The essays in this book focus on the role of the reader in textual interpretation. Specifically, they examine "open" and "closed" texts. The three essays in Part I deal with both verbal and nonverbal texts. The first considers musical compositions that leave considerable autonomy to the individual performer and also discusses…

Summarizes current research on children's use of audio equipment and argues that records, radio, and tapes play an important role in the personal and social lives of many children. Examines issues and promising approaches in the study of listening in children's lives. (PD)

Claims that libraries have consistently ignored popular culture materials and urges them to reexamine their purpose and to expand collections and services to serve the true cultural needs of their patrons. Thirteen references are listed. (RAA)

The 1967 MENC symposium at Tanglewood advocated the inclusion of popular music, along with the classics, in the general music curriculum. The author looks briefly at how well this recommendation is being implemented and discusses the benefits of using popular works in music instruction. (SJL)

Addresses the common confusion about the nature and use of intellect in the arts. Attempts to demonstrate the forces that promote and reinforce this confusion in relation to the nature and use of intellect in the arts. (CMK)

Suggests that films, television, and textbooks have misrepresented American history. Focuses on the author's struggles in writing two novels about the American Old West. Argues that the role of historical fiction is not to impress moral values, but rather to contemplate the central humanity of each character. (SG)

Argues that modern literacy problems do not arise from a lack of exposure to language, rather to overexposure to a sterile and meaningless stream of I-It language addressed to no real person. Suggests "quiet writing," personal journal expressions, and listening activities to sensitize students to language. (KEH)

Discusses television's influence on today's youth culture and examines measures that may be taken to limit or change the nature of that influence. Warns that efforts to control television programing will continue to fail until educators understand that television is an integral part of the youth culture, not just an influence.(KO)

Describes an exhibit organized by the media specialist at Base Line Middle School (Colorado) that portrayed ethnic stereotypes in today's culture through movies, records, sports logos, cartoons, newspaper articles, magazines, and other media. Presentations by community members from the ethnic groups are described, and student reactions are…

Describes how James Cook University (Australia) structured feminist cultural studies into a freshman undergraduate course on communications, media, and education. When students were able to "freelance" with media texts, teachers could generate and access student knowledge outside the parameters of normative content and skills set in…

Summarizes recent debates concerning the use of popular culture and media within the English curriculum. Presents an approach to using media in fostering understanding the way meaning and taste are socially constructed. Describes research aimed at developing an account of reading as social process. (HB)

Asks how art should be taught in the postmodern world. Argues that art education must change in two ways: (1) discussions of fine art must focus on the meaning of postmodern art and concepts; and (2) incorporating postmodern concepts to address the broad range of visual culture encountered by students. (DSK)

Describes the author's experiences and dilemmas serving as language arts teacher at an alternative education program for middle school students. Describes how students drew on popular culture to maintain their identities of "how bad I can be." Describes how bringing popular culture into the classroom to support students' learning also brought…

The Walt Disney Company's shift in ideology from conservatism to liberal multiculturalism is examined, focusing on corporate history, Disney's hegemonic dealings with Latin American and U.S. Hispanic communities, and Disney's role as cultural producer and facilitator of multiculturalism. Analysis of The Lion King points out its contributions to…

The conservative position on the crisis in the humanities is fundamentally antidemocratic and poses a danger to popular culture studies. This can be demonstrated by taking issue with conservatives' usage of the terms "crisis" and "politics." A crisis is an urgent problem, but by labeling something a crisis which is not,…