... The goal of [the] text remains the traditional one of helping students become strong writers of argument and analysis, [but their] method departs from convention by using printed texts to guide students in the analysis and interpretation of an unwritten world: the world of American popular culture, wherein images, often electronically conveyed, can be more important than words. The 75 readings in this book address a broad cross-section of contemporary American popular culture. [The authors] havechosen popular culture as [their] field because [they] believe that students think and write best when they are in command of their subject matter. [This text] is thus designed to let students take advantage of their expertise in the culture around them, allowing them to build on their strengths as they sharpen their ability to write cogent analyses, insightful interpretations, and persuasive arguments. [The book] is divided into two broad sections - images and issues ... -Pref. to instructors.