Handbook of French Popular Culture

(Hardback)

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Description

Throughout the world, there has been much scholarly and general interest in French popular culture, but very little has been written on the subject in English. The authors of this book address that lack in a series of scrupulously documented essays describing French life styles, attitudes, and entertainments as well as the writers and performers currently favoured by the French public. Several chapters explore French tastes in popular literature and other reading matter, including comics, cartoons, mystery and spy fiction, newspapers and magazines, and science fiction. Film, popular music, radio and television are also discussed in detail, and influences from other cultures - particularly American "imports" - are assessed. The remaining essays examine French sports, the use of leisure time, the French style of eating and drinking, and relations between men and women and their attitudes toward romantic love. Each chapter provides historical and bibliographic information that will enable the reader to pursue subjects of particular interest. Written by an international group of specialists, this handbook offers the benefits of broad coverage, a variety of viewpoints, and solid scholarship.

Reviews

A collection of essays on the following aspects of mass popular (rather than high or elitist) culture in France: advertising; comics; detective/mystery/spy fiction; editorial/political/gag cartoons; film; food and wine; leisure; love, men, and women; newspapers, magazines, feminine press; popular music; radio and television; science fiction; sports. The 13 chapter topics are listed because any group of subjects purporting to describe mass culture is both noncomprehensive and subjective by nature. The essays are good introductions to the topics: all describe both the historical development and current importance of the topic; all have extensive bibliographies, citing mostly works in French; most list research resources, such as specialized bibliographies and research centers. This work would be quite valuable for all general collections, given the paucity of materials in English. Its usefulness as a reference work is diminished, however, both by its lack of comprehensiveness and by the lack of subject entries in the index (nearly all entries are either names of individuals or titles). Recommended for all universities and for larger undergraduate reference departments.-Choice
An ideal starting point for studies of French film, popular music, sports, etc. Recommended for academic libraries and popular culture collections.-Popular Culture in Libraries
"An ideal starting point for studies of French film, popular music, sports, etc. Recommended for academic libraries and popular culture collections."-Popular Culture in Libraries
"A collection of essays on the following aspects of mass popular (rather than high or elitist) culture in France: advertising; comics; detective/mystery/spy fiction; editorial/political/gag cartoons; film; food and wine; leisure; love, men, and women; newspapers, magazines, feminine press; popular music; radio and television; science fiction; sports. The 13 chapter topics are listed because any group of subjects purporting to describe mass culture is both noncomprehensive and subjective by nature. The essays are good introductions to the topics: all describe both the historical development and current importance of the topic; all have extensive bibliographies, citing mostly works in French; most list research resources, such as specialized bibliographies and research centers. This work would be quite valuable for all general collections, given the paucity of materials in English. Its usefulness as a reference work is diminished, however, both by its lack of comprehensiveness and by the lack of subject entries in the index (nearly all entries are either names of individuals or titles). Recommended for all universities and for larger undergraduate reference departments."-Choice

Author Bio

PIERRE L. HORN is Professor of French at Wright State University. He has published studies on Marguerite Yourcenar, Louis XIV, and Lafayette, as well as articles in French and English language journals.