For Geographies of Children, Young People and Popular Culture. Issue 10 (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Horton, John
• Is Part Of: Geography compass. Volume 8:Issue 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 726
• Page End: 738
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Geography -- Periodicals; Geography -- Research -- Periodicals; 910.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gec3.12161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-8198

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This paper calls for more direct, careful, sustained research on geographies of children, young people and popular culture. I present three sets of empirical and conceptual resources for researchers developing work in this area. Part 1 signposts classic work from cultural/media studies, marketing and sociology, which has been centrally concerned with <italic>meanings</italic> of popular culture designed for children and young people (e.g. via critiques of the gendered content of iconic popular cultural phenomena). Part 2 foregrounds nascent conceptualisations of social‐material geographies of childhood and youth. I argue that these conceptualisations can extend and unsettle classic work on popular culture, by questioning how popular cultural texts, objects and phenomena <italic>matter</italic>. Halfway through the paper is a 'commercial break'. Here, I present some personal reflections on working at the intersection between the ideas discussed in Parts 1 and 2. With reference to a specific popular cultural artefact (the <italic>Toys</italic> 'Я' <italic>Us</italic> Christmas toy catalogue), I argue that both <italic>meanings</italic> and <italic>matterings</italic> are crucial for geographers engaging with children and young people's popular cultures. In conclusion, I argue that more geographers should engage with the literature and issues outlined in Part 1, but also that the geographical concepts discussed in Part 2 demand new modes of research, thinking and writing in relation to popular cultural texts, objects and phenomena.</p> </abstract>