One of a series of reference volumes, each examining a cultural period of a particular nation. Culture is used in a broad sense to encompass all the ways in which a people define themselves, including a wide scope of human communication and expression, from advertising to fine art. Famous individuals are also covered, such as John Cgae, Jackson Pollock, Richard Burton, Mussolini, Lenin and Aretha Franklin. In addition, the text defines the entries and describes and analyzes the influence and significance of each one. For example, an entry on abstract expressionism will not only define the movement, but will also describe what it means to us and what it says about us. Entries range from 50 to 1000 words, with between 500 and 1000 entries appearing in each individual volume.