Departing from the conventional understanding of neoliberalism as a set of economic and political policies favoring free markets, Neoliberal Culture presents a framework for analyzing neoliberalism in the United States as a culture-or structure of feeling- which shapes American everyday life. The book proposes five 'components' as the keys to any study of American neoliberal culture: biopower, corporatocracy, globalization, the erosion of welfare-state society, and hyperlegality, these five components enabling rich analyses of key artifacts of the neoliberal era, including the Iraq War, Las Vegas, welfare reform, Walmart, and Oprah's Book Club. Carefully organized according to its central themes and adopting a case study approach in order to allow for thorough, illustrated analyses, this book is an important tool for scholars and students of contemporary cultural studies, popular culture, American Studies, and sociology.

About the Author
Patricia Ventura is Associate Professor of English at Spelman College, USA.

Reviews
'This book is not just a trenchant analysis of contemporary neoliberalism; it's also a survival guide. For anyone who cares about the social and the receding promise of what was once called public happiness, Neoliberal Culture is indispensable reading. Ventura helps us to get our minds around how the forces of globalization, privatization, and family values have depoliticized everyday life.' Russ Castronovo, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA '... this book is a valuable addition to others that see the period 1978-2008 as a unique stage of American history and to the analysis of a culture that arises out of techniques of government through freedom.' Cultural Politics



Book Information
ISBN 9781138115613
Author Patricia Ventura
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g