Popular Culture

What is It?

Is it Important?

What Does it Say About Us?

What is It?What is It?

Pop culture is the vernacular (people’s) Pop culture is the vernacular (people’s) culture that prevails in any given society. culture that prevails in any given society.

The UnbelievableThe Unbelievable

There are people who make a living There are people who make a living studying popular culture. studying popular culture.

Let’s look at the web sitesLet’s look at the web sites http://www.wsu.edu/~amerstu/pop/tvrguide.hhttp://www.wsu.edu/~amerstu/pop/tvrguide.h

tmltml http://www.americanpopularculture.com/http://www.americanpopularculture.com/

journal/contents.htmjournal/contents.htm

How is Pop Culture How is Pop Culture Determined?Determined?

By everyday interactions, needs By everyday interactions, needs and desires, the cultural and desires, the cultural “moments” that make up our “moments” that make up our everyday lives. everyday lives.

Who Influences Pop Culture?Who Influences Pop Culture?

In modern society, pop culture is In modern society, pop culture is influenced by the industries that influenced by the industries that disseminate cultural material.disseminate cultural material.

Film, television, news media, music, Film, television, news media, music, publishing, anime. publishing, anime.

What Makes Pop Culture Unique?

It is constantly changing It is specific to time and place

Pop Culture has Broad Appeal

• Appeal to a broad spectrum of the public

• Is it because broad appeal items are produced and sold by profit making companies in an attempt to maximize profits?

Is Pop Culture Superficial?Is Pop Culture Superficial?

Two schools of thought:Two schools of thought: Cultural items that require extensive Cultural items that require extensive

experience, training, or reflection to be experience, training, or reflection to be appreciated seldom become items of popular appreciated seldom become items of popular culture.culture.

Others argue that pop culture is on the cutting Others argue that pop culture is on the cutting edge of culture- adopted by cultural mavens – edge of culture- adopted by cultural mavens – and then adopted by the laggards in the and then adopted by the laggards in the mainstream. mainstream.

Pop Culture is Serious BusinessPop Culture is Serious Business

Lots of people are making lots of money Lots of people are making lots of money studying and commenting on popular culture. studying and commenting on popular culture.

We will look at a website devoted to our We will look at a website devoted to our popular culture. popular culture.

http:/www/americanpopularculture.comhttp:/www/americanpopularculture.com Studies 20Studies 20thth and 21 and 21stst century American culture century American culture

and history. Articles on rap music, SARS and and history. Articles on rap music, SARS and racial relations, women’s self esteem via racial relations, women’s self esteem via Real Real Women Have Curves, etc. Women Have Curves, etc.

Another WebsiteAnother Website

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~YPhttp://xroads.virginia.edu/~YP ““The serious, scholarly study of mass or The serious, scholarly study of mass or

popular culture is a fairly recent phenomenon, popular culture is a fairly recent phenomenon, although sociologists have long found the although sociologists have long found the materials w/ which Americans amuse materials w/ which Americans amuse themselves fascinating for what they reflect themselves fascinating for what they reflect about the people and the world around them. about the people and the world around them. Pop culture serves as a mirror wherein society Pop culture serves as a mirror wherein society can better see itself.”can better see itself.”

Forms of Popular CultureForms of Popular Culture

• MusicMusic

• TelevisionTelevision

• SportsSports

• ToysToys

• Comic BooksComic Books

• FilmFilm

• AdvertisingAdvertising

• FashionFashion

• MagazinesMagazines

• Cyber cultureCyber culture

Issues in Popular Culture

RaceEthnicityGenderSexualityCultural ImperialismCensorship

Assignment

Pick a form of popular culture – music, film, book, etc. and tell us what issue is being addressed. One slide that states form and issue.

Additionally, look at one website (at least) and see how they view the form and the issue.

Tie it together with a PowerPoint presentation. If possible, play the music, movie, etc.

Questions?

What questions do you have?

Look into popular culture, what is it trying to say?

BE CREATIVE

The Presentation

Needs to include: Title Slide Theme The URL of 3 websites that you visited to study

popular culture An analysis of the article of popular culture that

you studied. For example, if a song, the lyrics and an analysis of what the artist is trying to say about race, gender, etc.