Describes the types of stories that Channel One covers and the characteristics and configuration of its news sources. Focusing mostly on anchor personalities and politicians, Channel One news serves as a promotional vehicle for itself and youth culture, providing a friendly environment for controversial product advertisements. Such dramatic and…

Describes an activity for English classes combining elements of popular culture and creative dramatics by having students, after they have read a Shakespeare play, create answering machine messages for the various characters. Notes that other students portraying different characters can leave messages. Shows how this creates opportunities for…

Suggests that aspirations to de-school society and empower young people to be independent producers of culture are part of a wider debate. Notes that new partnerships between school and popular culture need to be developed at a number of different levels. (SG)

Reflects on the value of supplementing the reading of print fiction with the viewing of film and video in the English curriculum. Discusses intertextuality, media convergence, and multiliteracies. Notes use of the film "The Matrix" to bridge popular and classroom cultures. Explores the use of popular cultural texts in the contemporary…

Discusses negotiating pop culture and other literacies in current-events discussions. Gives some implications for teachers and teacher educators. Concludes that effective, innovative and sensitive ways of encouraging ESL (English as a second language) students and reticent local students to bring elements of their home (pop) cultures, media, and…

Sketches an alternative, or perhaps an addition, to critical analysis and personal response. Notes the approach is historical and intertextual. Demonstrates this method using the popular television series "The X-Files." Shows how a description of a text can be built up through various kinds of research. Argues that historical and…

Responds to seven objections English teachers make when they consider the serious study of television in their classrooms. (DD)

Criticizes a critique by J. Marsden of Leonard Cohen's pop song "Suzanne" as material for high school foreign language teaching. States that the song is useful in classes of boys and that Marsden asks for too much teacher guidance. A procedure with greater student activity is outlined. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Cites episodes from "The Bill Cosby Show,""Family Ties," and "Hill Street Blues" to suggest the humanizing potential of television. (EL)

Eight music educators offer their views on the pros and cons of including pop/rock music in the curriculum. Some participants describe methods they've developed to highlight or to integrate contemporary music in their courses. This article is part of a theme issue on popular music. (SJL)

Discusses the role of popular music choirs in secondary schools and colleges. Their extensive repertoires, including folk music, jazz and show-tune medleys, and variety music, make pop choirs an excellent method for teaching singing skills and music theory. Information on starting a pop choir is included. (AM)

Recommends the use of Hollywood products to teach about geological phenomena and lists some recent blockbuster hits that include some features of geology. (YDS)

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…

Discussion of the impact of popular music on studying historical and contemporary experiences of U.S. life focuses on the use of music to help social studies teachers convey the controversial nature of the Vietnam War. Songs with related themes are listed, and views of social studies education in popular music are also discussed. (LRW)

Discusses the ways that middle school English teachers can use popular teen culture within the context of general English instruction. Suggests bringing television, film, comics, advice columns, and teen magazines into the English classroom. (HB)