The Myth of Popular Culture: from Dante to Dylan

The Myth of Popular Culture from Dante to Dylan is a fascinating examination of the cultural traditions of the American novel, Hollywood, and British and American rock music which leads us to redefine our concept of the division between "high" and "low" culture.

• A stimulating history of high and low culture from Dante Alighieri to Bob Dylan, providing a controversial defence of popular culture
• Seeks to rebut the durable belief that only high culture is ‘dialectical’ and popular culture is not by turning Theodor Adorno’s theories on ‘pop’ against themselves
• Presents a critical analysis of three popular traditions: the American novel, Hollywood, and British and American rock music
• Offers an original account of Bob Dylan as an example of how the   distinction between high and low culture is highly problematic
• A provocative book for any student, scholar or general reader, who is interested in popular culture

Content:
Chapter 1 A History of High and Low (pages 1–52):
Chapter 2 Pop Culture in the Spectator (pages 53–67):
Chapter 3 Pop and Postmodernism (pages 68–74):
Chapter 4 The Death of Kings: American Fiction from Cooper to Chandler (pages 75–99):
Chapter 5 Knock on Any Door: Three Histories of Hollywood (pages 100–128):
Chapter 6 The Blues Misreading of Gospel: A History of Rock and Roll (pages 129–149):
Chapter 7 Dylan and the Critics (pages 151–162):
Chapter 8 Words and Music (pages 163–169):
Chapter 9 Dylan Himself (pages 170–175):
Chapter 10 The Three Icons: Sinatra, Presley, Dylan (pages 176–181):