Discovering Popular Culture (A Longman Topics Reader)

by Tomasino, Anna

• ISBN13: 9780321355966
• ISBN10: 0321355962
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-24
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This brief, provocative reader explores American popular culture from The Sopranos to the Simpsons, from MP3 players to comic books, from Andy Warhol to hip hop. Anyone who wants to understand what Americans are seeing, thinking, and doing in the 21 st century should read this collection. Engages readers with an exploration of Americars"s popular culture. Readings cover a wide variety of popular media including television and film, food and drink, advertising, music, the Internet, and much more. General interest

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Getting Started with Definitions: A Refresher List	xii
CHAPTER 1 American Character and image	1	(44)
Andy Warhol, What's Great About This Country	4	(2)
Anneli Rufus, Marlboro Country: Advertising	6	(3)
Richard Rodriguez, The American "I"	9	(3)
Patrick J. Deneen, Awakening from the American Dream: The End of Escape in American Cinema?	12	(21)
Jon Gertner, The Futile Pursuit of Happiness	33	(11)
Questions for Making Connections	44	(1)
CHAPTER 2 Gender Roles; images of Masculinity and Femininity	45	(44)
Dove, StrategyOne, Nancy Etcoff and Susie Orbach Only Two Percent of Women Describe Themselves as Beautiful	48	(8)
Marie D. Smith, Decoding Victoria's Secret: The Marketing of Sexual Beauty and Ambivalence	56	(8)
Ralph Donald, From "Knockout Punch" to "Home Run": Masculinity's "Dirty Dozen" Sports Metaphors in American Combat Films	64	(20)
Barbara Ehrenreich, Why Don't We Like the Human Body?	84	(3)
Questions for Making Connections	87	(2)
CHAPTER 3 Children and Family	89	(31)
Jeff J. McIntyre, APA Congressional Testimony on Media Violence and Children: Testimony of Jeff J. McIntyre on Behalf of the American Psychological Association	92	(3)
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Violent Television Programming and Its Impact on Children	95	(7)
Eric Garrison, The Simpsons: A Reflection of Society and a Message on Family	102	(9)
Sandra Tsing Loh, Shopworn: Like the Valley Girls Who Made It Famous, the Suburban Mall Is Now on the Wrong Side of Forty	111	(7)
Questions for Making Connections	118	(2)
CHAPTER 4 Race and Ethnicity	120	(42)
Bernard Beck, The Myth That Would Not Die: The Sopranos, Mafia Movies, and Italians in America	122	(8)
Mireya Navarro, Trying to Get Beyond the Role of the Maid: Hispanic Actors Are Seen as Under-represented, with the Exception of One Part	130	(5)
Chris Tucker, Different Stories	135	(8)
Douglas Kellner, Sports, Media Culture, and Race—Some Reflections on Michael Jordan	143	(14)
Brent Staples, Editorial Observer: How Hip-Hop Music Lost Its Way and Betrayed Its Fans	157	(3)
Questions for Making Connections	160	(2)
CHAPTER 5 Education: Popular Culture and the Academy	162	(48)
Robert Trussell, Scholars Spend as Much Time with Love Boat as with Shakespeare	164	(5)
Alex Ross, Rock 101: Academia Tunes In	169	(12)
Jonathan Franzen, The Reader in Exile	181	(11)
Marie Warmbold, Harry Potter: Oliver with a Magical Twist	192	(10)
Steven Johnson, The Internet—Everything Bad Is Good for You	202	(6)
Questions for Making Connections	208	(2)
CHAPTER 6 Consumerism	210	(39)
James Twitchell, Trash and the Voluntary Simplicity Movement—The Triumph of American Materialism	213	(12)
Eric Michael Mazur and Tara K Koda, The Happiest Place on Earth: Disney	225	(6)
James J. Farrell, Shopping for American Culture	231	(7)
Pete Rojas, Bootleg Culture	238	(7)
Lawrence Lessig, Protecting Mickey Mouse at Art's Expense	245	(3)
Questions for Making Connections	248	(1)
Credits	249