How can we revive the original excitement and challenge of Cultural Studies? Why do particular events become defining moments? Tara Brabazon investigates Generation X and their shared popular cultural literacies, showing how an unforgettable song, an amazing nightclub or an unexpected goal in extra time can provide the building blocks of identity. Brabazon argues, with Lawrence Grossberg, that Cultural Studies is 'the Generation X of the academic world'. Tracking its journey away from Marxism and subcultural theory, she explores the potential of popular memory as a tool for reclaiming and repairing Cultural Studies. Hers is a new paradigm for a discipline that can still offer both revolution and revelation.

Tara Brabazon is Professor of Education and Head of the School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Contents: Introduction: changing the dedication. Building the Hacienda: The archaeology of X: making a (post) youth culture; Settling accounts with Birmingham; Thank you for the history lesson; Always on my mind: building popular memory studies. Sound And Vision: Reading on your feet and dancing through the revolution; Dancing with the chairman of the board; Here to stay? 24 hour (post) party people; Looking through rouge coloured glasses; Conclusion: save Ferris; Select bibliography; Index.