Hugh Mackay - Böcker

This lively and engaging text introduces students to the major debates and data on the information society, and at the same time teaches them how to research it. It gives an overview of:* theorists of the information society, particularly Manuel Castells and Daniel Bell* social research methodologies, including positivist, interpretivist, critical and cultural* qualitative and quantitative research methods and criteria for social science evaluation.Drawing on a rich body of empirical work, it explores three core themes of information society debates: the transformation of culture through the information revolution, changing patterns of work and employment and the reconfiguration of time and space in everyday life. In exploring these, the reader is introduced through case-studies, activities, and questions for discussion, to the practicalities of doing social research and the nature of social science argument and understanding.

This lively and engaging text introduces students to the major debates and data on the information society, and at the same time teaches them how to research it. It gives an overview of:* theorists of the information society, particularly Manuel Castells and Daniel Bell* social research methodologies, including positivist, interpretivist, critical and cultural* qualitative and quantitative research methods and criteria for social science evaluation.Drawing on a rich body of empirical work, it explores three core themes of information society debates: the transformation of culture through the information revolution, changing patterns of work and employment and the reconfiguration of time and space in everyday life. In exploring these, the reader is introduced through case-studies, activities, and questions for discussion, to the practicalities of doing social research and the nature of social science argument and understanding.

"Understanding Contemporary Wales" provides an engaging and accessible introduction to the politics, culture, society and economy of modern Wales. The first half of the book examines the differences that are found in Wales, while the second half focuses on the connections that have been forged across these differences and that structure Welsh society. Through reflective activities, case studies, further reading and a wide range of documentary sources, the book explores key concepts and debates in the social sciences while providing an up-to-the-minute account of contemporary Wales.

Ever wondered what 'human nature' really means?This new edition of What Makes Us Tick takes us beneath the often overwhelming surface noise of politics, economics, new technology and social change to explore something that hasn't changed: the ten desires that drive us all and, now in a new prologue, the seven characteristics that define us as a species. From our desire to be taken seriously, to be useful and to be loved, to the desire for more, the desire for control and the desire for something to believe in, these universal human motivations powerfully influence our behaviour towards each other. Hugh Mackay goes to the heart of what it means to be human. This is a book that explains us to ourselves and, in the process, helps us understand each other a little better. It also encourages us to lead more generous, compassionate lives.

How can you be sure you're doing the right thing? Can some actions be legally right, yet morally wrong? What are the rights and wrongs of leaving a relationship? Are the rules different for sex? Is it always wrong to tell a lie? Why be good?No one pretends that making moral choices is easy. In this updated edition, which includes a new prologue on the moral minefields of power and wealth, Hugh Mackay argues that because morality is all about the way we treat each other, we make our best decisions - at work, among friends, in the neighbourhood, in a marriage or a family - when we imagine how our actions might affect the wellbeing of others. Our moral choices actually help shape the kind of society we live in, for better or worse.At a time when many of us are struggling to navigate an ever more complex world, Right & Wrong offers you the essential tools for making confident moral choices, and for deciding what's right for you and for the people around you.

Reviewing key contemporary issues and debates about consumption, this accessible textbook portrays and assesses the varied and complex intersections of consumption and everyday life.

The rich and idiosyncratic nature of local consumption practices is illustrated through cases from different parts of the world. The contributors show the varying balance between constraint and creativity, links between consumption and production, and the patterns which shape access to symbolic and material resources.

`Alertness to the changing terms of debate, familiarity with the latest scholarship and a shrewd, practical sense of what works in teaching make this collection a very worthwhile addition to course reading lists' - John Corner, University of Liverpool

The Media Reader is an essential sourcebook of key statements about transformations in media culture. The Reader explores the technological, economic, social and cultural processes implicated in the production, regulation, circulation and consumption of media forms. It applies theoretical approaches, supported by a range of case studies, to past and present media transformations.

Divided into four parts: Mass Communications and the Modern World; Understanding `Transformations' in Media Culture; New Media for New Times; Future Perfect?, this Reader provides a framework for examining many of the key transformations in the contemporary media environment. It will be an invaluable resource for researchers and students alike.

`Alertness to the changing terms of debate, familiarity with the latest scholarship and a shrewd, practical sense of what works in teaching make this collection a very worthwhile addition to course reading lists' - John Corner, University of Liverpool

The Media Reader is an essential sourcebook of key statements about transformations in media culture. The Reader explores the technological, economic, social and cultural processes implicated in the production, regulation, circulation and consumption of media forms. It applies theoretical approaches, supported by a range of case studies, to past and present media transformations.

Divided into four parts: Mass Communications and the Modern World; Understanding `Transformations' in Media Culture; New Media for New Times; Future Perfect?, this Reader provides a framework for examining many of the key transformations in the contemporary media environment. It will be an invaluable resource for researchers and students alike.

The social, political and technological implications of the information revolution are the focus of this textbook. It explores the major social and technological issues surrounding the introduction of information technology (IT) into everyday life; presents historical and comparative perspectives on the social and technological processes involved in the uses of, control of and access to IT; and critically examines the assumptions underpinning technological development.

Divided into five sections, each with a detailed introduction, the book provides a comprehensive overview of information technology, and its implications for all of us. Contributors place the debates around IT in an international context, illustrating the importance of social values as well as government policy.

Information Technology and Society is a Course Reader for the new Open University Course THD204 Information Technology and Society.

First published in 1992, Technological Literacy and the Curriculum addresses the question ‘what should technological literacy consist of?’. The authors’ view is very different from the narrow, skills-based, technical perspective. They see the cultural and social as central to the technological curriculum, not marginal. The book pushes forward and explores the possibilities of a new, expanded, cultural definition of technological literacy, one that can inform National Curriculum Technology and IT across the school curriculum. The aim is to ‘educationalize’ an educational technology which has hitherto been predominantly concerned with technology rather than with education. In this book, Michael apple argues that we must treat technology as a ‘text’ to be ‘read’. But first we must learn how to ‘read’ technology. This volume is the second in a trilogy, which includes Understanding Technology in Education and Computers in the Classroom.

First published in 1993, Computers into Classrooms critically examines computers and their uses in teaching and learning. It sets out to raise fundamental questions concerning the nature of ‘technological literacy’, a hitherto vague term. The authors set out to provide a series of guidelines for teachers employing, or about to employ, computers in their classrooms. Many of the issues raised have yet to be adequately researched, and teachers are alerted to the dangers and shortcomings of too easy a reliance on these machines. This book is the last in a trilogy, which includes Understanding Technology in Education and Technological Literacy and the Curriculum.

First published in 1991, Understanding Technology in Education examines the role of technology in education, being the first to connect the social nature of technology with the education and training of young people. The book highlights the diverse ways in which technologies are shaped by social forces, rather than existing solely as physical artifacts. It explores the pivotal role of technology in transforming work organization and society at large. Through a series of case studies, the chapters present a wide range of analytical perspectives, spanning economistic, feminist, and cultural viewpoints. This volume serves as the foundation of a trilogy, which also includes Technological Literacy and the Curriculum and Computers into Classrooms.

This companion brings Renaissance drama to life by considering such classic plays as Hamlet, Othello and Dr Faustus from the perspective of contemporary theatre-goers.

Discussions of Shakespeare’s masterpieces are accompanied by examinations of the work of lesser known playwrights and commentators, while chapters on “Madness and Subjectivity”, “Rhetoric and Performance” and “Nation-Building” provide a variety of key critical perspectives.

A distinctive and original analysis of how the politics of the UK and the lives of British citizens have evolved in the first decades of the twenty-first century, this book provides an interdisciplinary critical examination of the roots, ideology and consequences of austerity politics, the Brexit vote and the rise of populist politics in Britain. Bringing together case studies and perspectives from an array of international researchers across the social sciences, it dissects the ways that the UK has become increasingly contested with profound differences of geography, generation, gender, ‘race’ and class, and considers agency as a key concept to understand the links between austerity and Brexit.

A distinctive and original analysis of how the politics of the UK and the lives of British citizens have evolved in the first decades of the twenty-first century, this book provides an interdisciplinary critical examination of the roots, ideology and consequences of austerity politics, the Brexit vote and the rise of populist politics in Britain. Bringing together case studies and perspectives from an array of international researchers across the social sciences, it dissects the ways that the UK has become increasingly contested with profound differences of geography, generation, gender, ‘race’ and class, and considers agency as a key concept to understand the links between austerity and Brexit.

Revolutions never start at the top. If we dare to dream of a more loving country - kinder, more compassionate, more cooperative, more respectful, more inclusive, more egalitarian, more harmonious, less cynical - there's only one way to start turning that dream into a reality: each of us must live as if this is already that country.Following the ravages of 2020's bushfires and pandemic on our mental and emotional health and on the economy, Hugh Mackay reflects on the challenges we faced during that year of upheaval and the questions many of us have asked. What really matters to me? Am I living the kind of life I want? What sort of society do I want us to become?Urging us not to let those questions go, and pointing to our inspiring displays of kindness and consideration, our personal sacrifices for the common good and our heightened appreciation of the value of local neighbourhoods and communities, he asks in turn: 'Could we become renowned as a loving country, rather than simply a "lucky" one?'Absorbing, wise and inspiring, The Kindness Revolution is a distillation of Hugh Mackay's life's work. Written for our times, this truly remarkable book shows how crises and catastrophes often turn out to be the making of us.

Arguably the most famous book in its field... In theoretical terms, the legacy of Doing Cultural Studies confirms that this classic read is not just about the Walkman itself, but represents a series of clear observations about the symbolic meanings of culture. - LSE Review of Books Why think about the Walkman in the 21st century? Can the Walkman help us understand today’s media and cultural practices? Through the notion of the 'circuit of culture', this book teaches students to critically examine what culture means, and how and why it is enmeshed with the media texts and objects in their lives. Students will: Unpack the key concepts of contemporary culture, such as mobility, materiality, consumption and identity Learn to think about some of the cultural conundrums of the present and their relation to the past, such as branding culture Look with fresh eyes at today's media world and the cultural practices it gives rise to Gain practical experience with the historical comparative method Practice their critical skills with up-to-date exercises and activities This book takes students on a journey between past and present, giving them the skills do to cultural analysis along the way. It remains the perfect 'how to' for students in media studies, cultural studies, design and sociology.