Core Cultural Theorists series – serie

Cultural theory has found a renewed interest in psychoanalysis, bringing many new readers to Freud and his work. This book is an introductory guide to Freud and brings together for the first time:an overview of Freud's work which enables the reader to see quickly where, and in which texts, Freud develops his main ideasa guide to reading Freud, and to what can be done with the complexities of his textsan examination of what recent cultural theory draws from Freud, and of why psychoanalysis is of interest for ita discussion about the Freud revealed by recent cultural theoryan extensive selection of extracts from Freud's texts, with commentary.

This book is the definitive guide to the content of Freud's texts: what's there and where to find it. It will have wide appeal to students new to Freud in cultural studies, literary theory, philosophy and sociology.

'In quite a profound, high-modernist way, this succinct but comprehensive book deems its subject worthy of careful scholarly analysis. I applaud and recommend it for taking much of the nonsense out of McLuhan' - Topia Journal

'Feted and reviled in his own lifetime, Marshall McLuhan has made a dramatic comeback in recent years. Marchessault gives a balanced and carefully considered appraisal of McLuhan's contribution to cultural theory, which may be even more pertinent now, in the early twenty-first century, than when he originally formulated it in the 1950s and '60s'

Jim McGuigan, Professor of Cultural Analysis, Loughborough University

Why is McLuhan important? What use can we make of his approach to the media today? In this insightful critical introduction, McLuhan's contribution is carefully explained and his reputation reassessed. The book:

· Explains McLuhan's key ideas

· Engages with critical issues in media and contemporary art

· Demonstrates the relevance of his work for students

of media and communications

· Addresses his methodological contribution

· Revises our understanding of his place in the history of ideas.

Illustrated with many examples from the network society, the book works as a guide to anyone who wants to know why McLuhan is important.

'In quite a profound, high-modernist way, this succinct but comprehensive book deems its subject worthy of careful scholarly analysis. I applaud and recommend it for taking much of the nonsense out of McLuhan' - Topia Journal

'Feted and reviled in his own lifetime, Marshall McLuhan has made a dramatic comeback in recent years. Marchessault gives a balanced and carefully considered appraisal of McLuhan's contribution to cultural theory, which may be even more pertinent now, in the early twenty-first century, than when he originally formulated it in the 1950s and '60s'

Jim McGuigan, Professor of Cultural Analysis, Loughborough University

Why is McLuhan important? What use can we make of his approach to the media today? In this insightful critical introduction, McLuhan's contribution is carefully explained and his reputation reassessed. The book:

· Explains McLuhan's key ideas

· Engages with critical issues in media and contemporary art

· Demonstrates the relevance of his work for students

of media and communications

· Addresses his methodological contribution

· Revises our understanding of his place in the history of ideas.

Illustrated with many examples from the network society, the book works as a guide to anyone who wants to know why McLuhan is important.

This book goes beyond Baudrillard's writings on consumer objects, the Gulf War and America, to identify the fundamental logic that underpins his writings. It does this through a series of close readings of his main texts, paying particular attention to the form and internal coherence of his arguments. The book is written for all those who want a general introduction to Baudrillard's work, and will also appeal to those readers who are interested in social theory, but who have not yet taken Baudrillard seriously.

Long recognized in France as a central figure in French cultural thought, the range and significance of Batille's ideas are now being grasped in the English speaking world. His influence on Derrida, Foucault, Kristeva and Baudrillard is now more clearly understood and Bataille has emerged as a front-rank cultural theorist who posed questions and paradoxes that were extraordinarily prescient.

This book offers a comprehensive and detailed presentation and analysis of the full range of his writings - political, philosophical, aesthetic, literary, anthropological and cultural. And tackles his thoughts on waste, sacrifice, death, eroticism, surplus, ecstasy and drunkenness, offering the best available guide to this challenging and utterly unique thinker.

Cultural theory has found a renewed interest in psychoanalysis, bringing many new readers to Freud and his work. This book is an introductory guide to Freud and brings together for the first time:an overview of Freud's work which enables the reader to see quickly where, and in which texts, Freud develops his main ideasa guide to reading Freud, and to what can be done with the complexities of his textsan examination of what recent cultural theory draws from Freud, and of why psychoanalysis is of interest for ita discussion about the Freud revealed by recent cultural theoryan extensive selection of extracts from Freud's texts, with commentary.

This book is the definitive guide to the content of Freud's texts: what's there and where to find it. It will have wide appeal to students new to Freud in cultural studies, literary theory, philosophy and sociology.