Pop Culture in Libraries:

How to have what they want before they ask

Sarah SogigianTrainer/Consultant for Youth ServicesMMRLS

POP QUIZ!!!POP QUIZ!!!

What is the cultural significance of Reese’s Pieces?

What is the cultural significance of Reese’s Pieces?

Who is this?Who is this?

What is this from?What is this from?

• The last time I freaked out, I just kept looking down, I stu-stu-stuttered when you asked me what I'm thinking about. Felt like I couldn't breathe, You asked what's wrong with me. My best friend Leslie said"She's just being ____."And next time we hang out, I will redeem myself.

My heart can rest till then.

• The last time I freaked out, I just kept looking down, I stu-stu-stuttered when you asked me what I'm thinking about. Felt like I couldn't breathe, You asked what's wrong with me. My best friend Leslie said"She's just being ____."And next time we hang out, I will redeem myself.

My heart can rest till then.

On what show did the first romantic kiss happen between two male characters on network television? The date: May 24, 2000

On what show did the first romantic kiss happen between two male characters on network television? The date: May 24, 2000

Pop Culture: What is it?

Pop Culture: What is it?

• Culture based on popular taste rather than that of an educated elite, usually commercialized and made widely available by the mass media- OED

• Culture based on popular taste rather than that of an educated elite, usually commercialized and made widely available by the mass media- OED

P.C.: past icons

P.C.: past icons

• Scooby Doo• Speed Racer• Bevis and Butthead

• Cartman

• Scooby Doo• Speed Racer• Bevis and Butthead

• Cartman

• Friends• Madonna• Seinfeld• Mickey Mouse

• Friends• Madonna• Seinfeld• Mickey Mouse

P.C.: present icons

P.C.: present icons

• Hannah Montana• Glee• Stephen Colbert • David Ortiz

• Hannah Montana• Glee• Stephen Colbert • David Ortiz

• Tina Fey• Buffy• Reality stars• Lost

• Tina Fey• Buffy• Reality stars• Lost

P.C.: trends?P.C.: trends?• Most every P.C Icons can be found on tv• Many are animated characters• Limited age group per icon• Icons can be found in a variety of medias:

• T.V.• Comics• Books• Video games• Movies

• Most every P.C Icons can be found on tv• Many are animated characters• Limited age group per icon• Icons can be found in a variety of medias:

• T.V.• Comics• Books• Video games• Movies

Why do they belong in libraries?

Why do they belong in libraries?

• “popular taste rather than that of an educated elite”

• Fun “brain candy”, like Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich, and Brad Meltzer

• With so many kids having to read required titles, it’s nice to offer them some materials that they relate to on an recreational level.

• In order to enjoy reading, one must have a broad selection to choose from

• “popular taste rather than that of an educated elite”

• Fun “brain candy”, like Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich, and Brad Meltzer

• With so many kids having to read required titles, it’s nice to offer them some materials that they relate to on an recreational level.

• In order to enjoy reading, one must have a broad selection to choose from

So how do we find P.C. materials?

So how do we find P.C. materials?

• Check out tv stations and their websites• Disney Channel• Nickelodeon• MTV• Comedy Central• ABC, NBC, CBS

• Check out tv stations and their websites• Disney Channel• Nickelodeon• MTV• Comedy Central• ABC, NBC, CBS

Disney ChannelDisney Channel• Hannah Montana• High School Musical 1 and 2

• 7.7 million viewers for the premier of #1

• 17.2 million viewers making it the most-watched event ever broadcast on basic cable for #2.

• Suite Life of Zach and Cody• That’s So Raven

• Hannah Montana• High School Musical 1 and 2

• 7.7 million viewers for the premier of #1

• 17.2 million viewers making it the most-watched event ever broadcast on basic cable for #2.

• Suite Life of Zach and Cody• That’s So Raven

Let’s not forget, that this is the network that gave usBritney, Justin, Christina, Keri, and Ryan.

Nickelodeon ChannelNickelodeon Channel• SpongeBob Squarepants• Drake and Josh• Zoey 101

• Starring Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney’s sister

• Avatar: The Last Airbender

• SpongeBob Squarepants• Drake and Josh• Zoey 101

• Starring Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney’s sister

• Avatar: The Last Airbender

MTVMTV• The Real World• Jersey Shore• The Hills• True Life

• The Real World• Jersey Shore• The Hills• True Life

Use MTV and their website to learn about new acts as well as updates on establishedperformers.

Comedy CentralComedy Central

• The Daily Show • The Colbert Report• South Park• Futurama

• The Daily Show • The Colbert Report• South Park• Futurama

The BIG 3 and 1 more

The BIG 3 and 1 more

• NBC• Heroes• ER• Law and

Order

• NBC• Heroes• ER• Law and

Order

• ABC• Lost• Grey’s

Anatomy• Greek

• ABC• Lost• Grey’s

Anatomy• Greek

• CBS• CSI franchise• The Mentalist• NCIS

• CBS• CSI franchise• The Mentalist• NCIS

• FOX• American Idol• 24• Glee

• FOX• American Idol• 24• Glee

So, how to tell what will hit?So, how to tell what will hit?

• Ask people• Teens, other librarians, and don’t

forget the 20 year olds!

• Ask people• Teens, other librarians, and don’t

forget the 20 year olds!

• Watch• Get dressed for work with MTV on• Flip over to Disney and Nick around 5 pm• Channel surf the networks in primetime

• Watch• Get dressed for work with MTV on• Flip over to Disney and Nick around 5 pm• Channel surf the networks in primetime

• Get online• Check out the websites to see what’s new,

especially in May and November. This is when networks announce new shows.

• Get online• Check out the websites to see what’s new,

especially in May and November. This is when networks announce new shows.

What if I’m wrong?What if I’m wrong?

• Don’t buy too much too fast• Check out what other libraries have, and use that as a guide

• Have some faith…remember how popular the Arthur books were after his cartoon debuted?

• Don’t buy too much too fast• Check out what other libraries have, and use that as a guide

• Have some faith…remember how popular the Arthur books were after his cartoon debuted?

• Books• DVDs• CDs• Comics• Sheet music

• Books• DVDs• CDs• Comics• Sheet music

You don’t have to get them all, but mix it up a bit.

Different Formats

Different Formats

• Unlike many other genres, p.c. usually has a short shelf life.

• Out with the old, in with the new• Remember boy bands? The Spice Girls?

• Both are victims of our short attention span

• Unlike many other genres, p.c. usually has a short shelf life.

• Out with the old, in with the new• Remember boy bands? The Spice Girls?

• Both are victims of our short attention span

When the fad is over, weed the items. The plus side--many of them will be in terrible shape anyway

The fad is over. Now

what?

The fad is over. Now

what?

BooksAdaptations of popular tv shows: Hannah Montana, HSM, Laguna Beach, Lost, Smallville, Doctor Who, etc.

Behind the scenes: making of movies, shows, writings about shows.

Suggestions to start your collection

Suggestions to start your collection

DVDstv shows: multiple seasons can be expensive,But they will never sit on the shelvesSo called “teen comedies”: often they are enjoyed by adult and teen patrons

Suggestions to start your collection

Suggestions to start your collection

MusicCDs: purchase for established artistsNew artists, wait for more than one song to be released

Suggestions to start your collection

Suggestions to start your collection

That there is a Pop Culture Association

AND That it has a Libraries, Archives, and

Museums Area?

Did you know?Did you know?

The 2007 annual conference was in Boston!

That every year, VH1 and Entertainment Weekly host the

Did you know?Did you know?

“the ultimate pop culture tournament designed for teams to show off their astounding range of knowledge about

everything music, television and film.“

What others think….What others think….

“Pop culture is not about depth. It's about marketing, supply and demand, consumerism.”--Trevor Dunn, musician,Mr. Bungle

“Everything popular is wrong.”--Oscar Wilde

“The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become.”--Mark Twain

“It's generally my belief and those of others in this field of cultural studies that popular culture has a big effect on the people who consume it.”

--Michael Asimov, author

ResourcesResources

• Gig’s Daily Dose• www.gigsdailydose.blogspot.com

• Gig’s Daily Dose• www.gigsdailydose.blogspot.com

• Pop Culture Madness• http://www.popculturemadness.com/

• Pop Culture Madness• http://www.popculturemadness.com/

•Pop Goes the Library•http://www.popgoesthelibrary.com/