Major Reward and Recognition Events: Transformations and Critical Perspectives

Using a range of interdisciplinary ideas, Major Reward and Recognition Events: Transformations and Critical Perspectives is an expert-led, informative volume exploring the global growth of major award shows and prize-giving ceremonies since the start of the twentieth century and outlining their key multimodal components, core functions and transformations over time.

Given the growth of these events, and therefore the increase in complex resources and specialist workers required to assemble and promote them, this book discusses concerns relating to such events, including those pertaining to social justice and representation, environmental impacts, wellbeing, commercialisation, and materialistic excess. Embellished with illustrative tables and images throughout, the book covers a plethora of award shows and ceremonies, evaluating their collective future in an increasingly politically unstable, post-Covid-19 world dealing with growing global environmental change.

This significant book is an invaluable resource for academics and researchers of critical event studies, communication, and media studies, as well as related social science disciplines. The book will also be of interest to enthusiasts and organisers of major recognition and reward events.

This book won a Special Award in the 31st International Gourmand Awards in 2025.

Lukasz Swiatek lectures in the School of the Arts and Media at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. He has taught a range of postgraduate and undergraduate courses (both junior and senior) in media studies, communication, and international and global studies across universities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. He mainly undertakes research in communication and media studies, higher education, and cultural studies.