Valda Blundell is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton University, Ottawa, John Shepherd is Director, School for Studies in Art and Culture, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ian Taylor is Professor in Sociology, Salford University.

• introduction EDITORS’ INTRODUCTION; Part 1 WARS OF POSITIONS; Chapter 1 THE FORMATIONS OF CULTURAL STUDIES, Lawrence Grossberg; Chapter 2 USEFUL CULTURE, Tony Bennett; Chapter 3 SHIFTING BOUNDARIES, LINES OF DESCENT, Will Straw; Part 2 POWER AND EMPOWERMENT; Chapter 4 TRUE VOICES AND REAL PEOPLE, Elspeth Probyn; Chapter 5 WHY ARE THERE NO GREAT WOMEN POSTMODERNISTS?, Geraldine Finn; Part 3 CULTURAL STUDIES AND THE LOCAL; Chapter 6 POSTCARDS OF MY PAST, Gail Guthrie Valaskakis; Chapter 7 VALUE AND POWER IN MUSIC, John Shepherd; Chapter 8 WEATHERING THE NORTH, Jody Berland;