A Short History of Cultural Studies (PDF)

'Hartley's book is refreshing, breathtaking, and quite a lot of fun. Given its relatively small size, the book can't do everything, but it does introduce the reader to this rich area of contemporary academic life' - Communication Research Trends

'An entertaining and innovative approach to the history of cultural studies' - TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies

`Cultural studies will never be the same again. Whether you're new to the field or a tired old jade, John Hartley's latest will have you sitting bolt upright in your seat. Each chapter is brimming with insight and innovation. A landmark book' - Toby Miller Professor of Cultural Studies and Cultural Policy, New York University

A Short History of Cultural Studies will be devoured by students by virtue of its uncluttered and often wickedly humorous style. But it will also concentrate the minds of those who lecture and research in the subject, by offering a novel and challenging account of the rise and temper of the subject today.

This is the first history of cultural studies. Other books have explored the British and North American traditions, but this is the first guide to the ideas, purposes and controversies that have shaped the subject. The author sheds new light on neglected pioneers and a clear route map through the terrain. He provides lively critical narratives on a dazzling array of key figures including, Arnold, Barrell, Bennett, Carey, Fiske, Foucault, Grossberg, Hall, Hawkes, hooks, Hoggart, Leadbeater, Lissistzky, Malevich, Marx, McLuhan, McRobbie, D Miller, T Miller, Morris, Quiller-Couch, Ross, Shaw, Urry, Williams, Wilson, Wolfe and Woolf. He also examines a host of central themes in the subject including literary and political writing, publishing, civic humanism, political economy and Marxism, sociology, feminism, anthropology and the pedagogy of cultural studies.