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The book "Stylistic approaches to pop culture" edited by Christoph Schubert and Valentin Werner explores the relationship between stylistics and various forms of pop culture, offering a diverse range of studies on the subject. The collection covers multiple genres and media, emphasizing how stylistic choices in pop culture artifacts relate to cultural narratives and ideologies. The book is a valuable resource for scholars and students in linguistics, literary studies, media studies, and cultural studies, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of stylistics and its role in critically understanding pop culture. [Extracted from the article]

Swapnil Rai, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has written a book titled "Networked Bollywood: How Star Power Globalized Hindi Cinema." The book explores the history and significance of star-led production companies in the Bollywood industry and their role in globalizing Hindi cinema. Rai argues that Bollywood stars have been instrumental in expanding the reach of Indian cinema beyond Hollywood, influencing regions such as Egypt, the former USSR, and China. She also introduces the concept of "star switching power," which refers to the ability of stars to transcend their networks and create new connections and pathways within the industry. Rai's work challenges Anglocentric perspectives and highlights the importance of stars as change-makers in the global media landscape. Additionally, she examines the use of media by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to construct a celebrity-like political persona, which is a unique phenomenon in Indian politics. Rai is also a member of the SCMS Professional Development Committee, which aims to provide resources and support for film and media studies professionals. [Extracted from the article]

Aria S. Halliday. 2022. Buy Black: How Black Women Transformed US Pop Culture. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book review discusses "Cheap Print and Street Literature of the Long Eighteenth Century," highlighting the impact of cheap print on cultural continuity and change during the 18th century. It emphasizes the role of street literature, such as pamphlets and illustrated prints, in disseminating ideas to a wide readership. The review explores various aspects of street literature, including typography innovations, visual culture, regional variations, and the democratization of literature. It concludes by acknowledging the book's thorough analysis of street literature's influence on 18th-century society and its potential for future research. [Extracted from the article]

Martha Karpozilou's work, "Τα ελληνικά περιοδικά του 19ου αιώνα," published in 2021, delves into the Greek periodical press of the 19th century, filling a significant bibliographical gap. The two-volume set meticulously catalogs various types of journals and magazines, offering a comprehensive overview of this period. Karpozilou's posthumously recognized magnum opus is a valuable resource for scholars interested in the study of the Greek periodical press, showcasing her dedication and expertise in the field. [Extracted from the article]

Reuven Gafni's book, "Le-avret et Sherlok Holmes: Parshiya safrutit ideologit me-tkufat ha-Mandat" (Hebraizing Sherlock Holmes: a literary and ideological affair from the British Mandate period), explores the translation and adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories into Hebrew during the early years of the Yishuv. Gafni highlights the efforts of publishers, translators, and playwrights who worked to bring Sherlock Holmes into the emerging national culture of the Yishuv. The book examines the ideological and commercial aspects of these translations and their impact on Hebrew literary culture. Gafni also includes a bibliography of Hebrew translations of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and previously unpublished translations by Ze'ev Jabotinsky. The book sheds light on the intersection of languages and cultures and the role of translation in shaping national identity. [Extracted from the article]

"Dreams of Flight: The Great Escape in American Film and Culture" by Dana Polan is a comprehensive study of the American adventure film "The Great Escape" directed by John Sturges in 1963. Polan explores the film's development from its source material, Paul Brickhill's book, and analyzes its style, themes, and structure. The book also examines the film's enduring reputation in popular culture and its influence on subsequent texts and films. Polan's study provides a deep analysis of the film and its cultural significance, highlighting its resonance in the 1960s and beyond. [Extracted from the article]

"Dance in US Popular Culture," edited by Jennifer Atkins, is an anthology that explores the themes of pleasure, spectacle, and ritual in popular dance. The book features forty-two case studies that examine the interconnectedness of dance and issues of equity, access, circulation, and flows. The anthology also provides clear definitions and discussions of terms such as spectacle and multiculturalism, and contrasts multiculturalism with polyculturalism. It delves into the complexities of popular dance, including its role in amplifying pleasure, play, and imagination, as well as its potential for exploitation and erasure. The book also examines the historical and cultural contexts of popular dance, including its connections to race and identity. Overall, "Dance in US Popular Culture" offers valuable insights for scholars and students interested in the study of dance. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses two scholarly monographs, "British Muslim Women in the Cultural and Creative Industries" by Saskia Warren and "Muslims Making British Media: Popular Culture, Performance and Public Religion" by Carl Morris, which focus on the experiences of Muslim creatives in the UK. The authors examine the conditions for cultural production by Muslim artists and explore the challenges they face in the art industry. They also highlight the changing visibility of Muslims in British media and the role of institutions like the BBC and Channel 4 in promoting diversity. Despite the socio-economic marginalization of some Muslim communities, there is significant economic development and a growing Muslim population that relates to Islam favorably. The studies provide valuable insights into the experiences of Muslim creatives and the need for recognition and inclusion in the art industry. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides summaries of three books that offer Marxist perspectives on various aspects of capitalism. "Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism" analyzes the AI industry and its capitalist origins, while also critiquing different Marxist positions on AI. The book is praised for its insights but criticized for lacking a single core narrative. "Fetishism and the Theory of Value" explores Marx's theory of value and fetishism, arguing that these concepts are crucial for understanding capitalism today. The book examines the origins of fetishism and its application to the analysis of capitalism, while also offering a critique of Marx's work. "The End of Sovereignty" argues that representative capitalist democracy is a facade that conceals power and exploitation. The book emphasizes the importance of examining civil society and discusses the concept of the commons and the role of the multitude in revolution. However, it is noted that the book overlooks disparities between nations and does not provide specific solutions for resistance. Overall, these books provide valuable perspectives on AI, capitalism, and sovereignty from a Marxist standpoint. [Extracted from the article]

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"Bob Dylan in the Attic: The Artist as Historian" by Freddy Cristòbal Domínguez is a book that explores Bob Dylan's relationship with history and how he incorporates it into his work. The author argues that studying Dylan's formative historical experiences and his perceived historical elements in his work can help us better understand modern historical culture. The book is organized thematically and covers topics such as Dylan's influences, his methods of re-creating the past, his relation to myth, and his authorial persona. While the book offers a breadth of insights and research, it also has some weaknesses, including a lack of in-depth analysis and scattered errors. Overall, the book provides a unique perspective on Dylan's historiography and may inspire further research in the field. [Extracted from the article]

"Interwar London After Dark in British Popular Culture" by Mara Arts explores the control and representation of the night-time city in interwar London through newspapers and films. The book argues that technological advances made the night more accessible, leading to concerns about the destabilization of British society. Newspapers and films portrayed the night as sinister and unruly, contrasting it with the daytime's labor and responsibility. The book examines the portrayal of women on the night-time streets, the role of the Metropolitan Police, suburbs and public transport at night, and the reflection of newspapers and films in each other. The book also includes a comprehensive catalog of interwar films and newspaper articles. [Extracted from the article]

"Chicano-Chicana Americana: Pop Culture Pluralism Starring Anthony Quinn, Katy Jurado, Robert Beltran, and Lupe Ontiveros" by Anthony Macías is a book that examines the work of Chicanx actors in American film, television, and theatre from the 1930s to the early twenty-first century. The author argues that these actors played a significant role in reimagining Americana and creating a multicultural common culture. The book focuses on the biographies of Anthony Quinn, Katy Jurado, Robert Beltran, and Lupe Ontiveros, exploring their representation of Latinx identity on screen and their portrayal of characters from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. While the book provides interesting insights into the history of Latinx actors, some of the author's analysis and critique of certain roles may be subject to debate. Overall, "Chicano-Chicana Americana" contributes to the field of Latinx cultural history and can be a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in this topic. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "Culture-Bound Syndromes in Popular Culture," explores how popular culture influences the emergence of culture-bound syndromes. The book provides case studies of traditional practices related to folk illnesses and examines various depictions in different forms of media. It focuses on the authenticity of non-Western regions and recognizes the impact of Western influences, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding the interplay of colonization, religion, and indigenous culture. The article discusses specific examples of culture-bound syndromes in different regions, highlighting the influence of gender, colonial legacies, and local cultural traits. It also explores the impact of digitalization on cultural syndromes and the global prevalence of digital culture-bound syndromes accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the article does not cover all existing cultural syndromes, it serves as a valuable starting point for research on how global and regional popular cultures interpret these syndromes. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information on Shakespeare's narrative strategy of "in medias res" and its application in Hamlet. Topics include the use of this technique in scene construction to create dramatic tension, such as the opening line with Hamlet's question, and its recurrence throughout the play. The author explores instances where the audience is inserted into the middle of ongoing events, emphasizing Act III, scene 1, and Act III, scene 3, as examples.

Review of: Legacies of the Portuguese Colonial Empire: Nationalism, Citizenship and Popular Culture, Elsa Peralta and Nuno Domingos (eds) (2023) London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 288 pp., ISBN 978-1-35028-977-2, h/bk, £85 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]