JOURNAL OF POPULAR CULTURE

Scope & Guideline

Unpacking Cultural Phenomena Since 1967

Introduction

Welcome to the JOURNAL OF POPULAR CULTURE information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of JOURNAL OF POPULAR CULTURE, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0022-3840
PublisherWILEY
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1967 to 2024
AbbreviationJ POP CULT / J. Pop. Cult.
Frequency6 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of Popular Culture serves as a scholarly platform that explores the multifaceted dimensions of popular culture, examining its impact on society, identity, and cultural narratives. The journal emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, drawing from fields such as cultural studies, media studies, sociology, and literary criticism.
  1. Interdisciplinary Analysis of Popular Culture:
    The journal emphasizes the integration of various disciplines to analyze popular culture phenomena, encouraging contributions that draw from sociology, media studies, literature, and cultural theory.
  2. Focus on Representation and Identity:
    A strong emphasis is placed on issues of representation across race, gender, and sexuality, examining how popular culture reflects and shapes societal identities and power dynamics.
  3. Cultural Critique and Historical Contextualization:
    The journal frequently engages in critical examinations of historical contexts surrounding popular culture, analyzing how past events influence contemporary cultural expressions.
  4. Exploration of New Media and Digital Cultures:
    The journal includes discussions around the impact of digital media and technologies on culture, including social media, video games, and streaming services.
  5. Engagement with Global Perspectives:
    There is a consistent focus on global popular culture, exploring how cultural practices and media from different regions interact and contribute to a larger global discourse.
The Journal of Popular Culture is witnessing the rise of several new and trending themes that reflect the evolving landscape of cultural studies. These emerging areas indicate a shift in scholarly focus and societal relevance.
  1. Digital Culture and Social Media Impact:
    There is a notable increase in research exploring the influence of social media and digital platforms on cultural production and identity formation, reflecting the contemporary media landscape.
  2. Intersectional Analyses of Identity:
    Emerging themes increasingly emphasize intersectionality, examining how overlapping identities (race, gender, sexuality) shape experiences and representations in popular culture.
  3. Activism and Social Justice in Media:
    Papers focusing on the role of popular culture in social justice movements and activism are gaining traction, highlighting how media can influence societal change.
  4. Transmedia Narratives and Content Creation:
    The rise of transmedia storytelling is a significant trend, with scholarly work exploring how narratives extend across various media platforms and engage audiences in innovative ways.
  5. Globalization and Cultural Exchange:
    A growing interest in the globalization of popular culture is evident, with research exploring the exchange of cultural practices and the impact of globalization on local identities.

Declining or Waning

While the Journal of Popular Culture continues to expand its thematic coverage, certain areas of research seem to be experiencing a decline in frequency or prominence. This section highlights these waning themes.
  1. Traditional Media Analysis:
    There appears to be a decrease in papers focusing solely on traditional media formats, such as print media, as the journal shifts towards exploring digital and new media landscapes.
  2. Nostalgia Studies:
    Though nostalgia remains a relevant theme, papers explicitly centered on nostalgia-driven cultural analysis have become less frequent, possibly due to the evolving nature of cultural consumption.
  3. Simplistic Genre Studies:
    Research that simplifies genres without deeper contextual analysis is declining, as the journal increasingly favors complex, interdisciplinary approaches that challenge traditional genre boundaries.
  4. Historical Representation without Contemporary Relevance:
    Papers that focus solely on historical representations in popular culture, without connecting them to contemporary issues, are becoming less common.
  5. Focus on Domestic US Culture:
    The journal is gradually moving away from a narrow focus on domestic popular culture in the U.S., incorporating more global perspectives and intercultural analyses.

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