Argues that students seldom understand the history of U.S. popular culture, although such cultural attributes as shopping malls and advertising can be used to teach economic and historical understanding. Presents a model that indicates the interrelationship between U.S. popular culture and economic concepts. (CFR)

Discusses the impact of a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation documentary, "The Valour and the Horror." Asserts that, although the presentation caused controversy in English-speaking Canada, it received little interest in Quebec. (CFR)

Suggests learning activities for elementary level social studies, using cassette tapes of radio programing from the 1930s and 1940s. Explains this teaches the period's history and culture while introducing students to the magic of radio. Lists sources for tapes and albums, books about radio's golden age, and names of radio libraries and…

Examines African-American family life portrayals (BFLPs) on commercial television during the 1985-86 season, and considers BFLPs as a model for social learning by children. Analysis of the "Cosby Show,""227," and "Charlie & Company" indicates that more positive BFLPs are emerging, which may provide possible role…

Presents a selective annotated bibliography of books on Native Americans for young people (23 recommended books, 11 books to avoid, 13 guides to selection, and 9 sources for books). Makes suggestions for evaluating books on Native Americans. Pervasive and dehumanizing stereotypes of Native Americans are ingrained in popular culture. (SLD)

Draws on interviews of the 1920s and 1930s with Mexican immigrants to Los Angeles to illustrate the intergenerational conflicts that arose from immigrant children's acceptance of American values encountered in school and via the popular culture of films and fashion. Contains 27 references. (SV)

Asserts that art education promotes high culture and ignores popular culture and is thereby precluded from making a positive contribution to students' lives. Outlines the principles for a socially relevant art education. Maintains that such an art education would contribute critically to the meanings, values, and beliefs students form with…

In their challenge to dominant modes of representation, their appropriation of consumer culture, and, in their impatience with cultural representations that distort realities of the present and possibilities for the future, young people have created cultural forms that speak to the loneliness, exclusion, and injustice of U.S. society. (SLD)

Visual elements in articles in "Science" and "Newsweek" magazines are analyzed and compared using linguistic concepts of interpersonal, ideational, and textual meta-functions. Relationships between text and visual, between gloss and visual, and among the visuals themselves are examined. Visuals in academic text are mainly…

Disputing Allan Bloom's ("Closing of the American Mind") conviction that the fading of literary culture and growing attachment to rock music signals the decline of American civilization, discussion examines how literature, rock music, film, and critical reflection can be used to engage students intellectually without relinquishing either…

Investigated graduate preservice teachers' perceptions of urban students and schools, exploring how they arrived at these perceptions through personal experiences/contacts and other means. Students completed surveys about their image of urban schools and students and examined commercial Hollywood films, discussing their role in shaping…

Describes the use of rock music lyrics to illustrate and personify key concepts in a Sociology of Deviant Behavior, course. Includes examples of the lyrics, related sociological issues, and ways that the combination facilitated class discussion. Student response was consistently favorable. (MJP)

Explores the implicit boundaries on topic choice established by early proponents of writing process pedagogy and traces these boundaries to a widespread cultural concern about the disappearance of a pretechnological form of childhood. Urges a dialogic view of writing that acknowledges the positive contribution children's media affiliations can…

During the 2004-2005 school year, Maya Kadakia conducted a pilot study of her master's project which focuses on how student engagement is affected by a curriculum that incorporates popular culture. She created a Language Arts unit which incorporates the video game Morrowhid. Maya teaches seventh grade Language Arts and Social Studies at a diverse…

The United States produces the most media--film, television, and music--in the world; yet, media literacy is still a new concept to most Americans, including educators. What media literacy is, why it matters, and how it can be implemented--especially in the schools--constitute the subject of this yearbook. The answers are diverse, as the chapters…