American Pop - Popular Culture Decade by Decade [4 volumes] (Hardcover, New)

Pop culture is the heart and soul of America, a unifying bridge across time bringing together generations of diverse backgrounds. Whether looking at the bright lights of the Jazz Age in the 1920s, the sexual revolution and the rock-n-roll revolution of the 1960s, or the thriving social networking websites of today, each period in America's cultural history develops its own unique take on the qualities define our lives. American Pop: Popular Culture Decade by Decade is the most comprehensive reference on American popular culture by decade ever assembled, beginning with the 1900s up through today. The four-volume set examines the fascinating trends across decades and eras by shedding light on the experiences of Americans young and old, rich and poor, along with the influences of arts, entertainment, sports, and other cultural forces. Whether a pop culture aficionado or a student new to the topic, American Pop provides readers with an engaging look at American culture broken down into discrete segments, as well as analysis that gives insight into societal movements, trends, fads, and events that propelled the era and the nation. In-depth chapters trace the evolution of pop culture in 11 key categories: BLKey Events in American Life BLAdvertising BLArchitecture BLBooks, Newspapers, Magazines, and Comics BLEntertainment BLFashion BLFood BLMusic BLSports and Leisure Activities BLTravel BLVisual Arts Coverage includes: BL"How Others See Us" sidebars that allow readers to understand how cultures, particularly youth cultures, outside of America view our "exports" BLControversies and scandals that shook (and shaped) the era, include privacy, censorship, the abortion debate, and high-profile legalbattles BLSocial and cultural movements, including the birth of rock, civil rights, the sexual revolution, environmentalism, and the gay and lesbian movement BLTrends and fads, such as dance marathons and roller derbies of the 1930s, communal living of the 1960s, extreme sports of the 1990s, and Internet culture today BLKey icons in American culture, from Rosie the Riveter, Superman, and Oprah Winfrey to cell phones and the Internet BLClassroom resources to help teachers give students a greater understanding of major turning points in American culture Designed to meet the high demand for resources that help students study American history and culture by the decade, this one-stop reference provides readers with a broad and interdisciplinary overview of the numerous aspects of popular culture in our country. Thoughtful examination of our rich and often tumultuous popular history, illustrated with hundreds of historical and contemporary photos, makes this the ideal source to turn to for ready reference or research.