A whimsical personal narrative that explores the image educators have of prime time television and its effect on the author. (CRH)

This booklet presents a variety of materials concerning Neil Simon's play "Laughter on the 23rd Floor." After a brief introduction to the play, the booklet presents a profile of the playwright, several lists of his accomplishments, information on his work for television, a quiz about plays, biographical information on the producer,…

Describes four ways (and several class activities) to make the meanings of media texts more visible to students while teaching the basics of critical theory. Analyzes (1) codes and conventions of language; (2) personal pleasure, understandings, and experience; (3) cultural, ideological meanings; and (4) commercial overtones and economic…

The study of mass media and popular culture in a composition class allows students and teachers together to develop a critical awareness of television and advertising. Jerzy Kosinski's book, "Being There," a novel about the impact of television, is a beginning point for the study of television. Using that book as if it were a collection of events,…

Lists 101 ways to use television, radio, film, and other media-related processes and products in the English classroom. (JL)

Summarizes sources on popular culture which can be used in designing a composition course centered around a mass culture theme. (MM)

This book is intended as an aid for high school English teachers who want to understand visual literacy and learn how to teach it. The first part of the book defines and analyzes the basic structural devices used in filmmaking. The first chapter in this section discusses how the creative use of these devices--composition, lighting and color,…

Argues that adolescents have tacit understandings about television as a system of communication with specific values and purposes. Suggests that students' everyday, informal knowledge of popular media can be an informal resource for developing more of their critical and creative sensibilities and expressiveness. Offers strategies to help students…

This book is designed to develop the analytical and creative abilities that will enable an individual to discover and to counter the underlying biases in mass media entertainment. Chapters discuss the mass media's conflicts of interest, the establishment of personal values and viewpoints, the classification of political viewpoints, four basic…

The booklet offers a variety of suggestions for integrating a study of popular culture into the high school social studies classroom. Popular culture is described as those elements in society which have the primary function of entertaining or selling and which are becoming a familiar, recognizable, and identifiable entity for a large number of…

This document presents an executive summary of a study that examined messages sent to adolescent girls (ages 10 to 17) across 6 types of media most heavily used by adolescent girls: television, movies, magazines, music videos, television commercials, and magazine advertisements. The study asked what messages are sent about gender roles--primarily…

A study examined kinds of messages prevalent in the media used by preteen and teenage girls, asking what messages are sent about goals, dating, careers, behavior, and appearance and its relationship to well being. Four media were the subject of the study, which comprised 12 samples from television programs, theatrical films, music videos, and teen…

This document presents a summary of a national telephone survey that examined messages sent to adolescent girls (ages 10 to 17) across 6 types of media most heavily used by adolescent girls: television, movies, magazines, music videos, television commercials, and magazine advertisements. The study asked what messages are sent about gender…