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I don’t know if it’s a product of being an ’80s youngster, my love of sociology, or the “why not both” mentality, however whatever the cause, I like popular culture. Even when I’m not watching a specific present or movie that everybody is speaking about, I’ll nonetheless hear in on the conversations, which, most of the time, inform me of rather more past the precise present/movie. Which brings me to the present state of what appears like a meltdown within the many locations I went to for these sorts of discussions.
Some locations have chosen to scale back their employees of writers and switch to AI as an alternative, which is able to by no means create new or attention-grabbing discussions regarding popular culture since all it does is regurgitate what already exists. There was additionally as soon as a social media app—the one which had a cute little blue hen—the place you can discover numerous threads, arguments, very unhealthy takes, but additionally tremendous considerate insights on all issues popular culture. I, for one, deeply miss the great of these threads and conversations. So a lot in order that it has led me to subscribe to numerous these author’s newsletters and begin listening to extra podcasts. But I’ve at all times been an individual who reaches first for a guide, and whether or not I am going with a print copy that I can spotlight, which is able to sit on my shelf, or the audiobook narrated by the creator, I’ve just lately discovered myself with a pile of nice books and the necessity to inform others to learn them. So right here we’re!
Below, you’ll discover deep dives into tradition, neighborhood, gender, race, incapacity, society, and extra by way of music, movie, and TV, whether or not focusing on the historical past of a selected style or a decade. And whereas all of the books land below the nonfiction umbrella, there are numerous books that do an important mix of historical past, memoir, and essays. Bonus: Seven out of the eight books have audiobooks narrated by the authors!
We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film by Tre’vell Anderson, Angelica Ross (Foreword)
In this fascinating mix of essays and memoir, Tre’vell Anderson begins with an precise historical past lesson, making it clear that queer individuals have at all times existed even when our present language didn’t (if whereas studying Red, White & Royal Blue you bought a historical past lesson within the emails between Alex and Henry the place they paid homage to homosexual historic figures, it will add and increase on that!). From there, Anderson dives into TV and movie historical past with a spotlight on transgender illustration. You’ll begin with their childhood love of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, because of their grandmother, and the way, in faculty, they started to consider cross-dressing all through leisure historical past and the dangerous stereotypes it could possibly create. From ideas on To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar to Laverne Cox on Orange Is The New Black, it’s a superbly blended assortment the place Anderson seems at their very own childhood as much as changing into a journalist tied to the historical past of trans individuals in movie and tv by way of their very own gender journey.
The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman
You both owned or knew somebody who owned the cellphone on this cowl, otherwise you’ve by no means seen one earlier than in your life, and people are the 2 forms of individuals on this world. I can declare that as reality, sure? That is how details in 2023 work now? But significantly, I’ll ceaselessly hear the phrases “thirty years ago” and at all times assume we’re speaking concerning the ’70s, however apparently, it now means the ’90s. In excellent news, it’s now been sufficient time because the ’90s for a humorous, considerate, and good take on the last decade that noticed the rise of the web, gave us grunge, and, as Chuck Klosterman explains, “the last era that held to the idea of a true, hegemonic mainstream.”
Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me by Aisha Harris
Speaking of the ’90s, right here’s an essay assortment, blended memoir by a cultural critic who grew up within the ’90s and doesn’t subscribe to the assumption that “You are what you like.” How did the last decade form her/us? In humorous, considerate takes on points affecting society by way of a popular culture lens, Aisha Harris takes readers by way of movies (Clueless), TV (New Girl), and music (Spice Girls; Chance the Rapper). Come for the leisure and keep for the information.
Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman’s Fight to End Ableism by Elsa Sjunneson
Elsa Sjunneson is an creator and media research professor who is aware of firsthand how the “one-size-fits-all” definition of incapacity is way from correct. In a mix of historical past, memoir, and cultural criticism, Sjunneson takes readers by way of the dangerous well-liked tropes in books, TV, and movie that misrepresent disabilities, finally harming the neighborhood and everybody else.
Hi Honey, I’m Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture by Matt Baume
The energy of sitcoms is apparent whenever you notice that even individuals who have by no means seen a single episode of a present know all about it, because of its affect on popular culture. Here Matt Baume takes us into the traditional sitcoms (from The Golden Girls to Dinosaurs) with a spotlight on episodes that addressed queer points whereas wanting on the precise queer historical past that was occurring when the episode first aired. It’s an important mixture of historical past and “Hey, did you know” details and can make you wish to rewatch some traditional exhibits. It’s additionally unattainable to not see numerous the dangerous, merciless historical past unfolding itself once more.
The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar by Robin R. Means Coleman, PhD, and Mark H. Harris
The creators behind the documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror have introduced their information of the historical past of Black roles from the ’60s to modern-day horror movies to readers. There are tons to be taught and assume on, from evaluation of tropes, stereotypes, and extra utilizing humor and deep critique. Plus, you’ll wish to (re)watch a bunch of horror movies.
Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be: Essays by Nichole Perkins
This is a memoir in essays by a pop-culture commentator podcast host (This Is Good for You), on pop-culture’s affect on her life. Nichole Perkins recounts her childhood as a center youngster in Nashville’s Black neighborhood through the ’80s-’90s, which incorporates despair and the early consciousness of how necessary pleasure is. You’ll additionally study her relationship with popular culture by way of her crush on Niles Crane (and her love of the present Frasier), her sexual awakening because of a Prince tune, and rather more!
Decoding “Despacito”: An Oral History of Latin Music by Leila Cobo
Shakira. Daddy Yankee. Gloria Estefan. Selena. You’ve heard them, you understand them, you’ve in all probability sang or danced together with them. But have you learnt the tales behind their hit songs? Enter Decoding “Despacito,” the place artists, those that know/knew them, executives, and extra inform the tales in their very own phrases about 19 of the largest hits in Latin music over the past 50 years that made an affect within the U.S. pop world.
Who else now has Rhythm Is Gonna Get You caught of their head?
If you’re searching for extra popular culture content material, we’ve acquired you coated!
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