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Andrew is joined with a fellow Andrew, Dr. Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock who is a professor of English at Central Michigan University, where he teaches American literature and popular culture. Right away, he explains why the Horror and Gothic texts (including literature, film, and TV) fall under the rubric of Pop Culture. Then he lays out his own rubric for what classifies a piece of art as pop culture. First, something seen as part of pop culture must include a low barrier to participate. Jeffrey explains why it's so important to break away from the binary of high brow versus low brow culture!
Jeffrey's book "Pop Culture For Beginners" is one of the first academic books that provides theoretical language to analyze all forms of pop culture. There are so many examples of pop culture that Jeffrey and Andrew analyze throughout this episode, including a multitude of Stephen King's fiction and film adaptations (we're looking at you "Carrie"). Jeffrey explains that an erosion has occurred between academic elite culture and pop culture!
But we're only just getting started, and on the ITBR Cafe, you'll hear our thoughts on The White Lotus, Desperate Housewives, The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, The Haunting of Hill House, Wednesday, and Lovecraft Country. Jeffrey even discusses his fascination and obsession with The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Join the ITBR Cafe (patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom).
Get your hands on Jeffrey's "Pop Culture For Beginners" and "The Mad Scientist's Guide to Composition" on Broadview Press' site:
https://broadviewpress.com/product/pop-culture-for-beginners/
https://broadviewpress.com/product/the-mad-scientists-guide-to-composition/
Follow Jeffrey on Instagram, @jeffreyweinstock.
Read more about Jeffrey's work, including his books, goth music scholarship, essays, and even his DJ career: https://www.jeffreyandrewweinstock.com/
Head to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order.
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