Scott Appelrouth (PhD, New York University, 2000) is Professor at California Statenbsp;University, Northridge. His interests include sociological theory, cultural sociology, andnbsp;social movements. He has taught classical and contemporary theory at both the graduatenbsp;and undergraduate levels, and has published several articles in research- and teaching-orientednbsp;journals on social movements, theory, and the controversies over jazz during the 1920s and rap during the 1980s. His current research focuses on political discourse innbsp;American party platforms.