapers of distinct social and cultural experiences. Highly differentiated textual forms and philosophies of writing. The influence of European colonization, war, technology and leisure travel on textual production. -Lit. by nation/region then be further analyzed according to its own history China - Japan - South East Asia - Australia - New Zealand - The South Pacific and Melanesia - -South Asia and the Indian Sub-Continent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan: Timeline Introduction: The parallel, but hostile, development of two language, myth and textual systems in shared space. Colonial representation and post-colonial re-inscription of history. - Lit. by period The classical period - European arrival - The Colonial period - Independence - Contemporary period - Africa and The Middle East -Timeline -Introduction: The oldest languages on earth. Layering of civilizations, gods and spirits. The literature of White natives. The discourse of slavery and liberation. Lit. by culture The rise of Islam - The Islamic nations - The rise of Christianity - The arrival of the Europeans - African independence - The creation of Israel - Contemporary African Literatures - Contemporary Arab Literatures - Volume II: American Literature (by time period)-Pre-colonial -Timeline: events occurring prior to roughly1700 Introduction: The literature of exploration and cultural contact, including translations of indigenous writings and writing of European settlers. -Settlement and Colonization; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1700-1776 -Introduction: Literature of settlement and colonization, including religious, scientific, and philosophical writings. The debates surrounding The Great Awakening, Salem witch trials. Revolution and the New Republic; -Timeline Revents occurring roughly between 1776-1820 -Introduction: Writings leading up to and surrounding the Revolutionary War, the founding documents and early challenges to the idea that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" were equally accessible to everyone. Writing of a new nation, American romanticism. -Forming a National Identity; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1820-1860 -Introduction: Writings that defined a nation, with particular emphasis on the improved transportation, increased immigration, westward expansion, removal of Native Americans. -The Civil War; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1861-1865 -Introduction: The literature of slavery and civil war. -Growth of a Nation; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1865-1913 -Introduction: Writings engaging the social, economic, and political changes that arose from industrialization, western settlement, increased immigration, urban growth, mass production, the middle class, organized labor, and the theories of Darwin -The Great War and the Great Depression; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1914-1945 -Introduction: prohibition, segregation, crash of the stock market, the 19th amendment, Freud/psychoanalysis, the automobile -A Nation Goes To and Comes Home from War; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1945-1960 -Introduction: World War II, the rise of the suburbs, television, the Cold War -Rebellions and Countercultures; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1960-1979-Introduction: Vietnam, the culture of the 60s and 70s, the civil and women's rights movements, assassinations of JFK and MLK -(Sub)cultures of the late twentieth-century; -Timeline events occurring roughly between 1979-1999 -Introduction: the subcultures of the 1980s and 90s, yuppies, world wide web, dot.com craze, stock market bubble, media/cable tv/video, diversity and political correctness -The 21st Century; -Timeline events occurring roughly 2000 to the present -Introduction: literature of a new century, September 11th, the culture of terrorism