In the decade spanning 2010–2020, social media showcased growing celebrations of lifetime milestones across multiple platforms. Utilizing theoretical and methodological approaches based in cultural studies, Milestone Celebrations in the Age of Social Media analyzes social media phenomena including gender-reveal parties; promposals; publicized marriage proposals; divorce celebrations; and the rites of the Death Positive Movement. Carly Gieseler illustrates how the public sharing of major life events on social media platforms reshapes the way we communicate about topics including courtship, birth, marriage, divorce, and death. While each trend represents a unique occasion, these celebrations share themes inherent to our human experience in the digital age. Culminating in the wake of the pandemic and its impact on each communal celebration, this book illustrates one of our most vital human drives—connection.

This pioneering study provides a critical appraisal of pop star Kylie Minogue. It argues that a study of this mononymous global pop icon and celebrity – as “Kylie,” she takes her place alongside Cher, Madonna and Beyoncé in the pop pantheon – is long overdue. Written by academics, music practitioners, and fans, this book argues that Minogue's persona, performances and reception provide new critical insights into contemporary pop music culture, digital media, and celebrity. It further argues that dismissals of Kylie underestimate her accomplishments as a pop artist and singer-songwriter and undermine fans of pop music who form deep, affective bonds with performers, songs and albums. Contributors draw on current perspectives in pop music studies, feminism, celebrity studies, fandom, and queer studies, a range revealing that to interpret Kylie is to engage compelling cultural frameworks. Across four parts (Pop Girlhood, Global Kylie, Dance Music, and Queer and Online Fandoms) the book demonstrates how Minogue herself makes important interventions into contemporary popular culture, with her career providing a micro-history of pop music, its myriad cultural meanings, and its fan practices. With this collection, Kylie Minogue studies has arrived.

Milestones in Digital Journalism sets out ten defining moments that changed the way we understand, produce, finance and engage with the news today. Designed for weekly use on digital journalism courses, these ten milestones provide a conceptual roadmap to understanding the subject while drawing on case study examples which help students home in on key markers in its history. Each milestone is selected for its impact on the nature of journalism practice, the content of journalism, the structure of the journalism industry and/or public engagement in the news. Milestones are defined as the key markers in the development of digital journalism worldwide since the 1970s. The featured markers are diverse and global, ranging from the first virtual reality (VR) screening of Nonny de la Peña’s Hunger in Los Angeles at Sundance Film Festival, to citizen reporting of the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. Written by experts in each of the areas chosen, this book offers an inclusive and de-centred overview of the field and an ideal springboard for further study. Milestones are a range of accessible textbooks, breaking down the need-to-know moments in the social, cultural, political and artistic development of foundational subject areas. This book is key reading for students learning about the history of digital journalism worldwide.

The ‘Milestones’ essays in Mass Communication and Society are reflective and analytical articles by the most notable scholars in the field. These classic essays address 21st century issues from the pioneers of media and communication studies, including Elihu Katz on new media and social movements, George Gerbner on cultivation analysis, and Dietram Scheufele on political communication. As technologies evolve and mass communication becomes mobilized and democratized - more individual and also more social - these landmark scholars provide ideas about how established theories may be applied in new ways, and how future research can expand our understanding of mass communication as its reach and effects grow ever larger. This book will be essential reading for both students and researchers of Mass Communications Research.

"This volume assembles an estimable range of critical analyses of one of the most important mediated artifacts of the modern world—the media event. The authors challenge the construct, extend its usefulness, expand its theoretical basis and application, and examine media events in a far larger and richer context than ever before. Students of global media today are well served by this superb collection of essays." David Morgan, Duke University, USA "A welcome and worthy successor to Dayan and Katz’s path-breaking study that expands and enriches the discourse on global media events." Daya Thussu, University of Westminster, UK "This is an excellent collection, that will enable new kinds of argument about, and hopefully research into, the spectacular functions of the contemporary media." Graeme Turner, University of Queensland, Australia We live in an age where the media is intensely global and profoundly changed by digitalization. Not only do many media events have audiences who access them online, but additionally digital media flows are generating new ways in which media events can emerge. In times of increasingly differentiated media technologies and fragmented media landscapes, the ‘eventization’ of the media is increasingly important for the marketing and everyday appreciation of popular media texts. The events covered include Celebrity Big Brother, 9/11, the Iraq war and World Youth Day 2005 to give readers an understanding of the major debates in this increasingly high-profile area of media and cultural research.

An unprecedented exploration of the intersection of events and family studies, Family Events uses events as a lens through which to explore the concepts of families, family practices, family displays and family intimacies. Family Events explores the idea that how families come to be and, moreover, come to be defined as ‘families’ relies on events: whether that be via ‘family events’ – those which serve to celebrate being part of ‘my’ family – (e.g., birthdays, weddings, funerals), ‘events experienced as a family’ (e.g., a holiday or day trip) or ‘events which impact families’ (e.g., recession, war, global health emergency). Family Events brings together contributions from the social sciences, leisure and event studies which focus on a variety of different event contexts, including the life cycle, death and illness, sport, holidays, and community and religious festivals. Family Events offers a multitude of insightful perspectives on the intersection of events and family studies, and is a valuable resource for academics and students with a research interest in events, leisure and the family.

People are drowning in too much information in this digital age. They often feel trapped and paralyzed, tolerating an economy that's optimized to keep them distracted while letting "the System" control their lives. But if you want to succeed today, you need to stop choking and take action. In Reset, William Treseder shares the life-altering lessons he learned during a remarkable career that took him from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley. His step-by-step guide to personal transformation offers a powerful, six-part process for improving your life through determined action. It helps you create habits that lead to breakthroughs and innovations, powering you past your choke-points to close the gap between knowing what needs to be done and doing it. By harnessing your own unique talents, you can accomplish more than you ever dreamed. You can move from passive consumption to active contribution. It's time to Reset, and to thrive!

Dive into the rich cultural traditions and meanings behind the age-old celebration of a young woman's transition into adulthood in Latin American society. Discover how the Quinceañera ceremony symbolizes a girl's maturity, virtue, and readiness to take on the responsibilities of adult life. Explore the elaborate planning, intricate customs, and vibrant festivities that come together to create a truly memorable and symbolic event for families and communities. Uncover the deep historical roots of the Quinceañera tradition, tracing its origins back to pre-Columbian indigenous practices that have evolved over centuries to become a quintessential cultural celebration in Latin America. Learn about the intersection of religion, family values, and social expectations that shape the way Quinceañera celebrations are carried out in different regions and subcultures across the continent. Witness the beauty and splendor of Quinceañera dresses, a central element of the celebration that embodies the young woman's transformation into womanhood. Delve into the intricate symbolism behind the various rituals and symbolic gestures that make up the Quinceañera ceremony, from the blessing of the rosary to the changing of shoes, each carrying its own special significance and meaning. Explore the ways in which modern Quinceañera celebrations have retained their cultural essence while also adapting to contemporary trends and influences. From themed parties and choreographed dances to social media showcases and destination celebrations, see how Quinceañeras continue to evolve and resonate with younger generations in Latin American communities and beyond. Gain a deeper appreciation for the customs, values, and traditions that shape the Quinceañera celebration as a rite of passage that transcends borders and unites families in a shared cultural experience. Whether you are a participant, observer, or simply curious about the significance of this age-old tradition, Sacred Rituals offers a captivating journey into the heart of the Quinceañera celebration.

A feminist take on financial wellbeing which alleviates financial anxiety in millennials by tackling the areas in life where money and wellbeing intersect. How can we handle the impact of comparison culture on our bank accounts? Should we want an engagement ring, or is that anti-feminist? How can we say no to events we can’t afford but we feel obliged to attend to please others? Money has the power to shape, make or even break our lives, and can have a significant impact on our mental health – so why aren’t we treating it as an important part of our wellbeing? In each chapter of this book, financial influencer Ellie Austin-Williams tackles a major area in our life that might bring us financial anxiety, from friendship to love. Topics covered include: The rise of girl boss culture How society has increasingly encouraged women to spend their way to happiness The role of privilege, race and class in our pursuit of financial "success" Why we feel we have to get ahead of others to be happy The impact of social media on our spending habits What we learned about work and money from our parents. Insights from financial experts add to Ellie's own expertise, alongside relatable anecdotes from real people. Each chapter ends with some practical tips and tricks that you can use to empower yourself to improve your financial wellbeing.

This book offers a comparative perspective on the technological, economic, and political aspects of Internet development in the post-Soviet countries. In doing so, international experts analyze similarities and differences in various countries throughout the chapters. The volume consists of two parts. The chapters of the first part examine the post-Soviet area as a whole. The second part includes specific case studies on the development of the Internet, either in individual countries or in groups of countries. Countries analyzed are Estonia, Ukraine, Russia as well as three Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Topics covered in the volume include, but are not limited to measurement, dynamics, and structure of each national Internet audience; the history of the Internet in the post-Soviet countries; development of infrastructure; Internet regulation and institutional aspects; online markets such as telecommunications, online advertising, e-commerce, and digital content; social and cultural aspects; as well as the transformation of the national media systems. This book is a must-read for students, researchers, and scholars of political science and economics, as well as policymakers and practitioners interested in a better understanding of Internet development in the post-Soviet area.