Even though knowledge about identity, sociocultural diversity, and popular media culture in society and academia has increased, many students, scholars, and engaged citizens are seeking out information and academic insights to being better equipped to talk and think about these themes. For instance, some may have a basic understanding of what ‘woke’ means but lack a historical awareness of the transformation of the term. Similarly, some may desire to understand why some television programs have been argued to be ‘heteronormative’ or ‘ableist.’ The aim of this book is to provide readers with comprehensible, tangible, and nuanced explanations about the way popular media culture has dealt with sociocultural diversity in Western societies. To do so, this book’s approach is threefold. First, starting from the belief that historical insights are essential to better grasp contemporary debates and practices vis-à-vis sociocultural diversity and popular media culture, the book provides insight into a selection of historical contexts and milestones. The historical sections will pay attention to changes in media representations of certain minority groups and to the way research into sociocultural diversity in media and popular culture developed. Second, the book explores a selection of key theoretical concepts, developed by scholars from communication sciences, media and cultural studies, and social theory, which help better understand the diverse ways sociocultural diversity has been engaged with in popular media culture, particularly in relation to aspects of production and representation. Third, the book offers reflections on contemporary trends, transformations, and challenges.

Even though knowledge about identity, sociocultural diversity, and popular media culture in society and academia has increased, many students, scholars, and engaged citizens are seeking out information and academic insights to being better equipped to talk and think about these themes. For instance, some may have a basic understanding of what ‘woke’ means but lack a historical awareness of the transformation of the term. Similarly, some may desire to understand why some television programs have been argued to be ‘heteronormative’ or ‘ableist.’ The aim of this book is to provide readers with comprehensible, tangible, and nuanced explanations about the way popular media culture has dealt with sociocultural diversity in Western societies. To do so, this book’s approach is threefold. First, starting from the belief that historical insights are essential to better grasp contemporary debates and practices vis-à-vis sociocultural diversity and popular media culture, the book provides insight into a selection of historical contexts and milestones. The historical sections will pay attention to changes in media representations of certain minority groups and to the way research into sociocultural diversity in media and popular culture developed. Second, the book explores a selection of key theoretical concepts, developed by scholars from communication sciences, media and cultural studies, and social theory, which help better understand the diverse ways sociocultural diversity has been engaged with in popular media culture, particularly in relation to aspects of production and representation. Third, the book offers reflections on contemporary trends, transformations, and challenges.