Knowledge Goes Pop: From Conspiracy Theory to Gossip

Hardback

Main Details

Title Knowledge Goes Pop: From Conspiracy Theory to Gossip
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Clare Birchall
SeriesCulture Machine
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:208
Dimensions(mm): Height 234,Width 156
ISBN/Barcode 9781845201425
ClassificationsDewey:306.4
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)

Publishing Details

Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint Berg Publishers
Publication Date 1 August 2006
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

A voice on late night radio tells you that a fast food joint injects its food with drugs that make men impotent. A colleague asks if you think the FBI was in on 9/11. An alien abductee on the Internet claims extra-terrestrials have planted a microchip in her left buttock. 'Julia Roberts in Porn Scandal' shouts the front page of a gossip mag. A spiritual healer claims he can cure chronic fatigue syndrome with the energizing power of crystals . . . What do you believe? Knowledge Goes Pop examines the popular knowledges that saturate our everyday experience. We make this information and then it shapes the way we see the world. How valid is it when compared to official knowledge and why does such (mis)information cause so much institutional anxiety? Knowledge Goes Pop examines the range of knowledge, from conspiracy theory to plain gossip, and its role and impact in our culture.

Author Biography

Clare Birchall is Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University.

Reviews

'An incisive and insightful analysis of both sides of the line dividing cultural criticism from popular knowledge.' Lawrence Grossberg