Understanding Society through Popular Music

The purpose of this book is to use music as a tool to help students understand the structure and process of social life.  Sociologically, music is important because it simultaneously contains and reflects a people's language, values, feelings, concerns, and goals.  The material in this innovative, compact supplement is current and relevant to the musical experiences of today's college and university students and includes a companion web site that features an instructor's guide, test bank, discussion questions, and links to relevant internet sites.  To make the book easy to use in introductory sociology courses, it is structured along lines parallel to the way most instructors teach the course. 

Joseph A. Kotarba is Professor of Sociology at the University of Houston and is author of several books including a forthcoming work on baby boomers and rock and roll fans. His musical tastes range from Henry Purcell to Van Morrison.

Phillip Vannini is Assistant Professor in the School of Communication and Culture at Royal Roads University.  He is editor of Body/Embodiment and Material Culture and Technology in Everyday Life. His musical faith rests in the power of progressive hardcore and in the soothing melody of space and symphony rock.