Explores the role of television in American culture. America may be more diverse than ever in race, ethnicity, and religion, but, because of mass media, there is less diversity in experience, perspectives, and expectation. Subcultures that once manifested existence locally now look to television for verification of their existence. (SLD)

An examination of trends among youth in the 1990s finds that changes in family structure, peer pressure, and outside influences are stronger in this generation. Racial factors, music, and sophistication about the media are seen as important elements, and intergenerational communication difficulties as an obstacle. Students demand relevance in…

Describes a secondary class activity in which students conduct historical research on the U.S. civil rights movement presenting their findings in comic book format. Discusses four components of comic book development: plot development, layout, drawing, and narration. Includes two pages from a student-developed comic book and suggestions for…

Recommends using historical artifacts as a means of illustrating social science concepts and involving students in the learning process. Suggests several ways artifacts can be used: considering their original function and value, making cross-cultural comparisons of similar objects, and investigating how objects change over time. (MJP)

This study explored alternative approaches to young people's concerts aimed at extending musical appreciations and cultural understandings while promoting interest in concert attendance among upper elementary students. The project, an artistic and cross-cultural collaboration grounded in a spirit of mutual respect, consisted of three components:…

This instructional guide offers practical ideas for incorporating video production in the classroom. Aspects of video production are presented sequentially. Strategies and suggestions are given for using video production to reinforce traditional subject content and provide interdisciplinary connections. The book is organized in two parts. After…

The inclusion of critical thinking and viewing skills across the curriculum is one way to approach the development of problem solving, which could help develop the kind of students prepared to accept the challenges they face. Using popular media in teaching such skills links critical thinking to life in a way that keeps critical thinking from…

This final report attempts to capture the work and atmosphere of the recent symposium convened by Motivational Educational Entertainment, Inc. (MEE), a black-owned communications research, consulting, and video production company. In its commitment to helping urban youth, MEE conducted a study of the "hip-hop" generation and its…

Television viewing by children is a major concern of parents, legislators, and educators in the United States today. By high school graduation a young person will have watched 15,000 hours of television as compared to 11,000 to 12,000 hours spent in school. Concerned groups fear a loss of reading ability, the development of a consumer mentality,…

An interdisciplinary "Coordinated Quarter of Mass Media Studies," instituted at Bowling Green State University with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, is the subject of this paper. The first part of the paper tells how instructors from the subject areas of popular culture, psychology, sociology, speech communication, and…

These papers, given at five general sessions and fifteen workshops, discuss the relationship between cultural identity and the French language in the Americas, and deal with the following topics: (1) French speech in Canada; (2) anthropology and cultural identity; (3) translation; (4) French in Ontario and New England; (5) sociology; (6)…

This interdisciplinary sourcebook offers critical perspectives directly related to, or arising from, the practice of electronic media art. It sketches the changing topology of culture as it enters electronic space and specifically addresses questions of art practice in that space. The volume contains 13 papers: (1) "Suck on This, Planet of…

These 2 volumes include papers and abstracts of papers presented at the August 2002 "The Way We Think" conference in Denmark. Papers and abstracts of papers in the two volumes include: "Blending and Conceptual Disintegration" (Anders Hougaard); "Levels of Blending, Disintegration, and Language Evolution" (Carl Bache); "Conceptual Integration,…

Considers the use of cultural images and symbols of Native Americans to reflect, interpret, and justify the westward expansion of the United States. Seldom overtly racist, paintings and lithographs of the time often presented a benign and romantic vision of the West. Includes suggested teaching ideas. (MJP)

Argues that the culture is inundated with mass media imagery. Proposes new directions for art education that respond to this by acknowledging the crossover between high and popular culture forms, incorporating new technologies, and accommodating a view of individuals as multifaceted. Outlines a representative classroom unit on media education.…