What is counterculture? – It’s an alternative lifestyle... – The ideas that spread a revolution... – A movement that changes the world... This new collection of essays celebrates the incredible originality of British post-war culture. British Art, film, theatre, dance, literature and music have attracted international recognition, from the Angry Young Men to the Sex Pistols to Grayson Perry. Now gaming, the internet and social media enable creative communities to flourish and either fight for social justice – or just be entertained,. Can we find the creative inspiration to succeed in a post-capitalist future? ‘...a wonderfully scholarly, readable and useful treat on the perils of labelling culture.’ – Helen Lederer, Comedienne 'It is the delinquents, deviants and subversive Counterculturalists that embody the true grittiness of British Culture. Subversive and volatile beings of anarchy, freeing the masses from the commodification of commercialised ‘expression’. Lurking in the margins, Mark Edwards in Counterculture UK - A Celebration, expresses the liberated and reactionary nature of dance to mainstream culture through his euphoric exploration of free expression, movement and identity. A sensitive reflection of the youth within the ‘northern powerhouse’ during socially and politically turbulent times that hyperextends itself to our present day discourses. As dance is digitised through meme and viral media so to does the Counterculturalist, constantly dancing their own revolution and liberating those who dare to be free in expression.' ***** – Kristian Gath, QWERTY Theatre 'This is a good introduction to a diverse range of topics, some of which, of course, will hold more interest than others, but I think overall most are dealt with in a knowledgeable and capable way. The writers know the subjects well enough that they can provide a clear overview as well as zoom in on the specific events or people who drove the movement or changes within the different fields and I like that we get different voices for each chapter. There is nothing new or revolutionary in the book and the examples provided for most of the topics would be well-known (to the point of mainstream...) to most people, but I still rather enjoyed reading the individual essays and seeing it in a context where the impact of certain events are shown on a variety of different stages. The book can be used as a short starter to the different subjects. If you want to delve deeper, there is not much help in the book, but as long as you are aware of that from the outset, I doubt it will disappoint.' **** - JBM 1776 Amazon 100 Reviewer 'I found it interesting when the author questioned the idea of whether "counter culture" declines when it becomes the "culture" and is therefore no longer pushing against anything. I also enjoyed the way the author reminded the reader that the new technology of today's world really helps give space for people to explore their interests/fantasies and share them with others. I wonder where that will take us in the future?' **** – Gemma Raishbrook, Amazon

Memoir of what it was like growing up in the Love Family

Discussions of class make many Americans uncomfortable. This accessible book makes class visible in everyday life. Solely identifying political and economic inequalities between classes offers an incomplete picture of class dynamics in America, and may not connect with people's lived experiences. In Reading Classes, Barbara Jensen explores the anguish caused by class in our society, identifying classism—or anti–working class prejudice—as a central factor in the reproduction of inequality in America. Giving voice to the experiences and inner lives of working-class people, Jensen—a community and counseling psychologist—provides an in-depth, psychologically informed examination of how class in America is created and re-created through culture, with an emphasis on how working- and middle-class cultures differ and conflict. This book is unique in its claim that working-class cultures have positive qualities that serve to keep members within them, and that can haunt those who leave them behind. Through both autobiographical reflections on her dual citizenship in the working class and middle class and the life stories of students, clients, and relatives, Jensen brings into focus the clash between the realities of working-class life and middle-class expectations for working-class people. Focusing on education, she finds that at every point in their personal development and educational history, working-class children are misunderstood, ignored, or disrespected by middle-class teachers and administrators. Education, while often hailed as a way to "cross classes," brings with it its own set of conflicts and internal struggles. These problems can lead to a divided self, resulting in alienation and suffering for the upwardly mobile student. Jensen suggests how to increase awareness of the value of working-class cultures to a truly inclusive American society at personal, professional, and societal levels.

A valuable resource for students and general audiences, this book provides a unique global perspective on the history, beliefs, and practices of emergent faith communities; new religious traditions; and religious movements worldwide, from the 19th century to the present. New Religions: Emerging Faiths and Religious Cultures in the Modern World provides insightful global perspectives on the emergent faith communities and new traditions and movements of the last two centuries. Readers will gain access to the information necessary to explore the significance, complexities, and challenges that modern religious traditions have faced throughout their history and that continue to impact society today. The work identifies the themes and issues that have often brought new religions into conflict with the larger societies of which they are a part. Coverage includes new religious groups that emerged in America, such as the Seventh-day Adventists, the Latter-day Saints, and the Jehovah's Witnesses; alternative communities around the globe that emerged from the major Western and Eastern traditions, such as Aum Shinrikyo and Al-Qaeda; and marginalized groups that came to a sudden end, such as the Peoples Temple, Heaven's Gate, and the Branch Davidians. The entries highlight thematic and broader issues that run across the individual religious traditions, and will also help students analyze and assess the common difficulties faced by emergent religious communities.

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Popular Music and Youth Culture provides a comprehensive and fully up-to-date overview of key themes and debates relating to the academic study of popular music and youth culture. While this is a highly popular and rapidly expanding field of research, there currently exists no single-source reference book for those interested in this topic. The handbook is comprised of 32 original chapters written by leading authors in the field of popular music and youth culture and covers a range of topics including: theory; method; historical perspectives; genre; audience; media; globalization; ageing and generation.

A bold reconsideration of the meaning of 1960s San Francisco counterculture

Volume one of this two volume set focuses on lesbian history and culture, beginning in 1869, when the study of homosexuality was said to have begun with the establishment of sexology. It is intended as a reference for students and scholars in many fields, as well as the general public.