Jennifer Harris – författare

“Excellent essays” on a business empire, a cultural phenomenon, and the nature of the extraordinary bond between Oprah Winfrey and her fans (Journal of Social History).   Oprah Winfrey has built an empire on her ability to connect with and inspire her audience. No longer just a name, “Oprah” has become a brand representing a unique style of self-actualizing individualism. The cultural and economic power wielded by Winfrey merits critical evaluation.   The contributors to The Oprah Phenomenon examine the origins of her public image and its substantial influence on politics, entertainment, and popular opinion. Contributors address praise from her supporters and weigh criticisms from her detractors. Winfrey’s ability to create a feeling of intimacy with her audience has long been cited as a foundation of her popularity. She has made headlines by engaging and informing her audience with respect to her personal relationships to race, gender, feminism, and New Age culture. The Oprah Phenomenon explores these relationships in detail. At the root of Winfrey’s message is her assertion that anyone can be a success regardless of background or upbringing. The contributors scrutinize this message: What does this success entail? Is the motivation behind self-actualization, in fact, merely the hope of replicating Winfrey’s purchasing power? Is it just a prescription to buy the products she recommends and heed the advice of people she admires, or is it a lifestyle change of meaningful spiritual benefit? The Oprah Phenomenon asks these and many other difficult questions to promote a greater understanding of Winfrey’s influence on the American consciousness.   “Identifies the common threads that run through Oprah’s empire, the demographics of her audience, how she brings together women of diverse backgrounds, and her use of empathy and encouragement to foster self-improvement.” ―Library Journal  With a foreword by Robert J. Thompson

Her image is iconic: Oprah Winfrey has built an empire on her ability to connect with and inspire her audience. No longer just a name, "Oprah" has become a brand representing the talk show host''s unique style of self-actualizing individualism. The cultural and economic power wielded by Winfrey merits critical evaluation. The contributors to The Oprah Phenomenon examine the origins of her public image and its substantial influence on politics, entertainment, and popular opinion. Contributors address praise from her many supporters and weigh criticisms from her detractors. Winfrey''s ability to create a feeling of intimacy with her audience has long been cited as one of the foundations of her popularity. She has repeatedly made national headlines by engaging and informing her audience with respect to her personal relationships to race, gender, feminism, and New Age culture. The Oprah Phenomenon explores these relationships in detail. At the root of Winfrey''s message to her vast audience is her assertion that anyone can be a success regardless of background or upbringing. The contributors scrutinize this message: What does this success entail? Is the motivation behind self-actualization, in fact, merely the hope of replicating Winfrey''s purchasing power? Is it just a prescription to buy the products she recommends and heed the advice of people she admires, or is it a lifestyle change of meaningful spiritual benefit? The Oprah Phenomenon asks these and many other difficult questions to promote a greater understanding of Winfrey''s influence on the American consciousness. Elwood Watson, associate professor of history at East Tennessee State University, is the editor of several books, including "There She Is, Miss America": The Politics of Sex, Beauty, and Race in America''s Most Famous Pageant and Searching The Soul of Ally McBeal: Critical Essays.

A lively and innovative collection of new and recent writings on the cultural contexts of textiles

The study of textile culture is a dynamic field of scholarship which spans disciplines and crosses traditional academic boundaries. A Companion to Textile Culture is an expertly curated compendium of new scholarship on both the historical and contemporary cultural dimensions of textiles, bringing together the work of an interdisciplinary team of recognized experts in the field. The Companion provides an expansive examination of textiles within the broader area of visual and material culture, and addresses key issues central to the contemporary study of the subject.

A wide range of methodological and theoretical approaches to the subject are explored—technological, anthropological, philosophical, and psychoanalytical, amongst others—and developments that have influenced academic writing about textiles over the past decade are discussed in detail. Uniquely, the text embraces archaeological textiles from the first millennium AD as well as contemporary art and performance work that is still ongoing. This authoritative volume:

A Companion to Textile Culture is an essential resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students, instructors, and researchers of textile history, contemporary textiles, art and design, visual and material culture, textile crafts, and museology.

A lively and innovative collection of new and recent writings on the cultural contexts of textiles

The study of textile culture is a dynamic field of scholarship which spans disciplines and crosses traditional academic boundaries. A Companion to Textile Culture is an expertly curated compendium of new scholarship on both the historical and contemporary cultural dimensions of textiles, bringing together the work of an interdisciplinary team of recognized experts in the field. The Companion provides an expansive examination of textiles within the broader area of visual and material culture, and addresses key issues central to the contemporary study of the subject.

A wide range of methodological and theoretical approaches to the subject are explored—technological, anthropological, philosophical, and psychoanalytical, amongst others—and developments that have influenced academic writing about textiles over the past decade are discussed in detail. Uniquely, the text embraces archaeological textiles from the first millennium AD as well as contemporary art and performance work that is still ongoing. This authoritative volume:

A Companion to Textile Culture is an essential resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students, instructors, and researchers of textile history, contemporary textiles, art and design, visual and material culture, textile crafts, and museology.

How can the group setting be used to treat those with drug and alcohol problems?

Many professionals working across a variety of addictions settings find themselves working in groups and tackling complex issues; however, there is often very little initial training or on-the-job support to help them in this challenging task. Principles and Practice of Group Work in Addictions has been written with the aim of addressing the key areas in working with drug and alcohol misuse while providing practical solutions to the more common problems that emerge in group work.

Drawing on the expertise of clinicians who work in the field of addictions, this book offers readers practical advice for everyday practice. Divided into three sections it covers:

Principles and Practice of Group Work in Addictions is illustrated throughout with practical case examples, providing the reader with an insight into group work in this area. The book will supply guidance for mental health professionals including clinicians, psychologists, nurses and medical staff who encounter group work in addictions for the first time, as well as providing further knowledge and support to those who already work in the field.

How can the group setting be used to treat those with drug and alcohol problems?

Many professionals working across a variety of addictions settings find themselves working in groups and tackling complex issues; however, there is often very little initial training or on-the-job support to help them in this challenging task. Principles and Practice of Group Work in Addictions has been written with the aim of addressing the key areas in working with drug and alcohol misuse while providing practical solutions to the more common problems that emerge in group work.

Drawing on the expertise of clinicians who work in the field of addictions, this book offers readers practical advice for everyday practice. Divided into three sections it covers:

Principles and Practice of Group Work in Addictions is illustrated throughout with practical case examples, providing the reader with an insight into group work in this area. The book will supply guidance for mental health professionals including clinicians, psychologists, nurses and medical staff who encounter group work in addictions for the first time, as well as providing further knowledge and support to those who already work in the field.

This edited collection brings together keynote articles from the journal Disability & Society to provide a comprehensive and though-provoking exploration of the place of technology in disabled people’s lives, documenting and analysing the growing impact of technology on disability and society over recent decades. The authors explore theoretical, empirical and moral dilemmas that arise with the changing relationship between technological change and the lives, aspirations and possibilities of disabled people. The volume is organised into three parts which consider early foundational work connecting disability and technology; key empirical studies related to the optimum use of technologies for independence and inclusion; and new moral and social dynamics thrown up by technological developments for disabled people’s lives.

This edited collection brings together keynote articles from the journal Disability & Society to provide a comprehensive and though-provoking exploration of the place of technology in disabled people’s lives, documenting and analysing the growing impact of technology on disability and society over recent decades. The authors explore theoretical, empirical and moral dilemmas that arise with the changing relationship between technological change and the lives, aspirations and possibilities of disabled people. The volume is organised into three parts which consider early foundational work connecting disability and technology; key empirical studies related to the optimum use of technologies for independence and inclusion; and new moral and social dynamics thrown up by technological developments for disabled people’s lives.

The book takes a practical approach that challenges professionals to confront key issues in disability studies, policy and practice. The key topics covered are:

o The Historical Legacy, Legislation, Policy and Guidance

o Community Care and Beyond

o Pivotal Moments in the development of disability policy

o Independent Living, Choices and Rights

o Life course Issues

o Valuing Diversity

o Key Challenges for an aspiring social model practitioner

This book is an indispensable resource for all professionals and students working with disabled people.