Popular Culture, Geopolitics, and Identity

This innovative and engaging textbook is the first to survey the field of popular geopolitics, exploring the relationship between popular culture and international relations from a geographical perspective. Jason Dittmer connects global issues with the questions of identity and subjectivity that we feel as individuals, arguing that who we think we are influences how we understand the world. Each chapter focuses on a specific theme—such as representation, narrative, and affect—by explaining the concept and then considering some of the key debates that have revolved around it. Finally, each chapter illustrates its concept with a concrete case study, including first-person shooter video games, blogging, and comic books. Students will enjoy the text's accessibility and colorful examples, and instructors will appreciate the way the book brings together a diverse, multidisciplinary literature and makes it understandable and relevant.