Routledge Wasted: Performing Addiction in America - Routledge Books

Wasted: Performing Addiction in America offers a unique look at the material and lived experience of addiction. Published by Routledge, this book moves beyond traditional scholarly treatments that view addiction solely as a form of rhetoric or discursive formation. Instead, it examines how addiction is shaped by a metaphor of waste. This text explores how people describe those struggling with addiction, the physical experience of inebriation, and the systematic exclusion of individuals from various parts of American culture. By analyzing scientific texts, medical models, and popular media, the book provides a deep look into how addiction is represented and felt. Readers will find detailed analyses of diverse cultural texts, including novels, films, reality television, and TV dramas. It also examines the impact of public health and anti-addiction efforts. This book is a significant resource for those studying the cultural politics of media and popular culture, providing a perspective rooted in real-world experience and societal impact.