Reports on public and academic libraries' efforts to collect and preserve zines, which many librarians consider to be an important record of communication and culture. Discusses a donation to the New York State Library in Albany; collection development; use by scholars and students for research; problems with cataloging zines; and handling zines…

Cultural literacy gives depth to multicultural education. Students not only celebrate diverse cultures, but recognize their society's pressures to fit the dominant cultural milieu--in terms of ethnicity, gender, family, and education. In the Vermont Equity Project, educators are helping children recognize and interpret cultural messages that shape…

Uses content analysis of television characters in all occupations across 30 seasons to test the argument that television entertainment depicts business negatively. Reaffirms that television stigmatizes the occupation of business, independently of economic factors. Notes that these results pose a challenge to mass communications theory that…

Discusses how students of both sexes in a third-grade class used popular culture to scaffold their stories--they (1) aimed at audience reaction, often using argument and shock; (2) incorporated their favorite writers and curricular topics into their pieces; and (3) by year's end, merged the talents of both genders into a higher form of literacy.…

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)

Examines the effects of sex and violence in rock music videos on viewers to determine the appeal of and emotional responses to the videos. Finds that videos containing the highest level of sex were judged most appealing and resulted in more positive moods. Finds also that viewers did not enjoy violent videos. (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)

Examines the use of recorded music to teach about the civil rights movement of 1955-68. Barnes uses a combination of spirituals, popular and protest songs that were adapted to civil rights needs to introduce, review, or heighten students' interest in the 1950s and 1960s. Includes song list, learning activities, and questions to stimulate critical…

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…

Explores research done in Latin America concerning audiences of telenovelas. Examines critically the methods employed and the kinds of knowledge generated. Finds that most of the 26 studies examined are severely flawed from a methodological perspective. Suggests that much research still needs to be done. (SR)

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…

Addresses social and cultural changes of reading in Russia: (1) changes in cultural hierarchy; (2) changes in reader behavior; (3) declining importance of classic literature; and (4) rise of mass culture and its effects. Tables present information on the genre of books that were best sellers and books borrowed from Russian libraries. (JMV)

Strategies for promoting French and French language instruction are described. In Norway, a French popular music promotion has been launched cooperatively by record producers in both countries; a Chinese program links like organizations in the two countries; and in Israel, an initiative focuses on French song. (MSE)