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Our shared collection with BCcampus breaks down resources by subject area. You can also filter by ancillaries, accessibility criteria, review or adoption status, as you search for the best fit in your courses. We’re always here to help if you’re not sure where to start.
You can also browse a growing collection of Made-in-Manitoba resources by visiting our PressbooksEDU catalogue.
Understanding Media and Culture by Jack Lule, Lehigh University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Understanding Media and Culture
Description: This book’s title tells its intent. It is written to help you understand media and culture. The media and culture are so much a part of our days that sometimes it is difficult to step back and appreciate and apprehend their great impact on our lives. The book’s title, and the book itself, begin with a focus squarely on media. Think of your typical day. If you are like many people, you wake to a digital alarm clock or perhaps your cell phone. Soon after waking, you likely have a routine that involves some media. Some people immediately check the cell phone for text messages. Others will turn on the computer and check Facebook, email, or websites. Some people read the newspaper. Others listen to music on an iPod or CD. Some people will turn on the television and watch a weather channel, cable news, or Sports Center. Heading to work or class, you may chat on a cell phone or listen to music. Your classes likely employ various types of media from course management software to PowerPoint presentations to DVDs to YouTube. You may return home and relax with video games, television, movies, more Facebook, or music. You connect with friends on campus and beyond with text messages or Facebook. And your day may end as you fall asleep to digital music. Media for most of us are entwined with almost every aspect of life and work. Understanding media will not only help you appreciate the role of media in your life but also help you be a more informed citizen, a more savvy consumer, and a more successful worker. Media influence all those aspects of life as well.
Posted: June 23, 2014 | Updated: May 9, 2019
Author: Jack Lule, Lehigh University
Subject Areas
Communication/Writing, Media
Original source
http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Understanding Media and Culture.pdf
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Reviews (4)
Avg:
Institution:Simon Fraser UniversityTitle/Position: Teaching Assistant/Sessional Lecturer
Q: The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and/or glossary
At over 700 pages, this introductory reader is not wanting for more material. If anything, the text is too detailed and runs the risk of cataloguing too many micro-changes in media and culture while missing the way these trends work at a more theoretical level. But then again, it is an introductory text. Arguably students will come to a course like this with a good deal of sophistication about media use--so the text could do a better job of leveraging the preexisting knowledge base and technology use to raise more compelling arguments.
There is, in the PDF version, no effective glossary, index, or table of contents. This emerges throughout one's use of the book as the text's greatest weakness, one that is easily rectified with simple edits. Given the amount of vocabulary dished up, a glossary would be an asset to the text, which is thorough and detailed, but not easily navigable for quick study or for drawing upon anecdotes for a lecture. Similarly, bolding the technical vocabulary and keywords would help make the text more readable, easier to follow, and a better resource for students across a variety of academic levels.
I am particularly pleased to see a section dedicated to media literacy, an all too important part of critical media studies. While I think more page space could be given to the topic--which would probably have benefited from more actual media (images, charts, etc.) -- it is still a most welcome addition to this text.
Comprehensiveness Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased
The content is mostly accurate, though issues around a heavy reliance web links and technology mean that references may quickly fall out of date. I did note a few dead web links throughout.
Content Accuracy Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: Content is up-to-date, but not in a way that will quickly make the text obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and/or arranged in such a way that necessary updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement
The content is very current, drawing heavily upon web resources as recently as 2013. While today's students may find the introductory reference to the T-Mobile Sidekick humorous, the author does a good job of not hanging arguments on particular technologies. It would be tempting to write at length about the iPhone for instance, but instead the author speaks about media as increasingly mobile and the role smartphones like the iPhone play in that process.
Still, there are many web links here--a few that lead no where, and plenty more that are still active. Given the rapid rate of change online, this all seems incredibly lucky, and instructors may have to buttress the examples in the book with modern examples when links do not lead to their intended destinations.
Relevance Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used
The text could be clearer. The prose at time meanders. Case studies are picked up and dropped somewhat erratically. While the author seems truly enamoured with the field, the writing is at times very long-winded and dispassionate. Real opportunities to engage students in a topic they are already invested in are lost as the book bogs through films, music, technology, and a broad mix of social science theory.
One look at a page of the text and you will feel an opportunity lost: how is it we're talking about media and culture and our pages, are long, text-heavy narratives? Images are scant and could be more strategically applied, and long sections of text dominate. In those chunks of material, it can be hard to find the real gem and key facts. I'm skeptical of a student wading through 750 pages sequentially like a novel.
Clarity Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework
I don't find a clear sense of how terminology will be used or defined and certainly no framework. While there are objectives at the outset of a chapter, the lack of a table of contents, glossary, and index makes these framework less obvious.
Consistency Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (i.e., enormous blocks of text without subheadings should be avoided). The text should not be overly self-referential, and should be easily reorganized and realigned with various subunits of a course without presenting much disruption to the reader.
This is the biggest weakness of the text. With no table of contents, no index, and no glossary, it is very hard to find and parse out smaller chunks of material. As well, since the text is not-well formatted, instructors will need to sift through large text blocks to find the material they need
Modularity Rating: 2 out of 5
Q: The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion
If you stay with the book and read it linearly, the organization does make sense--but as some parts of the book run the risk of becoming outdated before others, that linear logic of the text will undoubtedly be challenged.
Organization Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader
There is no interface to comment on, specifically, as the text is only available in PDF/DOC. I would like to see a web version as it has great potential to draw upon web technology to both keep the data up-to-date, reinforce a clear organizational structure, and develop an interface that supports modularity.
Interface Rating: 1 out of 5
Q: The text contains no grammatical errors
I did spot a few grammar issues throughout the text, but none are major and are easily fixed. Still, a bit surprising to see any grammatical errors, but given the enormity of the text, a few issues with spacing, commas, and spelling are understandable.
Grammar Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It should make use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds
The text is not insensitive or offensive.
Cultural Relevance Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Are there any other comments you would like to make about this book, for example, its appropriateness in a Canadian context or specific updates you think need to be made?
Institution:Royal Roads UniversityTitle/Position: Associate Faculty - Communications and Culture
Q: The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and/or glossary
The text does an excellent job of covering the areas and ideas relating to media and culture within the United States of America up to 2010.
Comprehensiveness Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased
Content is accurate up to the time frame of about year 2010. Given that new media and digital technology are rapidly changing as I write, there may be a need to refresh relevant content. That said, I still found considerable value in the content.
I prepared a list of minor grammatical errors which I found throughout the text. I will provide this list in a separate document to my contact at Campus BC.
Content Accuracy Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: Content is up-to-date, but not in a way that will quickly make the text obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and/or arranged in such a way that necessary updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement
As mentioned, content is relevant but not completely up-to-date.
The text is written in such a way where updates could be easily introduced by an instructor.
Relevance Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used
I enjoyed reading this text and learned good information that I may use in my own class on Writing for Business and Government. There were explanations about jargon and technical terms common to the media industry and thorough sitings to support information presented.
Clarity Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework
Yes, I found the text to be consistent with regards to terminology and framework. I could bounce around the text, learn new and different things, and return to a chronological read-through without losing understanding or feeling confused about terms and framing of information.
Consistency Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (i.e., enormous blocks of text without subheadings should be avoided). The text should not be overly self-referential, and should be easily reorganized and realigned with various subunits of a course without presenting much disruption to the reader.
The text is very well thought-out and the information is presented in clear, relevant, understandable sections. It would be quite easy for an instructor to refer to certain sections throughout the text in any order without creating disruption for the reader.
Modularity Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion
Yes, topics are presented in a logical and clear manner.
Organization Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader
Yes, the text is visually pleasing, flows effectively without distraction or confusion.
Interface Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text contains no grammatical errors
I did find a number of grammatical errors which I will provide in a separate document to my contact at Campus BC.
Grammar Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It should make use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds
The text is deeply focused almost entirely on American media and culture. There are references and acknowledgments of European media and culture, primarily around the invention of certain media methods like the printing press, the newspaper, book publishing, and magazines. However, I would say more than 90% of content is primarily devoted to American media and culture.
That said, the text is still relevant to Canadian students because we consume a considerable amount of American media and are impacted by American culture as a result. There are sections, however, that are less relevant, such as the history of newspapers, radio, and television, which are devoted to US produced media only.
Cultural Relevance Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: Are there any other comments you would like to make about this book, for example, its appropriateness in a Canadian context or specific updates you think need to be made?
I really enjoyed reading this text, as American as it most certainly may be, because the content was compelling and very informative. The writer has put media and culture into perspective in a logical and appealing way. It is thoughtful, relevant, stimulating, and loaded with good information about how media is changing people, culture, as well as business and government. I will most definitely use sections in my upcoming writing class.
My greatest issue, however, was the deep American references to war, violence, politics, economics, history and celebrity. As accurate as this text may be, it is not relevant to Canadian media and culture no matter how massive the US media and culture market. There is no doubt Canadians consume American media, but it does not define Canadians. For that reason, the text has limitations for Canadian learners and educators.
Institution:Mohawk College Title/Position: Professor
Q: The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and/or glossary
The text does cover all areas well, however there is no index or glossary. I wasn't sure how the textbook was structured, because of the lack of index at the beginning. (I even went back to check after reading the first 50 pages.)
Subject-wise, it is good that information about media literacy is in the first chapter. This is critical for students' to understand before dissecting each medium. I organize my class on this subject in a very similar fashion - tackling each medium in a module. This is even more comprehensive, although it does make the book quite long. It covers the history of each medium in extensive detail. This would be an effective way to compensate for the fact
Comprehensiveness Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased
The publication is very U.S.-focused. This does lead to a bit of bias, but as a whole it is not too much of a detractor. It is difficult though, as some of the information might not have a place in a Canadian classroom. (The information on free speech, for example, is not applicable in Canada.)
Content Accuracy Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Content is up-to-date, but not in a way that will quickly make the text obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and/or arranged in such a way that necessary updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement
This is where I think the book has some significant issues. if you're looking at the book for the history of each medium (i.e. newspapers, music, radio, television, etc.) it does an excellent job. It's more thorough than I've ever been able to be in a lecture.
However, much of the "current" information is already outdated. For example, it talks about websites and social media sites that no longer exist, television shows that are no longer popular, etc., for every medium. While that's fine from an historical point of view, I think it would make updating the book extremely difficult. I found a number of areas that I flagged that were already outdated. For example, it mentions that an employer might view your Flick'r photo album when searching for a job (Chapter 11). But Flick'r is a photo sharing site that is hardly used anymore in 2017/2018. Or the story of subservient chicken in Chapter 12 - again, this is an advertising campaign that was out of use for a long time, and Burger King is actually trying to revive. In another year, it might be forgotten again.
This information isn't easy to update, and I fear it may make the text obsolete. The information is scattered in may places throughout the text (in introductions to each chapter, for example), and there's no easy way to update it, that I can see. I already felt it might be too obsolete to use in my class in the fall of 2018. I like the history aspect of it, but anything "current" already feels dated.
Relevance Rating: 2 out of 5
Q: The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used
I think the writing style is excellent. Very friendly and accommodating, and is free from jargon. It explains complex media theories quite simply, which I do think makes it relevant for a college audience. I found it to be an engaging read, and quite thorough.
Clarity Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework
I agree with this. I think it's quite consistent, and this may stem from the very accessible writing.
Consistency Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (i.e., enormous blocks of text without subheadings should be avoided). The text should not be overly self-referential, and should be easily reorganized and realigned with various subunits of a course without presenting much disruption to the reader.
It is very easily divisible, but visually and practically, it's not. (if that makes sense.) While the text is broken into quite comprehensive subheads, there's no visual distinction between the subheads. Some of the subheads are even at the bottom of the page - this can be quite jarring. If I assign a certain chapter and section, for example, the student may miss it because the section heading is the last line on the page. This goes along with not having an index. I think not having an index is problematic and makes it difficult for the reader to jump to the required section.
As far as the text is concerned, it is not too self-referential. I think if the layout/design problems were rectified, you could reorganize it as needed for use in a class.
Modularity Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion
I think the structure is fantastic. It makes a lot of sense to begin with the discussion of media and culture, and then move to each medium, and then finish with some of the other major issues (economics, government, etc.). This makes it very easy to follow.
Organization Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader
The images are all fine. I do see navigation problems, however (at least in the PDF version). Again, the lack of index is problematic. I had to scroll through the entire 761 page PDF to see the topic of each chapter.
Interface Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: The text contains no grammatical errors
I did not find any errors, although I wasn't proofreading the text.
Grammar Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It should make use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds
I did not find any insensitive or offensive language.
Cultural Relevance Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Are there any other comments you would like to make about this book, for example, its appropriateness in a Canadian context or specific updates you think need to be made?
I would like to recommend this book for its thorough information on the history of media and culture. However, because of the issues of the book being outdated quickly, I don't think I can comfortably recommend this book in all cases.
Institution:Capilano UniversityTitle/Position: Regular full time faculty
Q: The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and/or glossary
The book is a comprehensive account of the subject matter, but perhaps a major shortcoming is the absence of a table of contents as well as subject and author indices.
I've indicated previously that this textbook is suitable for first-year students as it gives a thorough overview of the subject matter and builds a solid foundation in the field; I believe the whole book is worth 6 credits to be covered over two semesters.
Comprehensiveness Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased
To my judgment, the author has been able to present an unbiased coverage of the subject matter. The author is well-read and has put great effort into compiling this book. S/he has remained true to the sources used/quoted. I can attest the content is accurate and except for a few punctuations slips, which is inevitable in such an expansive book, I would say it is error-free otherwise.
Content Accuracy Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Content is up-to-date, but not in a way that will quickly make the text obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and/or arranged in such a way that necessary updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement
The content serves as a historical account of the subject matter which tracks the development of the subject over time, and as such, I believe it will stand the test of time; however, due to the nature of the subject matter and the rather instantaneous changes in technology, it will require updates to be added in form of attachments or links; this should be an easy endeavor given the digitally accessible nature of this (e)textbook.
Relevance Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used
The text is indeed written in lucid, accessible prose; that's why it would be a great textbook for first-year students. Adequate context is provided for any jargon/technical terminology which might have not been common knowledge.
Clarity Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework
The text is internally consistent; the same framework has been followed in all the 16 chapters, which to some extent might compensate for lack of a table of contents.
Consistency Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (i.e., enormous blocks of text without subheadings should be avoided). The text should not be overly self-referential, and should be easily reorganized and realigned with various subunits of a course without presenting much disruption to the reader.
I think the text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections; chapters 3-12 could be treated as independent units, meaning the instructor could assign these chapters in any order depending on the specific topic under discussion. I think the author has successfully presented an honest and comprehensive picture without being self-referential at all.
Modularity Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion
To my knowledge, the topics and subtopics are presented in a logical (where needed) and clear fashion.
Organization Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader
The text is easy to navigate, images and charts are not distorted, and display features are not distracting or confusing at all; quite the contrary, for an interested reader, the images, charts, and other display features add to the attractiveness and better understanding of the subject matter.
I'm not sure if this is the right place to state this, but I would like to see the paragraphs indented for a finer view.
Interface Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text contains no grammatical errors
The text is almost error-free, except for a few minor mistakes: specifically in a few places there wasn't a space between two adjacent words; given the expanse of the book, I assume those few cases are easily ignorable.
Grammar Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It should make use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds
The text IS reflective of diversity as mentioned above and doesn't include any insensitive or offensive language at all.
Cultural Relevance Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Are there any other comments you would like to make about this book, for example, its appropriateness in a Canadian context or specific updates you think need to be made?
I do recommend the book; it could be worth 6 credits, covered over two subsequent semesters. I enjoyed reading this book; it added a lot to my knowledge.
