Solve for YDiscovering and Plottingour collective identity.

What makes Us U.S.?O Nation:

O A people who share common customs, origins, history, and frequently language.

“Nations” run deeper than the boundaries that may encompass it’s people. We often misuse theterm and mistake it for country orState.

We are Unique (just like everybody else ;)

O We have a cultural narrative in the United States. Because we’ve come from different parts of the world, our expressions, history, and myths define us.

O And it can be FUN to explore our cultural DNA.

Why is cultural DNA important?O It showcases:

O Our goals and dreamsO Our faultsO Our lessonsO Our humorO Our myths

O And more that I can’t think of.

Tapping into Cultural DNA leads to . . .

Cultural Literacy!

We activate and look for 3 things:

O Memory: When we see something new we try to see a connection or corollary to something we’ve seen before.

O Symbols: Is this a metaphor, an analogy, what does the “thing” over there signify?

O Patterns: Similarities of events and narratives.O All of these things bring richness to our study

and are great for infusing other elements into our classroom.

Just a quick visual example

OWhat does this picture say to you?

Now what about someone from Japan?

What about these two pictures?

Are these things always permanent?

O NOO Some are fleeting and fads. Some go away and

return later.O But ALL add a richness to our classrooms.

Those Were the DaysO ("Those Were the Days" by Charle

s Stouse and Lee Adams) - All in the Family Lyrics

O Boy the way Glen Miller played

Songs that made the hit parade. Guys like us we had it made, Those were the days.

And you knew who you were then, Girls were girls and men were men, Mister we could use a man Like Herbert Hoover again.

Didn't need no welfare state, Everybody pulled his weight. Gee our old LaSalle ran great.

Those were the days

The memories of a better era – the late 1960s early 1970s remember the 20s and 30s fondly!

What did we look to back in the late 70s and early 80s?

And a transition between the 70s / 80s and referencing the 30s, 40s and 50s

O Kim Carnes and Bette Davis Eyes:O Written in 1974 when

the eyes were looking back to the 30s and 40s, became popular in 1981 when eyes were shifting to the 50s. Bette Davis and her compatriots are figures that transcend those eras. John Wayne anyone?

Recently, we’ve begun looking back to the 70s

O How could Lynyrd Skynrd co-opt the Confederate Flag and promote it as a symbol of youthful rebellion?O They took the political angle

out of the debate even with the political reference casting corruption as a nationwide problem.

Kid Rock has sampled the song and the flag in an “interesting” way – What is he trying to co-opt? The notion of youthful rebellion? Is that why he is popular?

Any symbols that return?

But Seriously – what can I DO with that?

O Linking Music, literature and art with history and politics is what makes your classroom come alive and engage more students!

O www.shmoop.comO A GREAT starting point – particularly if you are

looking for links between music, literature and history!

O It also has a little section called “Why Should I care?”

Truth to the "every 20 or so year rule"?

I want my MTV!

Do people know the cultural reference in the MTV logo?

With the advent of the internet, our cultural DNA is a few keystrokes away! Never before has it been SO easy to access our history! (but we need to be responsible)

So HOW do I do this in my classroom?

Y = MX + BA “simple” formula that guides us through the process. And it’s a formula they learn anyway – slope intercept or something like that.

YThe formula justifies Why something is a part of our cultural DNA (all

of the subsequent parts establish its place in our “canon”)

MO Meaning:

O What is the original (factual) meaning of the reference?O What is the figurative meaning of the reference?

XFinding 3 additional examples of it’s use

Explanation of original use.(Maybe use ARTIST, SPECS)

Example 1(ARTIST/ SPECS) Example 2

(ARTIST/ SPECS)

Example 3(ARTIST/ SPECS)

I Have a DreamExplanation of original use.

What types of examples should we find?

Books, Movies, Music, Articles, Pictures, Cartoons.(look for them to span time)

YES! Sometimes our cultural DNA can be referenced in something as simple as a picture!

Tapping into this enriches our students and allows them to access a greater understanding of things happening around them (even if it is

just a Simpsons episode).

See . . .

BOBring it HomeO Has the meaning remained the same?

O Examine Midas Touch. hhmmmmO Why does this resonate with us and continue

to be used?

Plotting it’s proximity to the original meaning and it’s relevance in today’s lexicon.

But what if I hate that silly formula?

O How about 3 W’s?O What does it mean?O Where else is it used?O Why does it continue to stay with us?

Let’s try some from the early republic!

“I cannot tell a lie”

The original myth (story) Without knowing the myth, this is just a toy.

How about this?

BENEDICT ARNOLDFinding 3 additional examples of it’s use

In an act that has made his name synonymous with treason in American history, General Benedict Arnold conspired to turn his command of West Point over to the

British. In return, he was to receive money and become a general in the British army. His treason was discovered

when Major Andre, his British contact, was captured.

Kerry's 'Benedict Arnold Democrats'By Roger Bybee"You can't prosper if you're the Democratic Party with what could be called Goldman-Sachs economics. You've got to have 'average-person economics.'" -- former Republican strategist and author Kevin Phillips.John Kerry has been loudly denouncing "Benedict Arnold CEOs" for their policy of outsourcing US jobs overseas.

Is John Walker Lindh (American Taliban) a modern day version of Benedict Arnold? Why or Why not?

Let them Eat CakeFinding 3 additional examples of it’s use

The origin of many phrases in English are unknown. Nevertheless, many people would say that they know the source of this one. It is widely attributed to

Marie-Antoinette (1755-93), the Queen consort of Louis XVI. She is supposed to have said this when she was told that the

French populace had no bread to eat.

In today's front-page report on City of Pensacola employee benefits, two things come to mind:

1. The city's motto should be changed from "City of Five Flags" to "Let them eat cake."2. The City of Pensacola is too expensive for the city of Pensacola.(March 15,2009)

Let Them Eat Cake Inc. is an award-winning, family-owned and operated “Cake Boutique.” We have been designing and decorating customized wedding and all-occasion cakes since 1977.

T-shirt design

Some phrases, characters, events are timeless.

Shakespeare is a GREAT place to look!

• Out Damned Spot.• To Be or Not To Be . . .

That is the question.• Double Double Toil and

Trouble.• Romeo, Romeo where

for art thou Romeo.• Et tu, Brute?• A horse; a horse . . .• By the pricking of my

thumbs; something wicked this way comes.

Music Video – Lyrics and Visual representation.

If you’re real good you may catch the OTHER literary reference.

Greek and Roman Myths/ History

O Achilles HeelO Trojan HorseO Flying too close to the

sunO Midas Touch!O Struck by Cupid’s ArrowO The weight of the

world on his shouldersO Pushing boulders up a

hill.

Anyone know of a book with:O GardenO SerpentO PlaguesO FloodO Parting of watersO LoavesO FishesO Forty days

O BetrayalO Slavery and escapeO Fatted calvesO Milk and honey?

The BibleO Forbidden FruitO JudasO 30 pieces of silverO Golden CalfO Turn into a pillar of

saltO Cross to bear

Literature (non-Shakespeare)O White WhaleO Albatross Around My NeckO Chasing windmillsO White RabbitO Off With her HeadO Emperor's New ClothesO The Sky is FallingO Turn into a PumpkinO The shoe that fitsO Peter Pan syndromeO Cheshire cat grinO Scarlett LetterO breadcrumbs

How about History.O We the PeopleO 40 acres and a muleO WaterlooO StonewallingO Pearl HarboredO I Have a DreamO Life, Liberty, and the

Pursuit of HappinessO Napoleon complexO We have nothing to fear

but fear itselfO When in the course of

human events

SportsO Hail MaryO 7th Inning StretchO We’re in the home

stretch.O Fast out of the gate,

slow to finishO Three strikes and

you’re outO Cinderella is going to

the big dance.

What about Popular Culture?

Movies, TV, and Broadway– Fun Fun!

O I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.

O CamelotO Frankly Scarlett, I

don’t give a damn.O Play it again Sam.O Like sands through

the hourglass . . .

And what was regarded as cutting edge!

And Then There's Maude by Dave Grusin and Andrew Bergman - Maude Lyrics

Lady Godiva was a freedom rider She didnt' care if the whole world looked.

Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her She was a sister who really cooked.

Isadora was the first bra burner And you're glad she showed up. (Oh yeah)

And when the country was falling apart Betsy Ross got it all sewed up.

And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude.

And then there's

That old compromisin', enterprisin', anything but tranquilizing, Right on Maude.

It extends to today(with a few additions . . . clever, clever)

Just some fun extrasO The cat that ate the canaryO Cutting off you’re nose to spite your faceO Dropped a dime

Any that we can think of?

Well, now that I’ve led you down a primrose path . . .

A Swan Song.

Remember SPECs?O SocialO PoliticalO EconomicO Cultural

O Most of these phrases; symbols, books, images all get hooked into this model BEAUTIFULLY.

Don’t believe me?O Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein:

O Victor Frankenstein builds his masterpiece not only from graveyard parts – but also from a historical condition or ENVIRONMENT!O The beginning of the Industrial Revolution –

where “reckless abandon” threatens everything we knew during the Enlightenment.

O New Science including anatomical research caused religious and philosophical chaos in English society in the early 1800s.

SOO Every time we move into a “Brave New

World” some writer, artist or “other” let’s us know that we are about to meet the monster of our advancements. (Frankenstein so to speak)

O Memory, Symbol, Pattern????

What is the practicality?O Ever have your kids write

newspaper articles?O What about asking them

to draw their own political cartoons?

O Construct a timeline of its use. (or a virtual timeline)

O What about a straight up writing assignment:O With which phrase does

person or event most closely match and why?

Everything leads perfectly to ESSENTIAL QUESTIONSO Unlike other methods of analysis, Solve for Y

forces kids to ask and answer essential question of why these things matter and resonate in our consciousness.O Why did the Family Guy use Maude?

O Why did Maude reference Cleopatra?

Historians do this by virtue of their training – but everyone can, and it doesn’t need to be rocket science!

It’s like having Socrates in your pocket . . . Or Mindy.

Practically SpeakingO Why do I have the students do the Y=MX+B?

O Without that quick exercise, they may try to use cultural links that aren’t relevant.

O Then: I have them draw the cartoon or write the newspaper article based on the idioms that they’ve validated.

O Once they get the point – I drop the formula since they know the expectations of the assignment.

And lastly . . .O Spiral historical content.O Allow them to activate prior

knowledge.O Link it to other strategies,

Notebook/ SPECS, ARTIST/ What’s My Return Address/ On the Money.

O Unlock subtle meaning.O Give them a road map and

allow them to be curious and creative.

O (imagine if some of our English teachers had done this BEFORE we read the book)

Make this as brief or extensive as you’d likeWith those signature strategies!

The Test!

O Your blog post will be a description of a political cartoon based on culturally significant archetypes (or newspaper headlines)