Gambling

Popular culture-the common set of entertainment, arts, and customs shared by large segments of the population-both reflects and influences society's values and beliefs. Popular music, fashions, movies, and other entertainment often encapsulate the attitudes of the mass culture. At the same time, they provide a powerful forum for the transmission of new ideas and passionate beliefs about social issues. Studying the evolution of pop culture thus allows students to better understand the social forces that have shaped-and continue to shape-America's social and political landscape. Greenhaven Press's Examining Pop Culture series provides students with the resources to begin exploring the complex role of pop culture as the expresser and shaper of cultural values and social institutions. Each volume in the series begins with an introductory essay and the selections that follow offer a survey of critical thought about the subject. Because what is "popular" changes from year to year and even month to month, essays are intended to introduce readers to the major themes and issues associated with each topic. Each book contains a comprehensive index to help readers quickly locate material of interest and each volume has an annotated bibliography to provide avenues for further research. Book jacket.