Writing with his customary wit and style, Dyer argues that while pastiche can be used to describe works which contain montage or collage, it can also be used to describe works which are a kind of imitation of previous works. Because of its self-consciousness, pastiche is often seen as emotionally distancing; Dyer argues that it can in fact be extremely moving--thus self-awareness and emotion can co-exist. To illustrate his thesis, Dyer investigates a wide range of cultural texts drawn from films, videos, novels, poetry, rap tracks, music and painting. He explores issues of text, genre, and the use of pastiche as a resource within a work. The last chapter draws together the underlying concern of the book with affect and poetics and discusses the politics of pastiche.