“Desire In Culture” explores how societies mold our desires, which in turn shape our world, particularly through film and television. The book argues that desire isn't innate but culturally constructed, making it malleable. By understanding this, we can critically assess societal values and norms.
Did you know that storytelling shapes what we consider desirable through recurring tropes?
Or that institutions such as family and the economy influence individual desires by promoting specific forms of consumption and social status?
The book progresses across three sections. It begins by introducing the concept of desire as a social construct, drawing from sociology, psychology, and media studies. It then examines case studies from film and television, analyzing how these media shape desire. Finally, it synthesizes these findings, offering a broader perspective on desire in contemporary society and its ethical implications.
This approach encourages readers to critically examine their own desires and question the values that underpin them.
