Teaches a critical alternative social psychology about late-capitalist U.S. society. Using Inkeles's list of the traits of "modern man," students make their own historical analysis. Provides description of student projects, data collection and analysis, and findings. Offers alternative conceptual materials and explains their classroom…

"Chronicle of Higher Education" presents an abundant source of news and information for college and university faculty members and administrators. This December 17, 2004 issue of "Chronicle for Higher Education" includes the following articles: (1) "Here's the Problem with Being So 'Smart'" (Williams, Jeffrey J.); (2)…

Based on an ethnographic case study done in an all-white, rural middle school, this article examines the students' experience with and interpretation of an international education program implemented with a hope of providing more global/international contents to the curriculum. The study shows that these students interpreted other cultures…

This book argues that people live simultaneously in two different cultures. Values of the first culture are imparted to children through curriculum in the nation's public school classrooms. The second culture is the world of mass communication that promotes consumption, instant gratification, and impulse. The clash between these cultures confronts…

Fifteen newspaper articles about popular culture in the United States are contained in this document. As the basis for a 15-week course by newspaper during the winter and spring of 1978, the articles served as the course "lectures." The articles were written by professors of mass communications, sociology, cinema, journalism, political…

The word "summer" brings to mind images of a relaxed, unstructured season--a time markedly different from other seasons of the year. In the United States, we have a particularly entrenched notion that summer is different--a notion reflected in popular assumptions about summer as a "break" and reinforced by carefree depictions…

Recounts the recent debate over family values, civic culture, and cinematic violence and considers the implications for educators. Uses this national debate as a case study to investigate efforts to exercise control over and limit the democratization of culture. Argues for an expanded notion of civic culture. (MJP)

This document describes a university course designed to provide an historical understanding of Latin America through feature films. The booklet contains an introductory essay on the teaching of a film course on Latin America, a general discussion of strengths and weaknesses of student analyses of films, and nine analyses written by students during…

Ever since television became a daily staple of U.S. family life, its influence on children has been the subject of study and debate. No aspect of the debate has been more heated than violence in the media. But a growing knowledge base has shifted the focus of the debate from whether media violence contributes to violence in real life to what can…

This bibliography cites resources in 13 aspects of education relating to literacy: approaches to literacy; research and practice; critical approaches to literacy (including Paolo Freire, critical theory, literacy and gender); adult education (adult learning, working in groups); popular education and popular culture (community development, writing…

Televised portrayals of variables that are related to educational and occupational aspirations and educational motivation have the potential to influence viewers' attitudes, expectations, and behaviors in these domains. In order to test this premise, a study assessed messages about these variables and about drug use in the prime-time television…

A compilation of 13 social studies activities suitable for immediate application in the classroom includes teaching ideas for both elementary and secondary teachers. Activities comprise a simulated mapping expedition to Jamestown colony; a folktale illustration of moral dilemmas; taped interviews with Soviet citizens; simulated employment…

The extent to which the issue of nuclear war technology is treated in middle-school science texts, and how students learn about nuclear war and war technology were studied. Five raters compared the most widely used textbooks for grades 6 and 7 to determine the amount of content on: (1) population growth; (2) world hunger; (3) war technology; (4)…

The reader is one of several supplementary materials for a 15-week newspaper course about popular culture in the United States. Four major sections contain 57 readings from sources such as monographs, novels, journal articles, and research reports. The readings present research findings, personal observations, and debate over the definition and…

Depicts ways popular song lyrics can stimulate discussion either in music, social studies, humanities, or language arts classes. Considers lyrics' ability to explain social, cultural, and political phenomena. Provides a chronological outline from 1962 correlating political events, personalities, songs, and the artists. songs. Identifies uses of…