This innovative introduction to sociology explores sociological concepts in a changing world using a wide variety of historical and cross-cultural examples. Society in Focus subjects social issues and controversies to critical examination, and shows how their meanings change with different sociological perspectives. A unique feature of this text is its integration of the mass media; the authors take a critical look at the media, discussing how they are controlled, who controls them, how messages are framed and distributed, and the extent to which they define society and social issues. In addition to the integrated media focus, four photo essays examine such diverse issues as media violence and the media's role in the environmental movement. The authors close each chapter by looking at the concepts presented as they are likely to apply in the twenty-first century. This unique future orientation, combined with the integration of the media and a strong scholarly foundation, sets Society in Focus apart from all other introductory texts in the field.