'To say that the scope of the book's coverage is wide-ranging would be an under-statement. Few texts come to mind that have attempted such a thorough overview of the central tenets of cultural studies' - Stuart Allan, University of West of England This is a book for anyone who wants an unfussy, authoritative critical introduction to Cultural Studies. It equips you with all that you need to know about theories of cultural studies: what they say, how they differ from one another and what are the strengths and weaknesses of each position. It provides biographical information on major theorists plus assessments of key texts. Unlike other competing books in the field, Cultural Studies - The Basics demonstrates what a Cultural Studies approach can do to illuminate basic areas of contemporary culture. Included are chapters on: - Feminism - The Body - Cultural Space - Communications Technology - Cultural Policy - Language and Culture. The book is designed to be used and read by students who face the pressures of essay dead-lines, examinations and dissertations. Above all it approaches Cultural Studies as something that needs to be used as well as studied.