Barry Glassner
Encyclopedia
Barry Glassner is the president of Lewis & Clark College
and was formerly professor
of sociology
and executive vice provost
at the University of Southern California
, which honored him in 2002 with its highest research award. He has received a Phi Kappa Phi
Faculty Recognition Award, a visiting fellowship at Oxford University and "best book" designations from the Los Angeles Times
book review, CHOICE
magazine and Knight Ridder
newspapers. His research specialties include cultural sociology, qualitative methods and media studies
.
Glassner has authored or co-authored nine books, including The Culture of Fear, which discussed the culture of fear
phenomenon. He says that many of Americans' concerns and fears are largely unfounded. An updated and enlarged tenth anniversary edition of The Culture of Fear was published by Basic Books
in 2010. In it, Glassner decries: "The use of poignant anecdotes in place of scientific evidence
, the christening of isolated incidents as trends, depictions of entire categories of people as innately dangerous ... "
Glassner's scholarly articles have been published in journals
including the American Sociological Review
, Social Problems
, American Journal of Psychiatry
, and Journal of Health and Social Behavior
. Glassner argues in The Gospel of Food (released in hardcover
in January 2007 and paperback
in January 2008) that much of what Americans read and hear about food is inaccurate and unhelpful. He discussed this topic in depth in his interview on the Skeptics' Guide
podcast
. Michael Moore
interviewed him in the film Bowling for Columbine
. Some statistics cited by Moore and a story about President George W. Bush
mentioned in the film are from Glassner's writings.
Barry Glassner was appointed executive vice provost at USC in June 2005. A professor of sociology in the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Glassner is the former Myron and Marian Casden Director of USC's Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life. He served on USC's Development Committee, Provost's Advisory Committee and Budget Advisory Committee, among others.
Glassner has published his research in journals in the social sciences and medicine and was chair of academic departments at Syracuse University
and the University of Connecticut
prior to arriving at USC, where he was recruited to become department chair.
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
and was formerly professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and executive vice provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, which honored him in 2002 with its highest research award. He has received a Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
Faculty Recognition Award, a visiting fellowship at Oxford University and "best book" designations from the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
book review, CHOICE
Choice magazine
CHOICE Magazine is a publication of the Australian Consumers' Association, a non-profit organisation founded in 1959 to research and advocate on behalf of Australian consumers. The organisation trades as CHOICE and is similar to Consumer Reports in the United States...
magazine and Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Until it was bought by The McClatchy Company on June 27, 2006, it was the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspapers sold.- History :The corporate ancestors of...
newspapers. His research specialties include cultural sociology, qualitative methods and media studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
.
Glassner has authored or co-authored nine books, including The Culture of Fear, which discussed the culture of fear
Culture of fear
Culture of fear is a term used by certain scholars, writers, journalists and politicians who believe that some in society incite fear in the general public to achieve political goals, for example......
phenomenon. He says that many of Americans' concerns and fears are largely unfounded. An updated and enlarged tenth anniversary edition of The Culture of Fear was published by Basic Books
Basic Books
Basic Books is a book publisher founded in 1952 and located in New York. It publishes books in the fields of psychology, philosophy, economics, science, politics, sociology, current affairs, and history.-History:...
in 2010. In it, Glassner decries: "The use of poignant anecdotes in place of scientific evidence
Scientific evidence
Scientific evidence has no universally accepted definition but generally refers to evidence which serves to either support or counter a scientific theory or hypothesis. Such evidence is generally expected to be empirical and properly documented in accordance with scientific method such as is...
, the christening of isolated incidents as trends, depictions of entire categories of people as innately dangerous ... "
Glassner's scholarly articles have been published in journals
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
including the American Sociological Review
American Sociological Review
The American Sociological Review is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed academic journal covering all aspects of sociology, including new theoretical developments, results of research that advance the understanding of fundamental social processes, and methodological innovations. It is published by SAGE...
, Social Problems
Social problems
Social problems are problems and difficulties that people often face in society. These include:*crime*corruption*poverty*homelessness*hunger*disease*drug addiction*alcoholism*schizophrenia*depression*pollution...
, American Journal of Psychiatry
American Journal of Psychiatry
The American Journal of Psychiatry is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal covering all aspects of psychiatry and the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association. The first volume was issued in 1844, at which time it was known as the American Journal of Insanity...
, and Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Journal of Health and Social Behavior
The Journal of Health and Social Behavior is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Sociological Association. It publishes "empirical and theoretical articles that apply sociological concepts and methods to the understanding of health and illness and the organization...
. Glassner argues in The Gospel of Food (released in hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
in January 2007 and paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
in January 2008) that much of what Americans read and hear about food is inaccurate and unhelpful. He discussed this topic in depth in his interview on the Skeptics' Guide
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly, 80 minute podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD, and a panel of "skeptical rogues". It is the official podcast of the New England Skeptical Society, and is produced in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation...
podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
. Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
interviewed him in the film Bowling for Columbine
Bowling for Columbine
Bowling for Columbine is a 2002 documentary film written, directed, produced, and narrated by Michael Moore. The film explores what Michael Moore suggests are the causes for the Columbine High School massacre and other acts of violence with guns...
. Some statistics cited by Moore and a story about President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
mentioned in the film are from Glassner's writings.
Barry Glassner was appointed executive vice provost at USC in June 2005. A professor of sociology in the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Glassner is the former Myron and Marian Casden Director of USC's Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life. He served on USC's Development Committee, Provost's Advisory Committee and Budget Advisory Committee, among others.
Glassner has published his research in journals in the social sciences and medicine and was chair of academic departments at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
and the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
prior to arriving at USC, where he was recruited to become department chair.