Gournelos, T: Popular Culture and the Future of Politics

Ted Gournelos is assistant professor of critical media and cultural studies at Rollins College.

Popular Culture and the Future of Politics examines changes in popular culture and political culture in the United States, particularly in terms of progressive change. Because it provides overviews of theory along with concrete examples of politics and textual / content analyses of multiple cultural productions across media, it is ideal for courses that seek to be relevant to contemporary changes in popular culture, particularly in view of post-9/11 developments in identity politics and domestic and foreign policy.

Part 1 Introduction: How to Break What's Broken: Visual Culture, Dissonance, and Politics Part 2 Prelude: Tactics of Oppositional Culture Part 3 Part I: The Allusive Chapter 4 Chapter 1. Boobs, Barf, and Bloody Asses: Coming of Age in South Park Chapter 5 Chapter 2. Singing in Hell With Satan: Intertextuality, Music, and the Regulation of the Child Chapter 6 Interlude 1. Irony, Community, and the Intelligent Design Debate in South Park and The Simpsons Part 7 Part II: The Responsive Chapter 8 Chapter 3. Puppets, Slaves, and Sex Changes: Performing Sex with Mr. Garrison Chapter 9 Chapter 4. Muhammad's Ghost: Religion, Censorship, and the Politics of Intimidation Chapter 10 Interlude 2. To Rely on the Absurdity of the System: The Daily Show, The Onion, and New Media Convergence Part 11 Part III: The Disruptive Chapter 12 Chapter 5. Ambivalent Opposition: South Park's Racial Discourse Chapter 13 Chapter 6. A Neocon Parade: South Park and Post-9/11 Politics Chapter 14 Coda: The Boondocks, Chappelle's Show, and the Rearticulation of Racial Politics Part 15 Conclusion: Playing With the System, Playing With Fire