This book systematically and consistently analyses a wide range of symbols for Europe, critically interpreting their often contradictory or ambiguous dimensions of meaning and uncovering several astonishing aspects of how Europe is currently identified - from above by the political elites as well as from below in critical arts or everyday life; from the inside by European actors but also from the outside by its surrounding others. The focus is on the European Union's main symbols, but they are interpreted in relation to a diverse range of other alternatives, so as to uncover the main facets of Europe as it is currently symbolised.

An ePDF version of this book is available for free download from the OAPEN platform: Signifying Europe.

About the Author

Johan Fornas is professor in the Department of Media and Communication Studies at Soedertoern University in Sweden, director of the Advanced Cultural Studies Institute of Sweden and the editor of Culture Unbound: Journal of Current Cultural Research.

Reviews

'Signifying EUROurope' can appeal to different sets of audiences, ranging from scholars and students to readers less familiar with the topics it explores, due to its rich and accessible content, which skilfully summarises and further develops existing research, while it ruminates about the signifying processes linked to the EU symbols'

-- Maria Kouri * Nordic Journal of Cultural Policy *

'In Signifying Europe, Johan Fornas, professor of Media and Communication Studies at Soedertoern University, Sweden, and author of the 2007 classic Consuming Media: Communication, Shopping and Everyday Life, offers a systematic overview of the symbols used to represent Europe and Europeanness. Since his aim is to reveal the cultural dimensions of European unification, he focuses on EU symbols and how they relate to other European symbols. His well-documented [...] work, is an important contribution to the study of the European Union.'

-- Arno Tausch * The European Legacy *



Book Information
ISBN 9781841505213
Author Johan Fornas
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Intellect Books
Publisher Intellect Books