Reconstructing Pop/Subculture

Van M. Cagle’s Reconstructing Pop/Subculture offers a penetrating exploration into the interplay between style, youth culture, and rebellion. With keen insight, Cagle weaves the narrative of glitter rock, pop art, and subcultural movements, examining how pivotal moments and figures - such as Andy Warhol, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie - redefined the cultural landscape of the 1960s and 1970s. Employing a framework that bridges production and reception, the book interrogates how ideas travel from the fringes to the mainstream. Cagle's analysis highlights the transformative power of cultural convergence, drawing attention to the moment when disparate artistic and social energies meld into innovative expressions that challenge traditional notions of art and conformity. A thoughtful contribution to cultural studies, Reconstructing Pop/Subculture deepens our understanding of how subcultures are not merely reactive but play an active role in shaping popular culture. This work is both a historical account and a critical examination of the tensions and triumphs that lie at the crossroads of rebellion and evolution in the art world.