Focusing on the resourcefulness and determination of young individuals, this book explores how they creatively assemble the tools and support necessary to achieve their personal and professional aspirations. It highlights their innovative approaches and resilience in overcoming challenges, providing an insightful look into the journeys of today's youth.
What the Migration to Social Network Sites, Games, and Anytime, Anywhere Media Means for Our Future
Through extensive research involving over 500 surveys and 350 interviews, S. Craig Watkins explores the impact of a digital lifestyle on youth. The book examines how platforms like MySpace and Facebook shape learning, play, and communication, while highlighting the demand for constant media access and its role in reinforcing social divisions. Watkins challenges common misconceptions about cyberpredators and Internet addiction, ultimately providing a nuanced view of the experiences and challenges faced by the first generation raised in a fully connected world.
Why technology is not an end in itself, and how cities can be smart enough, using technology to promote democracy and equity.
Millennials are coming of age at a time when work is temporary, underpaid, incommensurate with their education, or downright unsatisfying. Despite these challenges, media scholar S. Craig Watkins argues that this moment of precarity is rife with opportunities for innovation, and that millennials are leading the charge at turning that into an inventive and surprisingly sustainable future. At the intersection of ethnography, sociology, social history and pop culture, Don’t Knock the Hustle is one of the first attempts to document how millennials are building a creative, entrepreneurial, and civically engaged innovation economy. Here, we meet people like Prince Harvey, a hip hop artist who recorded his album entirely on an Apple showroom laptop; screenwriter, producer and actor Issa Rae, who first used YouTube and Kickstarter to develop the web series that became her hit HBO show, Insecure; and start-up companies like Qeyno Group in San Francisco and Juegos Rancheros in Austin, TX that help make tech more accessible to people of color. Don’t Knock the Hustle offers a timely analysis of the sheer ingenuity and persistence of young people who cobble together the resources they need to pursue the lives and careers they want. Drawing on over ten years of interviews and data, Watkins reveals the radical ways in which our society is expanding who we think of as innovators, what qualifies as innovation, and the spread of wealth beyond traditional corridors of powerful tech companies, venture capitalism, and well-endowed universities. Forward-thinking and dynamic, Don’t Knock the Hustle shows the diversity and complexity of a generation on the rise
Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement
Exploring the complexities of the "hip hop generation," this book delves into the cultural, social, and political dimensions that shape its identity. It challenges simplistic views and offers a nuanced analysis of the influences and experiences that define this generation. By examining various perspectives, the author highlights the diversity within hip hop culture and its impact on society, encouraging readers to engage with the deeper narratives that often go unrecognized.
More than 100 illustrated examples of successful promotions demonstrate the ingredients that make ads click. These are the effective ads that sold millions of dollars of merchandise, from Rolls Royce automobiles to Lux Soap, Coca-Cola, and Campbell's Soup. Discover how the ads came into being, explained in their creators' own words.
Focusing on the rise of black cinema, S. Craig Watkins analyzes the impact of influential filmmakers like Spike Lee and the emergence of "ghettocentric films" such as Boyz N the Hood. He explores the contradiction of increased visibility and commercial success for black youth in media amidst societal backlash. Watkins attributes this shift to changes in the film industry, independent filmmaking, and hip hop culture, illustrating how marginalized black youth have shaped both black and broader American popular culture, seeking empowerment through media representation.
Navigating Challenges and Opportunities
Focusing on education initiatives in the US, UK, and Australia, this book examines efforts to cultivate a socially diverse workforce. Through detailed case studies, it highlights the creativity and resourcefulness of young individuals as they pursue careers in creative industries, showcasing their experiences and the innovative strategies employed to facilitate their entry into these fields.