Sarah L. Thornton is a writer, ethnographer and sociologist of culture. Thornton has authored three books and many articles about artists, the art market, technology and design, the history of music technology, dance clubs, raves, cultural hierarchies, subcultures, and ethnographic research methods.

1. The Distinctions of Cultures Without Distinction.

2. Authenticities from Record Hops to Raves.

3. Exploring the Meaning of the Mainstream.

4. The Media Development of 'Subcultures'.

Afterword.

Bibliography.

Index.

'Sarah Thornton's book raises some serious issues about cultural
empowerment and the retrograde role of that growing academic
discipline, cultural studies.' C-Theory

'The book covers not only the club scene and its relationship
with the media, but also the history of the discotheque, the
decline of 'live' music and the corresponding rise in popularity of
its pre-recorded counterpart, as well as the notion of 'hipness' -
a concept central to youth culture.' The Pulse

'If ... an academic, critical analysis of the far-reaching
cultural effects of clubbing sets your pulse racing, this
thoroughly researched book makes for an essential bedside
companion.' Musik

'Club Cultures is staking out new territory. Thornton has
provided an accessible and interesting account of her subject that
will be of great use to anyone trying to find out whatever happened
to youth culture since the heady days of Dick Hebdige as long ago
as 1979.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

'Imagine a book that could be subtitled Everything You Always
Wanted to Know About Dance But Didn't Even Know Such Questions
Existed.' Q Magazine

'This major contribution to the study of youth movements also
looks at DJs, drugs, fanzines, globalisation and best of all, asks
what exactly are the raver hierarchies of hipness? An accessible
and informed book, deserving of a wide audience.'
Preview

'A highly accessible yet rigorously written study of popular
culture ... an important contribution not only to current media
debates, but also that oft overlooked question of club music and
gender.' Everywoman

'One of the smartest and most audacious pieces of musical
sociology in years.' Spin

'Club Cultures provides an interesting out-look on dance
culture ... you'll definitely have a better understanding of the
phenomenon after reading it.' Bikini

'Club Cultures addresses a number of substantive fields
within sociology. As a treatise on popular culture, and the
sociology of culture generally, the book is an excellent case study
that introduces a way of analyzing subcultures on their own
ocnsimptive terms.' American Journal of Sociology

'An admirable degree of theoretical and empirical sophistication
and attempt[s] to situate the phenomena under study in a wider
social context ... an in-depth account of the origins and meanings
of the British club scene ... the empirical observation is deeply
and skilfully woven into a rich and carefully constructed analysis
... Club Cultures is a refreshing, provoking and stimulating
book which I enjoyed reading. I strongly recommend it and I have no
doubt that it will be a success.' European Journal of
Communication