f Popular culture and the importance of context

Popular culture studies provide a unique perspective on the intricate intersections of sociopolitical, economic, and artistic contexts that shape our identities and experiences, as reflected in the media and cultural landscape. The Australasian Journal of Popular Culture Studies (AJPC) aims to understand the diverse forms and narratives of popular culture that influence our identities over time. This issue features six articles that offer a scholarly examination of contemporary popular culture studies, with topics including the cultural history of aviation at Australia’s most famous beach, theatrical reimaginings of Shakespeare via Western Australia’s ‘Bogan’ culture, and critical analyses of character and genre in television, film and true crime. The issue concludes with two book reviews of recent scholarly monographs and one film review of the recently released remake of Nosferatu (2024). Collectively, this issue underscores the importance of context in popular culture studies, with contributions spanning across the globe, highlighting the field’s broad scope and interdisciplinary nature.