Science communication is an intersectional practice that involves informing and raising awareness of science-related topics, while increasing public engagement with science. Although there is a fair amount of data in understanding the relationship between scientist representation in popular media and identification with STEM, there is still more…

The semester-long activity described herein uses an integrated instructional approach to media studies to introduce students to the research method of qualitative content analysis and help them become more critically vigilant media consumers. The goal is to increase students' media literacy by guiding them in the design of an exploratory…

This paper compares two forms of sexual socialisation to which learners are exposed: the sexuality education components of the Life Orientation (LO) manuals and the lyrical content and videos of popular songs. We performed a textual analysis of the sexual subject positions made available in, first, the LO manuals used in Grade 10 classes and,…

For the author, the key analytic question about a popular song is not "What does it mean?" or "What hidden or coded meaning does it express?" but "What does its popularity tell us about the cultural moment when it resonated with its public?" How did the song "create its audience," so to speak? Obviously, a 1973 hit song, if it could time-travel,…

Research on adolescents' use of sexual media has been dominated by a variable-oriented perspective, focusing on incremental effects of media exposure on sexual behavior. The present investigation examines the ways in which adolescents select and organize their television viewing. This study used cluster analysis to identify, validate, and describe…

The paper investigates Polish punk and hip hop (rap) song lyrics broken down into frequency lists. In an analysis inspired by MacLaury's view of categorization, the construals of punk and hip hop worldviews are shown to vary in the distance of the observer from the world, the width of the viewing frame, as well as the granularity and density of…

Based on the argument that (contrary to critical opinion) the musicians in the various bands associated with Bosstown Sound were indeed talented, cohesive individuals and that the bands' lack of renown was partially a result of ill-treatment by record companies and the press, this paper traces the development of the Bosstown Sound from its…

Examines trends in popular music by analyzing the number one recordings from 1940 to 1977 in terms of the relationships among four variables: manufacturer (market concentration), song type (musical genre), artist type (performance mode), and lyric content (vocal message). (JMF)

Trends in ecstasy use in America during the past decade were reflected in mainstream, American rap-music lyrics between 1996 and 2003. Drawing on communication and cultural studies theory, this article provides a content analysis of 69 rap songs mentioning the club drug ecstasy. The songs are coded according to whether they contain positive, mixed…

Examined the origin of music content on radio stations in the Windsor, Ontario, area. Concluded that American recordings and radio broadcasts are strongly preferred by canadian youth despite government policies. (PD)

Analyzed the 15 best-selling single records for each year between 1955 and 1982, according to trend, content, decade, and musical era. Concluded that popular music is an expression of younger Americans who have become increasingly ironic in their view of human relationships. (PD)

A study of the lyrics of popular music was conducted to test the hypothesis that from the 1950s through the 1970s such songs placed a progressively greater emphasis upon physical as opposed to emotional love. Researchers analyzed the lyrics of the five most popular songs listed in "Billboard" magazine during every year from 1950 to 1980.…

Criticizes a critique by J. Marsden of Leonard Cohen's pop song "Suzanne" as material for high school foreign language teaching. States that Marsden's article is concerned only with the text. The music agrees with the theme (loneliness) and with the "social milieu." (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

A response to criticisms of the article "Interpretation of a Pop Song at the Upper High School Level--Leonard Cohen: 'Suzanne'," defending the interpretative procedure, including its text orientation and its emphasis on the teacher's exposition. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Explores the relationship between fantasy and media use by examining the fantasy styles of college students and the kinds of movies they attend, recorded music they listen to, and books they read. (PD)