• ISBN13: 9788126937271
• Binding: Hardcover
• Subject: English Literature
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Atlantic
• Publication Date: October 4, 2023
• Pages: 178
• Original Price: INR 795.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 340 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): N/A

The recent academic focus on popular culture has prompted extensive research into terms like ‘popular’ and ‘mainstream’. Essays on the Popular in Culture delves into multiple themes, exploring the profound impact of popular culture on individuals and society at large. The book goes beyond perceiving pop culture as a mere source of entertainment and acknowledges its potential to influence people and enforce ideas from any ideological standpoint. By recognizing the existence of various forms of marginalization, the book uncovers the hidden strategies originating from diverse socio-political perspectives that directly impact the lives of the masses. On the one hand, the state endeavors to impose its ideology on popular creative outlets and channels, while on the other, dissenting voices attempt to harness these same forms of expression. By examining various such forms, ranging from the Western canon and folk culture to superheroes and science fiction, the book carefully theorizes how they become implicit components within the overarching dominant ideological framework. Through its comprehensive exploration and thoughtful analysis, readers will gain valuable insights into the intricate relationship between popular culture and the ideological forces that shape our world.

• Acknowledgements
• Preface
• 1. Culture, Canon and History
• 2. Popular Literature
• 3. The Art of Popular Cinema: Text, Context and Subtext
• 4. The Godfather Syndrome and Mainstream Movies from Mumbai
• 5. Folk to Film: The Case of Ketan Mehta’s Bhavni Bhavai
• 6. The Shakespeare Phenomenon
• 7. Reinventing the Figure of Sita
• From Ramayan to Sita’s Ramayana
• 8. Brief Background to the Nature-Culture Conflict
• 9. The Batman Question
• 10. The Hero as Ideal in Bengali Detective Fiction
• 11. Science Fiction and the Vision of Arthur C. Clarke
• 12. Discovering Dystopia through Speculative Fiction
• 13. Manipulating Motivation
• The Self in Need of Help
• 14. Travelling Online: Travelogues and the Sphere of Blogs
• A Personal Essay
• 15. Popular Literature and the Pandemics of the Past
• Works Cited
• Index