John Astley's Collected Essays seek to examine aspects of the sociology of culture - whether in music, design or literature, etc - and the core values transmitted (or not) by these various agencies. Culture and Creativity forms the second of three volumes; the two companion volumes are Liberation & Domestication (which looks at youth policy in the UK) and Professionalism & Practice (which examines what might be termed 'virtuous actions in a difficult world'.) The overall focus of these thought-provoking essays is the sociology of culture, which - through many agencies, and often pervasively - affects all of our lives in ways that we might not realise . . . The essays include: "Design for Living" which discusses the lasting influences of William Morris, and "Soul of a Man Under Socialism" presents a triptych on the ideas of George Orwell, William Morris, and Oscar Wilde. . .and a bio-graphical sketch of the polymath Raymond Williams. The volume is completed with a substantial essay on The Beatles, where the author looks back to the 1960s - and the four young men at the centre of a global phenomenon. . . John Astley is a writer and lecturer - and is a frequent contributor to journals, conferences, and radio talks. As a sociologist of culture, he is the author of three volumes of collected essays: Liberation and Domestication, Culture and Creativity, and Professionalism and Practice - as well as monograph on The Beatles. John Astley is currently working on Herbivores and Carnivores, a timely investigation into cultural values in contemporary society.
